Poulter, McDowell, Stenson Turn Into Wang On Their Augusta Day Trip**

I wonder what the club thinks of the reigning U.S. Open champion, the reigning tour diva and the former Players Champion turning into auteurs for their drive up Magnolia Lane, the arrival in the locker room and their first glimpse of the course this year.

Naturally, all I could notice was how much the ninth hole fairway continues to be widened out.

Here's Poulter's Tweeted video. And McDowell going up Magnolia Lane and his balcony view, noticeably less Soderberghian in his camera gestures than Poulter.

Update on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 08:25 AM by Geoff

**Oops...Steve Elling tweets...

Comments

[mc]

I hope they don't get called into the principal's office for this. Love them sharing these.

[Front9Back9 Golf Blog]

I'm sure we will see many more videos along the way today..

[FWIW]

McDowell videos are already "not found." That was fast.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Clifford Roberts is not amused.

[Average Golfer]

Rather Gary McCordion.

[Dsl]

It felt kinda creepy watching those. There are just some things you don't share, you know? It was cool nut clearly very uncool.

I'm a bit rusty, but played 9 holes during a warm spell two weekends ago. Managed to make a few pars. I guess what I'm saying is, I can take Poulter's spot if need be. I won't tweet any videos, but I WILL give Hootie a piece of my mind.

[PA PLAYA]

Would this be akin to Maverick "buzzing the tower" in the movie Top Gun?

Billy Payne: "It has been brought to my attenshun that you vi-lated owa no-cellphone policy. You do undastand that this is a serious offense, cuhrect?"

Ian Poulter: "Mate, it's a hahmless cellphone camera pic, I just wanted to post it on my twitt...."

Billy Payne: "SILENCE! Yes, unfortunately I'm fuhmilya with your legendary status on this thing called twitta, of which let me say that I'm not the least bit impressed, Mr. Polta. You see, he-ah at Augusta National - we have standuhds. Those standuhds will be honahed by our patrons, and will also be honahed by our playas. Ya do want to play our beloved tuhnament, don't you Mr. Polta?"

Ian Poulter: "Yes, sir. I do very much want to play in your presti...."

Billy Payne: "Yes, Mr. Polta, you most suhtanly do. Ya see - you need us more than we need you. We have somethin you most desperately want, although I might add if it were left up to you - you would desecrate owa beautiful trophy with your own IJP design team. What are you, Mr. Polta - a golfa or a fashion clothin designa?"

Ian Poulter: "Well, a bit of both, atchually, and I do believe we could wuk something out with your club to spruce up that dreadful sports coat if you...."

Billy Payne: "SILENCE! Mr. Polta, I see primadonas like you evah-ree year here. You roll up Magnolia Lane in your fancy sports cars, thinkin that your all somebodies. I would remind you, Mr. Polta, that owa type isn't impressed in the least by your type. You are on owa propahtee here, son. We call the shots, we make the rules. And if you want ta play, you play by owa rules. Ah we cle-ah?"

Ian Poulter: "Yes, sir. Crystal Cle..."

Billy Payne: "That's whut I thought. Befowa you walk out of my office, Mr. Polta, you will hand ova that cellphone. And I imagine that you will be gettin it back Friday evenin as you leave our premuhsis. Playas only make it to the weekend he-ah, Mr. Polta, not fashion designas. Maybe you will suhprise me, but I doubt it."

"Oh, and one mo-ah thing, Mr. Polta: if you as much as let out a quiet faht on owa beloved golf course, I will have you driving a U-Haul of rubba dawg $hit back to Orlando. Dismissed!"

[Styles]

Pa-Playa, that was brilliant. Take a bow son, take a bow!

[Old Hornet]

Classic PA PLAYA, simply classic !

[Media driven]

Is this the first time this has been an issue? Remember the tweeting from last Ryder Cup became sort of a story early on.....Augusta should just roll with the punches after allowing course imagery on Woods' video game. Could be fun sidebar to this year's tooooooooor-nament.

[Billy Payne]

Mr. Playa - please do not expect tuh be admitted tuh owa tuhnament as a patron. We will not puhmit that.

[OWGR Fan]

FWIW I was able to view both of McDowells videos(1:20pm). Pretty cool.

[dbh]

McDowell by a mile in the cinematography department. Pouter, you're no Roger Deakins!

[Sir Hack-a-Lot]

Yeah...All 3 vids are still up. Just watched them - Awesome....Can you imagine taking that drive up Magnolia Lane and playing a round...Wow!

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Tears in my eyes. Time to retire the Shackelford Snark Trophy forever! And you should probably win the Masters Memory contest, too, just for good measure. Put Geoff and Hornet in the shade. If only the Green Jackets had just a wee sense of humor...and there goes my practice round lottery chance for another year. Think I'm up to 2021 by now.

