5 Reasons Why The Masters is Bigger Than Tiger Woods

When Tiger announced his bad back would keep him out of the 2014 Masters, you would of thought some media members wanted to cancel the whole thing and just tee it up next year.

Not so fast, my friends. Like most fans, I can't celebrate my spring without a healthy dose of azaleas, Magnolia Lane and the dulcet tones of Jim Nantz waxing poetically about this golf nirvana.

Let's face it, Tiger is a huge draw, but this is the Masters. It's the most important golf tournament on the planet and even Tiger has to take a backseat to this celebration of the game in the Georgia pines.

Here are 5 reasons why the 2014 Masters is bigger than Tiger:

1. The Masters is Never Boring
Whether it's Bubba hitting an impossible hook shot off pine straw in a playoff in 2012 or Phil pulling off some straw magic through the pines on the 13th hole in 2010, the Masters inspires golfers and brings out their best. Oh, Tiger's hit some great shots (the unbelievable chip shot at the 16th in 2005), but just about everybody in the field gets the adrenaline flowing so you never know what miraculous feat you're going to witness. For instance, Louis Oosthuizen's double eagle shot from 260 yards out on hole number two in 2012 is one of my favorites.

2. The Masters Celebrates Golf History and Family
The Masters is timeless and absolutely none of the traditions change without Tiger's presence. They were there before Tiger played his first Masters in 1995 and they'll be there long after he stops playing the PGA Tour. Treasured traditions like the ceremonial honorary starters, the family-oriented par three tournament with the players' small children wearing mini-size caddie outfits and the Champions Dinner on Tuesday of Masters Week are cherished by every golf fan.

3. Lefthanders, Not Tiger, Grab the Spotlight and Have An Advantage
The design of Augusta National favors southpaws, not Tiger. Woods doesn't bomb it off the tee like he used to and the design of some holes call for approach shots more receptive to lefthanders. In fact, in the past 11 years, five of the winners have been lefties-- Phil Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion (2004, 2006, 2010), Bubba Watson (2012) and Mike Weir (2003).

4. The 2014 Masters Has Other Great Story Lines
While Tiger winning the Masters with a creaky back would've have been the ultimate story, this year's Masters has no shortage of interesting story lines. Among the more intriguing are: Craig Stadler and son, Kevin Stadler, as the only father and son to play in the same Masters; Aussie Adam Scott tries to repeat and if he succeeds, he'll ascend to the No. 1 golfer in the world; 23 first-timers in the 2014 Masters; following the ever-confident Patrick Reed, a three-time PGA Tour winner this year, to see if he can capture a major; and watching Rory pursue the Green Jacket.

5. It's the Masters, Enough Said
No corporate signage. No goofballs yelling "in the hole" on the tee boxes at par fives. No rip-off concessions prices. No goofy trophies... The Masters is different and we like it that way. It's the most popular golf tournament in the world. Make no mistake, Tiger has added a lot to Masters lore, but the tournament doesn't need him. He needs the Masters every spring, just like the rest of us.

5 Reasons Why Tiger Woods Will Win the 2012 Masters

1. He's brimming with confidence after winning at Bay Hill in Orlando two weeks ago. Reportedly, Woods was relaxed, smiling and focused during a practice round this Sunday at Augusta National. No doubt, the recent win put him in a good place mentally.

2. He wants to win the Masters and stick it to Hank Haney, whose just released book "The Big Miss" has portrayed Tiger as a self-centered cheapskate who almost destroyed his career by pursuing a fascination with the Navy Seals. Woods probably wants to win a Masters in the face of ex-caddie Steve Williams (who'll be toting the bag for Adam Scott) as well. Remember, he had numerous disparaging things to say about Woods. Last but not least, he'd like to see the look on Masters chairman Billy Payne's face at the green jacket ceremony. Payne publicly admonished Woods in the heat of the scandal.

3. He's overdue. In the last six Masters, Woods has not finished lower than tied for sixth place. He's had a T-2, T-3 and two T-4's. Woods always plays well at Augusta National and this year will be no different.

