Fore, please: 2025 Masters thread

[DanOregon]

I was thinking straight-on. That might be the definitive still, but something that matched the TV shot.

 

[DanOregon]

Couples is 65 years old.

But he shot a 71! :)

 

[qtlaw]

View attachment 19393

Matt Slocum, AP

“Even as the celebration started, a groundskeeper was sprinting trying his best to catch the errant putter before it made landfall…”

 

[Retired_Scribe]

Immelman sounds to me like a generic golf announcer in a hokey movie. Cliched not only in words, but tone. I hate his announcing.

From the opening to the final putt and beyond, Nantz has NEVER been more schmaltzy than today.

Agree with both comments.
My wife knows I talk back at the TV when The Mouths make stupid comments. She said I was in rare form Sunday.

 

[Bubbler]

The shot McIlroy successfully pulled off on 15 was really good, but even though it was more of straightforward shot, the one on 16 was sublime. So was the one through the trees on the front nine.

What a rollercoaster ride. For pure entertainment value, I'll take that over anything.

 

[BTExpress]

"Even as the celebration started, a groundskeeper was sprinting trying his best to catch the errant putter before it made landfall…"

The Underhills would have had a heck of a lawsuit.

 

[I Should Coco]

Still haven't seen the definitive shot of Rory, hands in the air, putter flying after winning it. Must suck being a golf photographer, trying to figure out where the best place to be for a tournament winning shot. Which side do they put from? Where will the putt be from?

The biggest factor for photogs shooting the 18th green at Augusta is the sunset. No way you can shoot into it — have to have the sun at your back, regardless of where the players are on the green.

That time of day also gives photos the spectacular light you see in all of those Rory reaction shots. The fans in the background have this golden look to them.

 

[DanOregon]

I guess I was just surprised to see no fotog next to the TV camera. Seems most winning putts on 18 are going "into" the sun, setting up a great head-on shot. That last round for Rory was a synopsis of his career. Great start. Shaky. Comes back. Blows it, comes back again.

 

[brn623cl]

View attachment 19393

Matt Slocum, AP

 

[HappyCurmudgeon]

This was a weird I was happy to see Rory win. DeChambeau going in the tank was also good television.

But Rose was seemingly stuck on -7 for most of the weekend, so when he made the charge, there was definitely part of me that really would have appreciated the good ending there.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Outstanding shot. The look on his face is perfect for the golf challenges he’s faced.

 

[Cosmo]

As someone who photographs a lot of golf tournaments, yeah, there's an art to being in the right place, anticipating where to stand, knowing who is farther out so you know who is going to putt first, etc. I'm mostly shooting amateur events, though. Couldn't imagine the chaos of trying to be in the perfect spot to capture that shot. I assume most fotogs get inside the ropes access, but still, it's a mad scramble just to get to the right spot, much less nail the focus, lighting, etc. I've definitely had a few where I thought I had the perfect shot, but my autofocus caught a tree branch instead of a player's face. Very frustrating. The Getty shot is spectacular.

 

[Typist Clerk]

Rory now has five majors, one fewer than Palmer and Mickelson. Both fell one short of the career slam though Phil gave his US Open away at Winged Foot. Arnie finished tied for second three times but never really came close to a PGA title

Palmer has seven pro majors (four Masters, two British Opens, one U.S. Open) plus a U.S. Am if you count those. In the 1968 PGA at Pecan Valley (which has been turned into houses), Palmer was two back after 54 holes and ended up one back of winner Julius Boros. Palmer missed an 8-footer at the last to tie. I'd say that's close.

 

[qtlaw]

The Grand Slam is amazing because of the different tests and the exclusivity of it. Definitely the Masters, the US Open and the Open are different tests. What has made/makes the PGA a different major? Is it simply because it is known as a major and therefore a stacked field? Historically, the courses (and scores) seem to indicate it's not usually a tremendously difficult course (although I recall Whistling Straits and Southern Hills (sweltering) being difficult tests).

 

[MileHigh]

Great shot, but I like Slocum's shot that I posted earlier better.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

The Grand Slam is amazing because of the different tests and the exclusivity of it. Definitely the Masters, the US Open and the Open are different tests. What has made/makes the PGA a different major? Is it simply because it is known as a major and therefore a stacked field? Historically, the courses (and scores) seem to indicate it's not usually a tremendously difficult course (although I recall Whistling Straits and Southern Hills (sweltering) being difficult tests).

The one I covered in 1997 was at Winged Foot, which is certainly a tester. This year's at Quail Hollow, hardly a pushover. It's been at Bethpage Black. The PGA just does not set up its courses as penally as does the USGA for the US Open, so scores are lower. But then, the R&A doesn't set up Open courses as penally as does the USGA, depending on the weather to do that for them.

 

[melock]

The Grand Slam is amazing because of the different tests and the exclusivity of it. Definitely the Masters, the US Open and the Open are different tests. What has made/makes the PGA a different major? Is it simply because it is known as a major and therefore a stacked field? Historically, the courses (and scores) seem to indicate it's not usually a tremendously difficult course (although I recall Whistling Straits and Southern Hills (sweltering) being difficult tests).

I covered the PGA at Baltusrol in 2005. It was close to 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. The only time I was outside those days was the walk from my car to the shuttle, shuttle to the media tent and media tent to the hospitality tent where I ate two of every ice cream.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

I said I was rooting for Justin Rose, but good on Rory for winning. I would keep an eye on him for ripping off a few more majors. His distractions seem to be in his rearview mirror now.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I covered the PGA at Baltusrol in 2005. It was close to 100 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. The only time I was outside those days was the walk from my car to the shuttle, shuttle to the media tent and media tent to the hospitality tent where I ate two of every ice cream.

That used to be the PGA's calling card, that it was played in August when most of the US is at its hottest. But that was removed when the tournament was shifted to May. On the plus side, that theoretically opens it up to being played at more Southern courses than before, but the PGA does not have so much identity it could afford to lose some.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I'll always hate the PGA being in May. I always used it as the unofficial end of summer. Now the final putt of the British Open drops and I barely GAF about golf until the Players.