Anyway, I thought the videos were cool, too.

[Peachtree]

PA PLAYA - That was hilarious! Way to go. Thanks and it made my day at work today.
Seriously though , I can't wait for the Masters next week and I hope that it will be fun and may the player playing the best wins

[Chad]

Hats off to Geoff for referring to Poults as "reigning tour diva."

[Hawkeye]

Isn't banning cell phones on the property the 2010's a bit like still having the players employ the club's black servan...er, caddies well into the 1980's? And why do we seem to just find it "quaint"? I guess it has something to do with the view from the locker room balcony...

[RickABQ]

I think Poulter may have been the cinematographer on The Blair Witch Project.

[LiquidKaos]

@Hawkeye -

Cellphones should be allowed for players...to take/make calls when appropriate.

I'm not sure I dig being "let in" to this experience...I mean...it's cool shit, but half the mystique of Augusta is NOT being able to experience certain things, and needing to hear about them second/third hand...adds some mystery and the whatnot.

Just thoughts off the top of my head...now I'm off to buy EA Sports TW 12: The Masters...lol.



-LK

[LiquidKaos]

Just watched the videos....I vow to never be surprised again when watching Poulter miss a short putt. The guy has hands that should only exist at a massage parlor that includes the "happy ending".



-LK

[The O]

Well done playa. You needed a "Respect our Authoritah" in there.

[David P]

How about the notion that a golf course, especially Augusta, should be an escape from Cell Phones, technology, etc... Besides, talking on your cell phone, unless it's an emergency, on the golf course is just rude. Just as it is at a restaurant, in church, while in line and lots of other places. There are concepts called situational awareness, politeness, privacy, discretion, tact and just plain acting like you've been there before. Maybe some folks should google those things from their smartphones and learn about them.

[Brad Hamilton]

How about banning them from 95% of the course, but having designated areas where their use is permitted...sometimes these little contraptions can come in handy when trying to locate someone or phoning in a rules violation lol.....

Yes, ban them from the tee and green area, but allow for their use somewhere near hospitality tents or concession stands where there is noise and these calls would be part of the background hum...

Now on to more important things like Libyan airspace control

[Mike T.]

PA PLAYA—Well done, suh!

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Just one more thing. If players are not to use their phones anywhere on "the property" how is it that Mr. Payne wants them to communicate with family, friends, business associates, girlfriends, Domino's? Western Union?

[Old Hornet]

You forgot the Blue Velvet Lounge

[FWIW]

Did get the videos to work directly on Twitter. Just could not for some reason through the links above.

As for cell phones, I wish we could return to the days before they ever existed. We managed to get along just fine not being eternally connected via these techno umbilical cords. I like the fact that Augusta is a happy anachronism on so many things, including this policy.

[pasaplayer]

Where does one comment on the quote of the day? So true, but consider an alternative approach, as the Good Doctor most certainly did. Find your landing spot for a short two shotter. Dr. MacKenzie would give you just such an option. Come play no. 3 at Pasatiempo--230+ uphil par three with plenty of sand all around. You can find relief short; there's lots of landing area at less than 200 to 150 or so. It's a wonderfully strategic hole particulary for shorter hitters who truly must play it as a two-shotter.. Sure, your next shot is uphill to a blind cup, but if you know the green, you know the shot, as delicate as it must be. Now, try to sink any putt on this amazingly subtle and not-so-subtle scary green. Take your four; it's par here. (Ken Venturi, course record holder in the early '50s, is reported to have referred to no. 3 as the toughest par three in golf. Liimit his enthusiasm to NoCal and your challenge is just as daunting.

[LiquidKaos]

I hope Geoff doesn't mind me posting about it here, but I've setup a small, no-ad Masters Tribute stream for everybody to enjoy:

http://veetle.com/index.php/channel/view#4d92985e732a0




Cheers,


LK

[P Dog]

A "cell phone" is only such when you are using the telephone application on one of these new multi function devices. I didn't see anywhere the mention of no video cameras. My club has the same moronic interpretation. Taking some video, even texting isn't using the "telephone" which was the original idea when cell phones were just that: Something that rang loudly and was often misused in certain places. Thus the ridiculous rational to ban the them completely. " I don't understand it, so lets just ban it all together". Genius.

[LiquidKaos]

@ P Dog -

I would think it would be more of a "boy, do we get to have the FUN of deciding exactly which apps are allowed for use on the golf course" kinda thing.

Keep the phone on silent - and text away...I'm sure nobody is going to give a sweet F as long as you're not holding up play.

Taking video at Augusta of all the juicy nooks 'n crannies (the youtube vide of the Crows Nest made me wanna puke)...? Well, that's just incredibly bad taste, in my opinion....

Youtube, Twitter, Facebook away all the mystique around Augusta National, and we'll eventually lose all the pizazz of The Masters itself.



-LK