The Masters

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

3 putts, do it Jimmy.

[Giggles]

That's that then. Easy 2 from there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He needed to hit his first putt a bit longer

He's done well though, fair play to him.

If Matsuyama could putt he'd have taken this though, the bottling Japanese.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Still two weeks until the Masters but I highly recommend anyone interested tune in for the World Matchplay final on SS4 on the hour. Dustin Johnson v Jon Rahm, world number one in insane form against 22 year old Spanish tyro, also in insane form and both are hitting it miles. Lovely country club course in Austin, Texas as well.

[Adamski]

Country clubs in America look absolutely ridiculous. Would love to go to one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's today

Sky all week, BBC at the weekend.

Dustin Johnson has opened proceedings by falling down some stairs and his participation is in doubt. Such a Dustin thing to do.

[Giggles]

Raging I hadn't the foresight to book today and tomorrow off for this. Won't be shifting from the TV at the weekend though.

Anyone but 'Rory'.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They only start the proper live coverage at 8pm anyway as the good ol' boys down there have to protect the 'patrons'.

[Giggles]

That's right too, this one does start coverage later. I'll do the first two rounds on Eir Sport as they normally have less ad breaks than Sky on most other things. Harrington is commentating for someone, could be them, which would be a minus though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I turned on the preview on Sky last night and there was Paul McGinley, golf's answer to the 'proper football man', verbally puffing up his mates as always. I'll organise a whip round to have him on the Irish coverage instead.

[Giggles]

Johnson gone.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Butch Harmon back on Sky

[Giggles]

Watching Sky til Eir kicks off at 8. They love their graphics.

[Giggles]

Speith shatting himself already.

[ItalAussie]

Only Dustin Johnson.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Charley Hoffman was in the last group on Sunday a couple of years ago (when Spieth won) and I don't think the host network showed any of his shots. He's the sort of person who American TV tries to pretend doesn't exist.

The BBC also referring to players ranked top 50 in the world as 'little known Americans', I love it.

Still, good to see Westy already in the top three, ideally placed to pick up the pieces when the Hoff collapses on Sunday.

[Giggles]

Would love this to be the one Westwood wins. I missed the end last night, that was a storming finish.

[Waffdon]

On the Aussies.

Sergio though

[Waffdon]

Of course he misses that on 18.

[niko_cee]

I was going to a Sergio/Westwood day 4 final pairing but I see Lee's already done the dirty on himself.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm sure I spied a missed three footer from him whilst half-watching it over dinner. Westy, the gift that keeps on giving.

This is actually shaping up beautifully for the weekend. Loads of big names and some little ones in the mix.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fred Couples is taking the absolute piss, as he does every year.

[Waffdon]

Speith is going to get back into this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nah. He's not playing well enough tee to green. Short game digging him out. You can't win the Masters that way from seven back, he'd have to shoot 65 and 68 or something.

I had Fowler and Mickelson (of the top names) for this and happy with that so far. Rahm is absolute class as well. Reckon he might win the Open at Birkdale.

[Waffdon]

Lovely putt

Should be right back into it now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Westwood on an early CHARGE. Come on Lee, get in those last couple of groups for Sunday.

[Giggles]

The pig nosed little bastard is ominously placed. Need him at least 6 back once today is wrapped up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If he wins tomorrow you'll have to lock yourself in a padded room for the next six months.

I don't find Phil as objectionable as I used to. Maybe it's just Stockholm Syndrome.

[Giggles]

Ah you get used to him winning. As bad as it is at the time, you've forgot about it the following weekend.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah but this will be a career Grand Slam and lead to load of op eds and a statue.

I'm a huge fan of his personally.

[Giggles]

Hadn't even copped about the grand slam. He's going to win it eventually anyway.

[Giggles]

Oh and it was Sky got Harrington

I knew he was commentating somewhere from a preview podcast the other day, but I just presumed it was Eir. That said, it may still be an improvement on Bjorn.

EDIT: Peter Alliss talking about how well Fred Couples' trousers fit. BBC


.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This is shaping up to be an absolute classic. I just hope none of them go on a mental run and streak away with it.

Everyone with a heart has to be rooting for Garcia though. Mon Sergio.

[Giggles]

God yes, a Garcia win would be brilliant. Like yourself though I'm just hoping it trundles along like it is for now to set it up for tomorrow.

[niko_cee]

Fowler was putting like an absolute champ on those opening holes.

Westwood sticking it to within 3 feet off the tee and then missing the put could be a Bill Murray comedy vehicle.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd actually quite like Hoffman to go on and win too, if only for the raging seethe it would cause from a less famous player daring to do well (golf, especially American golf, biologically despises the unheralded).

[niko_cee]

Enter William McGirt. I was thinking as he was up there that his name is more suited to a rogue PGA win (or maybe a US Open gone wrong in the style of Lucas Glover) than a proper one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

His name is more suited to assassinating a little known 19th century President than anything to do with golf.

The TV directorial choices are always fun in America. They seem to have given up on Pieters. Obviously not doing the numbers in Antwerp.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Hoff goes maritime at 16, that's him off the scene.

Looking at some fruity final groups tomorrow here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Last two groups:

Fowler/Spieth
Rose/Garcia

[Giggles]

That's lined up lovely.

Between a Grand Prix at 7am and this ending late night, Monday is going to be a fucker.

[Waffdon]

Meant to be next to no wind. Gotta fancy Spieth but Sergio winning on Seve's birthday would be too damn good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's Sergio's time.

Can't believe I've just said that but it is.

[Giggles]

I reckon Speith, but please let it be Garcia.

[niko_cee]

Westy leaving it an inch short at the first I see.

Although he's being outdone by Casey at the moment.

I can already see Garcia walking down the last looking to the heavens, so I imagine he's going to have a spectacular meltdown somewhere.

[Giggles]

I see an amateur there with one of those long putters. I thought they were banner, or is he allowed because he's an amateur?

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're allowed long putters but you're not allowed to anchor it in your body. So what a lot of them do is practice with it anchored and then hold it millimetres away for the actual putt.

[niko_cee]

Do any actual/club amateurs ever use those long putters? Or is the temptation to buy one (can you buy one?) the point at which you get measured up for your Team Sky lycra onesie?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've never seen a clubbie use one, though they do have them for sale in the fancier pro shops. It's basically for people who get the yips, which is realistically going to be pros. Bernhard Langer/Adam Scott made/saved their careers on the back of them but most people don't get as horrendously yippy as they did.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Come on Serg. We both know the triple bogey is coming. It's just how you respond to it. Come on Serg.