4. Woods has finally figured out the driver. The wayward drives are no longer part of his repertoire. In fact, he leads the PGA Tour in Total Driving (distance plus accuracy).  He can basically grip it and rip it at Augusta National and almost always have a second shot. Even if he misses a fairway, there's lots of leeway to recover.

5. He ranks first in the PGA Tour's "Par 5 Birdies or Better Leaders".  One of the keys to winning a Masters is making birdies or eagles on the fives and sinking clutch putts on pool table fast greens. If Woods putts like he did at Bay Hill, he'll be wearing another green jacket on Sunday.

Ten Reasons Why I Absolutely Love the Masters

Ten Reasons Why I Absolutely Love the Masters

I can't wait for the Masters to start this year. With Tiger, Rory and Phil playing well, 2013's version should be phenomenal and most likely, as usual, will come down to the back nine on Sunday.

One aspect of the Masters’ appeal is that while many things in America are changing at microwave speed, the tournament and it’s setting remains transfixed in another era. From its Magnolia Lane, a picturesque and darkly shaded boulevard leading up the clubhouse, to the blooming, colorful azaleas, to the green blazer awarded the champion each year, few things seem to change.

To fans, the Masters retains its aura because—except for the first week in April—the public is rarely exposed to the Augusta National golf course. The club has repeatedly refused deals for licensing agreements, and the only place you can get Masters memorabilia such as hats, visors and shirts is at the tournament.

Here are my top 10 reasons why I love the Masters:

Knowledgeable and polite golf fans.

I know it sounds elitist, but keeping drunk, rowdy, golf illiterate fans away from Augusta National is a good thing. I love the fact there are no beered up clowns yelling “In the hole” on par five tee shots or “You da man” to everybody inside the ropes. 

Champions Dinner on Tuesday of Masters Week

What a great tradition? When you win the Masters you become a member of golf’s most exclusive club. One of the perks is the previous year’s winner gets to select the menu (and pick up the tab) for the annual dinner. Some of my favorite selections include Tiger Woods’ cheeseburgers and milkshakes in 1998 when he was 22 years old; Jose Maria Olazabal’s Paella (a Spanish rice dish with seafood) in 1995 and Ben Crenshaw’s Texas barbeque in 1996.

No corporate signage

One of the reasons Augusta National is so pleasing to watch on our television screens is the total lack of corporate signage. It’s one of the few places left in America where you’re not subjected to some sign wanting to sell you something. With pop up ads on the Internet, intrusive advertisements at movie houses and endless signs and corporate tents at your typical PGA Tour event, it’s a welcome reprieve to see Augusta National, a throwback to a simpler time.

Par Three Contest

You can see the joy on the player’s faces as they walk around the course accompanied by their small children, who are wearing mini-sized caddie outfits. The event was first held in 1960. The course designed by George Cobb plays over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond, which is named for President Dwight Eisenhower. One of my favorite bits of Masters trivia is that no winner of the Par 3 Contest has ever gone on to win on the big course. Another great bit of Masters trivia: How many hole-in-ones have been scored on the Par 3 Contest? Give up? 70.

Caddie coveralls

While the green jacket is the most renowned Masters fashion statement, the white coveralls worn by the caddies instantly tell you this tournament is “a tradition like no other” to borrow a Jim Nance phrase. I love watching the golfers walk down the verdant fairways next to their caddies, who wear green caps and the white coveralls with the name of their golfers on the back in green lettering. While PGA Tour caddies have pretty much taken over the caddie duties, the old-time Masters caddies like Stovepipe, Pappy, Iron Man, Cricket and Cemetery will be as much a part of Masters lore as Amen Corner and Magnolia Lane.

Azaleas and magnolias.

I never get tired of seeing the bright azaleas that accent the golf course. Nothing signifies spring better than these brightly colored plants that provide the perfect color contrast for the verdant green surroundings. What I learned recently was that the golf course was built on land that previously served as the first nursery in the South. Through the years, more than 80,000 plants of more than 350 varieties have been added to the grounds.  The 61 magnolia trees that line Magnolia Lane are an awesome sight as well.

