![\"Jimmy](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/teemoore\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2014\/04\/headshots_25632.png\")
<\/a>Jimmy Walker<\/p><\/div>\n
Jimmy Walker in his interview said he played the course several weeks ago and noticed \u201ca lot of guys up in the trees, a lot of chain saws going on.\u201d Walker, a three time Tour winner this season,\u00a0 said the clean-up and pruning gave him \u201cthe feeling you could kind of see down through the golf course a little better\u2014I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s a good thing or a bad thing.\u201d Incidentally, Walker first played Augusta three years ago as guest of a member, allowing him to play the course along with his father and father-in-law. \u201cIt was neat. We got to stay on property and had dinner and played the par-3 and all of that.\u201d Although his accommodations this week won\u2019t be in a Masters cabin or lodge, Walker\u2019s digs will be very close. He\u2019s staying in an RV bus that\u2019s parked across the street from club. \u201cI mean, I\u2019m walking in every day and it\u2019s pretty nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his first player interview on Monday at the Press Center, first-time Masters invitee Patrick Reed handled himself quite well\u2014especially when asked about his comments after his Doral win as being a \u201ctop 5 player in the world.\u201d He said he received a number of favorable comments about the remark, including those from Gary Player, Henrik Stenson and Michael Jordan. \u201cYou have to believe in yourself,\u201d said Reed. Nothing arrogant or cocky about that in this era of the pounced on soundbite.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Patrick Reed<\/p><\/div>\n
It riles me when off-the-cuff, unscripted speech\u2014like Reed\u2019s words immediately after his Doral win\u2014gets undue attention. Reed, in many circles, was viewed as cocky and arrogant and full of himself. But really, he just spoke his mind quickly\u2014as would a Johnny Miller. I thought his Masters interview was revealing in how world-class players must confront and dismiss doubt. In fact, it recalled a line once uttered by Michigan\u2019s Dave Hill when he played in the Grand Rapids Senior Open back in the late 80s. Hill said to a reporter, \u201cYou know, as a player I\u2019m fighting doubt and self-doubt all of the time.\u201d When asked if doubt ever creeps into his mind, Reed replied, \u201cNot very often.\u201d (laughter) Reed went to relate some of his mental tricks to ward off doubt when on the course. \u201cEven if I\u2019m in the trees and have an impossible shot, I always try to get some some belief or something positive out of it\u2026.So I try to keep on going back,\u00a0 if any kind of doubt starts to slip in my mind\u2026You can\u2019t\u2014especially in this game, let doubt get in your way. I believe it\u2019s just as much a mental game as physical game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Best quip of the day: By Jason Day when asked what advice he would lend to his fellow Aussies making their debut this week at the Masters: \u201cJust try to give yourself an uphill putt.”<\/p>\n
Best player insight. I asked Jason Day, one on one, what he learned upon reflection about last year\u2019s Masters when he held the lead on Sunday at the 16th tee only to bogey the next two holes and fall off the pace. \u201cTwo things. One, I needed to have better communication with my caddie. We needed to talk it through better on the 16th tee. Second, I\u2019ve learned to embrace the uncomfortable in that sort of situation. Since the Masters, I\u2019ve done a better job of embracing that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although no native Michiganders are competing in the 2014 Masters, the name of Ashwin Arasu should be noted. Arasu, 15, competed in the inaugural Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals in the Boys 14-15 age group. Now living in San Diego with his parents who are both Physical Therapists, Arasu was born in Dearborn, Michigan. Out of the 88 junior finalists, he was only one with Michigan roots. Next year, Michigan should have better odds on being represented as the event will hold nine locals around the state beginning in June, followed by three subregionals in August, and the finals in September. For details, visit www.drivechipandputt.com<\/p>\n
By the way, the last Michigan resident to play in the Masters was Alma\u2019s Randal Lewis. By winning the US Mid-Amateur in 2011, Lewis competed in the 2012 Masters. Michigan Tour players such as Tom Gillis, Justin Hicks, Doug LaBelle II, and Brian Stuard have yet to qualify for Masters. None of them have won a PGA Tour event or have qualified via other criteria, such as: 1) first four players and ties in the previous U.S. Open, British Open and\/or PGA Championship; 2) those qualifying for the season-ending Tour Championship; 3) The 50 leaders on the Final Official World Golf Ranking; and 4) 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published the week before the current Masters.<\/p>\n
The last Michigan pro to have played in the Masters was Marshall\u2019s John Morse who played in the 1997 tournament. What a dry spell!<\/p>\n