Five Families Exempt Olympic Gold Medal Winners Who Will Probably Already Be Exempt Anyway

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The leaders of five of golf's six families convened for a press conference in Augusta to reaffirm their support for the Olympics and to announced that the Olympic Gold Medal winners will earn spots into the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open, PGA, ANA Inspiration, KPMG Women's PGA, U.S. Women's Open and Women's British Open. Rex Hoggard with the details at GolfChannel.com.

The winner will almost surely be exempt, but just in case there is a shock winner of the gold from far down the world ranking list, they are covered. It wasn't press conference worthy, except for the enjoyably awkward no-show by the PGA Tour, which unintentionally reaffirmed The Players as a non-major by tabling a decision until they could get Policy Board together to vote.

The PGA Tour's statement:

PGA TOUR statement on Olympic eligibility category for golf’s major championships

We applaud the major championships in the men's and women's games in making this decision. From the very beginning, every organization in the game of golf, including the PGA TOUR, has been dedicated to making the Olympic golf competition a significant and important event in our sport. Creating an eligibility category into golf's major championships for the winner of the Olympic golf competitions demonstrates that commitment and is a very meaningful step in the continuation of that process.

With respect to eligibility into The PLAYERS Championship for the winner of the men's Olympic golf competition, we have a different process than that of the major championships with respect to our regulations and eligibility categories and we will be initiating that process with our Policy Board and Players Advisory Council in the coming weeks.

Bones On Phil Hitting It Better Than Ever, Winning Masters Again

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The interview with Amanda Balionis, new Callaway hire talks to Phil Mickelson bagman Jim "Bones" Mackay about all things Phil, the Masters and his veto power over the boss. He also calls this a "really exciting time" for Mickelson because of his man's improved ball striking, saying he will win this event again, if not this week but one of these years.



Esteban Toledo Makes It To The Masters!

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Bryan Mullen initially wrote about this and I'm a little overdue in posting it, because Esteban Toledo is one of the great success stories in golf.

Still very competitive on the Champions Tour, Toledo had hoped to get to Augusta any way possible, and since he couldn't qualify he offered to loop for Ben Crenshaw last year.

Failing with that request, Sandy Lyle is bringing along one of his fellow competitors this week.

Tom Spousta followed up with Toledo now that he's here

“It’s unbelievable. It’s incredible. Before I die, I just wanted to experience Augusta National,” Toledo said Monday as he stood behind the Clubhouse in his caddie jumpsuit with Lyle’s bag still on his shoulders.

Where Masters Champs Keep Their Trophies

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In today's big Augusta Chronicle Masters preview, John Boyette and Doug Stutsman talk to past champions and track down where their Masters trophies rest.

The stories vary in part because of how many players won or what they actually won, but some of the locations will surprise. (There is a full list on the left side of the link.)

“I have a very small trophy room at my home in Australia, and that’s where I keep the Masters trophy,” 2013 winner Adam Scott said. “It sits center stage with a little shrine around it – which it deserves.”

Three-time winner Nick Faldo keeps one at his Florida home and the other two in his office in Windsor, England.

“The one in Florida’s right next to the TV so I can see it all the time,” Faldo said. “I don’t have a lot of trophies. I’ve just got a couple of big ’uns, so it’s always nice to see them.”

Prayers Answered (For A Week): 1986 Masters Re-broadcast Live!

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If you heard us talking about the 1986 Masters on ShackHouse, or have read the many great stories from five years ago on this very website, or you're just looking forward to Tuesday's Golf Channel doc, you probably know that the 1986 Masters is quite possibly modern golf's greatest (three) hours.

I think there is a case to be made that it was also the greatest broadcast moment in Masters history, and maybe sports history. Every announcer spoke from the heart with amazing, Hollywood-scriptmaster succinctness.

There's life in the old bear yet!

The bear has come out of hibernation!

Maybe? YES SIR!

The camera crews captured every key moment. The light was perfect. The protagonists were brilliant, clutch (at times) and diversified.

Producer Frank Chirkinian stuck to his love of leaders hitting shots until caving, even breaking away from key moments to show something live, and finally showing Nicklaus live from the 11th on. It's a masterpiece in every way.

But whether it's Melnyk (Melnyk!), Murphy, Wright, Nantz, Verne or Kenny and Pat, with a 14th hole cameo by McCord (McCord!), the actors all ad-libbed, accentuated and called this historic round to perfection.

So boycott NetFlix for a few days and prep for the 2016 Masters by streaming the greatest Masters of them all courtesy of Masters.com. Enjoy the full 3 hour broadcast for one week.


You Need To See The Drive, Chip And Putt In Person To Get It

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I love what TV does to inspire the kids and how they pick up the best swing habits of top players, but to really get a sense of the Drive, Chip and Putt you need to see the skill of young girls and boys in person. This year's DCP class was clutch again and yes, slow based on your social media comments.

