Don't Give Me Bull About Augusta Being Too Long. Look At Langer And The Mechanic
I want to put this on record for future generations, that myth that short batters and old guys cannot do well at Augusta or win another Major for that matter is busted.
Bernhard Langer may have won his first green jacket in 1985 and his second in 1993 but he contended right through the 2014 staging eventually tying 8th with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jimmy Walker.
The 56 year old will return to play the 2015 Masters safe in the knowledge that only Jack Nicklaus has made more Augusta cuts. Langer is now tied on 23 with Arnie and Billy Casper with Nicklaus on 37.
Follow @golfcentraldoc
What we are seeing here and what we will continue to see is an increase in 50+ year old players contending in Majors. The advances in club technology that have added yardage to the Senior game are a contributor but one which pales into insignificance when compared to the advantage experience brings.
And nowhere is experience more respected than at Augusta. Knowing the slopes on the greens and when to lay up on the par fives are worth the buttons on the Green Jacket itself. How many times this week did we see a gung-ho blast for the par-5 15th in two that lead to disaster? That didn't happen Langer.
It wasn't just the German either. This year we had Freddie Couples again contending for long periods and a newly turned senior Miguel Angel Jimenez having his best ever Masters finishing solo fourth.
What started with Tom Watson almost winning The Open at Turnberry in 2009 aged 59 has continued apace. That was no flash in the pan.
Mark my words, a fiftysomething will win a Major soon and it may well be at Augusta.
Bernhard Langer may have won his first green jacket in 1985 and his second in 1993 but he contended right through the 2014 staging eventually tying 8th with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jimmy Walker.
The 56 year old will return to play the 2015 Masters safe in the knowledge that only Jack Nicklaus has made more Augusta cuts. Langer is now tied on 23 with Arnie and Billy Casper with Nicklaus on 37.
Follow @golfcentraldoc
What we are seeing here and what we will continue to see is an increase in 50+ year old players contending in Majors. The advances in club technology that have added yardage to the Senior game are a contributor but one which pales into insignificance when compared to the advantage experience brings.
And nowhere is experience more respected than at Augusta. Knowing the slopes on the greens and when to lay up on the par fives are worth the buttons on the Green Jacket itself. How many times this week did we see a gung-ho blast for the par-5 15th in two that lead to disaster? That didn't happen Langer.
It wasn't just the German either. This year we had Freddie Couples again contending for long periods and a newly turned senior Miguel Angel Jimenez having his best ever Masters finishing solo fourth.What started with Tom Watson almost winning The Open at Turnberry in 2009 aged 59 has continued apace. That was no flash in the pan.
Mark my words, a fiftysomething will win a Major soon and it may well be at Augusta.
Comments
Post a Comment