
The Masters: Top
Golf Journalists Reflect On The Game's Opening Act
PORTLAND, Ore., April 7, 2010 -- The Masters Invitational kicks off tomorrow
and golfers the world over are getting ready. In celebration of this annual
rite of spring, The A Position.com
presents its own views of the tournament, from cherished memories to inside
angles on the course and how to play Augusta National.
The new A List - a monthly compendium of expert golf and
travel info„recalls moments of pain and pleasure. As spectators, reporters,
disinterested observers, and even hackers lucky enough to challenge the fabled
layout, The A Position's writers present a variety of perspectives on
this singular event. Favorite holes, advice for viewers, sage analysis, even
contradictory (and somewhat heretical) opinions.
The A Position's writers know every blade of grass and can
taste the pimento-cheese sandwiches. They bring the flavor of Augusta and The
Masters to readers looking for something new, exciting, and unique.
And unmistakably Masters. Excerpts from their comments
follow:
- After hearing so many people describe how television
flattens the course, I couldn't wait to see Augusta National in 3-D for
the first time in 2003...
- The first event that I covered as journalist that could be
called a major historical event occurred April 13, 1997. On that
day, Tiger Woods won his first Masters at age 21...
- Here are a few observations about Augusta National, based
on covering 24 Masters: It's the most exciting back nine in golf
because it's not at all out of the question to shoot a 30 or a 40...
- I have attended five Masters, always wearing the Barney
Fife badge that is stamped "Media," not the Wyatt Earp badge stamped
"Working Media..."
- It was always a true privilege to talk golf shop with my
late, great friend and mentor Paul Runyan. Of the Masters, and its
inaugural winner, Horton Smith, he said, "Finest putter I ever saw..."
- In 1996, despite the ongoing collapse, Greg Norman still
had a puncher's chance when he got to the 16th tee...
- My Masters wish is that the tournament would go away, or
more realistically, become just another stop on the PGA Tour alongside the
Quad City Classic and John Deere...
- Having learned to ski on the slopes of New England, Augusta
National's 10th hole is immediately familiar...
- My first Masters was 1985, and more memorable than
Bernhard Langer's green jacket was my winning a spot in the media lottery
to play the course the Monday after...
- While a Masters' badge is often noted as one of the
hardest sporting event stubs to get, there is still an even more
difficult, yet far superior way to get on Augusta National during
tournament week: as a volunteer...
- Redbud has nothing to do with Orson Welles and everything
to do with the par-three 16th at Augusta National, normally about 170
yards...
- Surely Martha Burk is not alone in surveying the lush
empire that is Augusta National Golf Club and thinking, "If only..."
The A Position.com is a network of websites featuring the
world's best golf and travel writers. The term "The A Position" refers to the
best place a golfer can land his tee shot. On the web, it refers to the site
readers will want to land on for great golf and travel journalism.
For further information contact:
Jeff Wallach
Executive Editor/Managing Partner
(O) 503-236-1793
(C) 971-242-9454
jcw@teleport.com
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
(O) 908-876-5100
(C) 908-963-6013
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com