I left an observation about the pacing out of my GolfDigest.com piece full of observations from the DCP. But about that: remember the kids get two putts, two chips and two drives. While it may look like they are doing a Jason Day impersonation, it's actually all about taking the opportunity to get the most out of their moment. In person, it's not the least bit annoying. Again, one of those lost-through-TV things.

Ryan Herrington noted the epic reactions from the kids, though maybe in a sign of the event's evolution or the advanced maturity of the kids, I thought they showed a little more swagger than all out jubilation. Either way, they performed with great skill, again.

Speaking of reactions, check out the telecast opening with the kids impersonating great moments in Masters history. A killer piece of work by all involved.

There were a lot of standout young people, but 13-year-old Ty Griggs, featured at the end of my piece with a gem of a quote, was the keeper for most of us. He's got a great story, a sharp mind, dry wit, ridiculously powerful swing and Vartan Kupelian captured this promising lad's story at Masters.com.

Oh and if you think the Masters isn't very progressive on social media, check out this Golf Channel produced piece on the practice day crash visit by the law firme of Timberlake, Horan and Rose. The only thing missing was James Corden driving and making everyone break into a boy band rendition of Dave Loggins' Masters theme:

2016 Masters: The Jordan Spieth Profiles

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In 14th heading into the final round in the Shell Houston Open, Jordan Spieth says his putter is starting to warm up, reports Will Gray for GolfChannel.com. And in even better news, Spieth gets to share a Champions Locker Room locker with Arnold Palmer, cased on the Rusty Jarrett photo (10th) in this Masters official website slideshow.

But it's that putter which gets get most of the attention when folks discuss Spieth's historic 2015 campaign. Yet a few great reads try to discern if there is more to Spieth's supremacy. 

In the annual defending champion profile, the Augusta Chronicle's Scott Michaux travels to Dallas to tell us more about Jordan Spieth's development, family and coaching. 

This, about instructor Cameron McCormick, was enlightening.

Like breaking a spirited colt, McCormick slowly got Spieth to harness his intensity and kinetic energy into a formulated plan.

“The more challenging part was to increase desire to win with a measure of patience and recognizing that certain things take time,” McCormick said. “With the help of his parents, who did the large part of that work, Jordan became tolerant of evolving a little bit more over time and being patient and taking a really diligent long-term or
medium-term focus to his improvement.”

For the first three months they did little but work on Spieth’s putting, which was the worst part of his game. At Spieth’s own suggestion, he converted to a left-hand, low style. Eventually they “started working to expand his skill set and morph his technique ever so slightly over time,” McCormick said.

The result was a tool box that proved resistant to failure.

Doug Ferguson focuses on the "Golf I.Q." concept and asks if Spieth is just that smart, or just a great putter. 

"I think I have a high golf IQ, sure," Spieth said. "I think what that means is I'm able to dissect different situations, different lies, winds and where pins are. Not only judging the distance, but judging — based on our knowledge of the golf course — the appropriate spot where to miss is and how to make par from there."

Then again, he believes everyone on the PGA Tour has a high golf IQ or else they wouldn't be out there.

"I think your love of the game makes you want to learn more about it and learn everything that goes into it," Spieth said. "I have a passion for it."

Jaime Diaz for Golf Digest offers various thoughts on what made Spieth so superior in 2015.

To me, Spieth’s best qualities evoke athletes from other sports. At the moment, his putting is eerily good. He led in several putting categories, but the stat that resonates most is his conversion rate of better than 25 percent on putts between 15 and 25 feet -- first on tour by a lot. It’s an ability that currently separates him from his peers in the same way NBA MVP Stephen Curry has separated from his.

While some are bothered by Spieth’s tendency to react vocally to his shots, I find it a signal of a player immersed in the moment and determined to never let up. Take away the profanity and churlishness (perhaps a big ask), and Spieth reminds me of John McEnroe. Like the tennis bad boy, Spieth uses exasperation, self-castigation and body language to rid himself completely of an unsatisfying shot, so that when it’s time for the next one his mind is clear. People forget that for as tortured as his self-talk seemed, McEnroe almost always played better after venting.

They've Arrived! The Masters Is (Finally) All In On Social Media!

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This is exciting for a few reasons. The paltry-for-a-beloved-tournament numbers speak to the previously guarded approach to social media: 408,000 Twitter followers and 125,000 Instagram followers.

A) The Masters folks have already Tweeted and Instagrammed more content the last few days than they have in all the previous years combined. They've even posted photos of players playing weekend practice and of the club scene the Saturday before all the fun begins.

B) This could, I repeat, could mean that we are moving to a day when fans wanting to watch great shots and moments in Masters history do not have to view them through some guys' video of his TV set. So far, no Masters YouTube account, but we'll take the baby steps.

A sampling of some of Saturday's social media:

World Number 1 @jasondayofficial is among the early arrivals practicing for #themasters

A photo posted by @themasters on Apr 2, 2016 at 11:48am PDT

 

 

 

And even a Masters merchandise post, with hashtag!