Real food and real low prices

Forget about hot dogs and hamburgers at the Masters (the smoke from the grills would presumably damage the garden-like ambiance), the real concession star is the pimento cheese sandwich that sells for $1.50. Yes, $1.50. Masters concession prices are stuck in a time warp. While other major American sports events have introduced price gouging to new levels at their concession stands, the members at Augusta National seem to care less about turning a profit on their concessions. Other $1.50 sandwich selections include egg salad, tuna salad and turkey. Want a brewski? How about two bucks?

Ceremonial honorary starters

I absolutely love the concept of having golf’s great past champions hit the ceremonial first shot. This year Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will share the honor. The ritual started in 1963 and through the year’s greats like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead have participated. Sadly, between 2002 and 2007 the tournament didn’t have an honorary starter. In 2007, Palmer accepted the invitation after declining it in the previous years. Now, this year with Arnie and Jack it couldn’t be better. They represent everything that is good and wholesome about the game and its great traditions.

No tickets

People adore and want what they can’t have, right. The Masters definitely falls into that category. It’s the toughest ticket in sports. There is a waiting list but it was closed in 1978. Even if you open up the list, thousands of names are already ahead of you and me. You have a better chance of getting tickets to the Super Bowl, World Series, or NBA Championship than to the Masters.

The Green Jacket and other awards

Even the poor slug who can a barely tell the difference between a tennis ball and a golf ball knows about the green jacket awarded to the winner of the Masters. Most people don’t realize there are a host of other prizes at the Masters. For instance, the winner also receives a gold medal; the runner-up receives a silver medal and silver slaver and each day’s low score is awarded a crystal vase.

5 Reasons I Can't Wait For Hank Haney's Book on Tiger Woods

The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods will be released March 27.

1. After years of Tiger’s short, curt answers to media questions revealing little about him as a person, it’ll be interesting and compelling to read Haney’s observations.

2. What’s with Woods' fascination with the Navy SEALS? Haney talks about Woods taking parachute drops and undergoing SEALS-like training. Oh yeah, his pops was a Green Beret, so maybe there’s something to this story.

3. For years, everybody disregarded Woods’ treatment of people and kissed his posterior as he was piling up victories and Major championships. Haney supposedly spills the beans on Tiger’s rudeness and cheapness. Hey, he even made Haney pick up the tab for takeout, according to excerpts leaked from the book.

4. I can’t wait for Tiger’s press conference at Augusta National  when some poor slug asks him to comment on the book. The famous Tiger stare and then who knows what follows. Get ready for some fireworks.

5. Despite all the pre-release attention given to Haney’s observations on Woods’ boorish behavior, there’s got to be something in the book about golf instruction and guiding Tiger to unparalleled levels, right?

Tiger, Rory and Phil at the 2012 Masters

Is this the year we get an all-out battle royal at Augusta National between who most people consider the best three golfers on the planet?

I think so.

Tiger is getting his game steadily together, highlighted by his amazing “62” at the Honda Classic. Rory has rebuilt his physique to complement his awesome game and he seems primed to close the deal at the Masters this year. Phil’s scintillating performance at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when he shot 8-under 63 to comeback from six strokes down signaled he’s hitting all cylinders in 2012.

Is this Arnie, Jack and Gary all over again?

That’s a quantum leap, I agree, but at least we have some anticipation the 2012 Masters will be a memorable one or, as Jim Nance likes to say, “One for the Ages.”

I can’t wait.

First things first, though, the “New Big 3” will tee up today at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship along with former No. 1 Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Keegan Bradley and Hunter Mahan.

In fact, all of the top 50 in the world are in this week’s loaded field tournament at Doral’s TPC Blue Monster in Miami.

If the “New Big 3” provides some fireworks this week, things will really heat up as we head toward Augusta next month.

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