 

A refreshing reminder of #themasters #mastersmerch

A photo posted by @themasters on Apr 2, 2016 at 10:45am PDT

Gen Z Is Back! A Quick 2016 Drive, Chip & Putt Primer

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Year three of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship arrives Sunday and once again the little ones will get their shot to drive down Magnolia Lane (well, they'll be shuttled), hit shots on the Masters range, putt on Augusta Natonal's 18th green and awkwardly high-five green-coated corporate moguls and former Secretaries of State. It's golf's best grow the game initiative because it's about competition and fun, with just enough Masters formality. 

In 2015, there were a couple of minor tweaks to the process in executing the championship along with Masters champions formerly agreeing to hand out trophies (they informally appeared in the inaugural year). I'll be interested to see what the atmosphere is like and how the governing bodies are getting along, but to date the USGA, PGA of America and Augusta National folks dealing with nuts and bolts stuff have done an amazing job. Mostly, it's a great day to revel in the clutch skill of the young competitors and to enjoy their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
8-9 a.m.                       Pre-Game (Live From the Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals)
9 a.m.-1 p.m.               2016 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals

One Direction's Niall Horan is going to be there and looks like he's getting in a little golf while he's in town.

 

 The kids are signing in!

Each #DriveChipandPutt golfer signs the player plaque. Follow 'drivechipputt' on Snapchat for more behind the scenes action. One more day! #ItsPlayTime

A photo posted by Drive Chip & Putt Championship (@drivechipandputt) on Apr 2, 2016 at 10:38am PDT

 The final run-through reveals there will be Snapchat coverage too...

Final preparations for #DCPFinals tomorrow! Follow 'drivechipputt' on Snapchat for a behind the scenes look at this weekends's action. #ItsPlaytime

A photo posted by Drive Chip & Putt Championship (@drivechipandputt) on Apr 2, 2016 at 6:25am PDT

 A couple of the more intriguing youngsters to watch have been profiled by Golf Channel. My favorite is that of Grant Herrenbruck, who made it to the DCP finals and this year will be rooting on his brother Tate.


Kynadia Adams is a returnee to the DCP and is profiled by Michelle Tafoya. 

About All Tiger Has Left: A Really Late Friday News Dump?

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If you were still true believing that Tiger was chipping away at his return and just felt he wasn't quite ready to tee it up in the 2016 Masters, then Friday's late news of a Masters no-start would fit a narrative that the Big Cat was oh so close to playing.

The newsroom at TigerWoods.com must have been buzzing when the call rolled in late after Woods called in to say he was just oh so close. But not really.

From their report:

"After assessing the present condition of my back, and consulting with my medical team, I've decided it's prudent to miss this year's Masters.

"I've been hitting balls and training daily, but I'm not physically ready. I've said all along that this time I need to be cautious and do what's best for my long-term health and career. Unfortunately, playing Augusta next week wouldn't be the right decision. I'm absolutely making progress, and I'm really happy with how far I've come, but I still have no timetable to return to competitive golf."

Hitting balls and training daily, but no timetable for a return? As Bob Harig notes in his take on the news, the latter line is the real takeaway here. But why wait until the Friday night before to share that?

Steve DiMeglio treated the news with the proper respect for USA Today and without information beyond what we learn on TigerWoods.com, that's the correct approach.

However, we know the circumstantial evidence suggests Tiger drew out this inevitable decision for reasons only he knows.

Perhaps resisting the urge to tell the folks at Augusta National he can't play keeps him motivated to train and hit balls, even when he has to know that showing up cold at a major after two surgeries is a terrible idea.

Perhaps he just enjoys the idea that everyone is talking about him, wondering when he'll return? But as I noted in the Forward Press this week, this news is now only of interest to casual fans. Serious golf viewers have moved on.

Perhaps he needs to project the illusion of being close to a return to keep his corporate partners happy? Though "no timetable for return" comments won't get their hopes up.

Perhaps he just watched too much of The West Wing. As Luke Kerr-Dineen noted at For The Win, this was the best one he's ever dropped.

Or maybe, he just waited until late Friday to make the golf writers and TigerWoods.com team work late into a spring Friday night in his ongoing effort to avenge the humiliating coverage that appeared on almost no golf website?

Either way, we will move along and regain our focus on what figures to be an absolutely splendid Masters.

State Of The Game Podcast 65: 2016 Masters Preview

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Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and yours truly kick around the Masters and more, from Horse Courses to Austin to the demise of the other "Masters."

As always you can listen via the embedded player below. Or get the MP3 here, check out the SOTG homepage here, or get it on iTunes here.

Meanwhile, ShackHouse Episode 2 with Joe House is alive and well and still an iTunes Top 15 show, including #1 in Sports!

iTunes users can get ShackHouse here, or specifically, Episode 2 here.

Or for Soundclouders, the show's page is here. Sticher just needs to approve and so you'll be able to get it there soon!

Preview: Bubba Watson On 60 Minutes

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Sharyn Alfonsi profiles Bubba Watson on the eve of his attempt to win a third Masters, this Sunday at 7 pm ET.

The preview:

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