Masters 2025

[Uncle Rico]

Is Herm handing out mimosas?

He isn't allowed in here today.  I think he's on port-a-john duty

[MU82]

I don't think it is his ego.  I think it is his game.  When he was winning it was a high wire act.  He did not hit it long or straight.  But he was long enough and kept it in play enough that his short game wizardry could get him over the line.  Think about that sand shot for his first win at the Deere.  Think about the insane bogey from the driving range at the Open.   He was a modern day Seve.
   The shelf life for that kind of golf at that level is not particularly long.  He tries to get a little longer off the tee.  He starts missing one more 10 foot par save per round.   He gets married, has a kid, gets hurt.  Now he is trying to get back to the top.  But now he is trying to clean up the old, erratic shots while still having the creativity and touch.  Again, long and straight was never his game before and now he is trying to get there.
  Maybe he gets there.  Maybe he fades away except for the occasional flash of brilliance.  Maybe he wins another Open in bad conditions.   But I think that a Seve like descent is also possible.

Both you and Wags make some good points. But you're right ... it has been so long since he contended for anything that I had forgotten how living-on-the-edge his game could be.

And now he's simply been surpassed by younger and/or better all-around golfers.

Fortunately for him, he can make an incredible living just hanging around the top 25-50 of most events.

[GB Warrior]

He got married

The downfall of many

[cheebs09]

I feel like Spieth was also riding an incredibly hot putter. Maybe my memory is skewed, but I remember him dropping bombs from all over the place, which probably covered up a lot of issues.

[cheebs09]

Wasn't lost on me watching Rory's isolated walk from 18 to the clubhouse versus Bryson high fiving everyone and anyone.

I noticed that too. Bryson certainly looked comfortable coming off that green.

I feel the first two holes are going to tell a lot. If Rory comes out scorching, I'll like his chances. However, when he's been in contention lately, it's been tons of pars that never really let him stay ahead. If Rory pars number 2, and Bryson birdies, I could see Rory getting tight. Especially with the scar tissue of a previous Augusta meltdown.

[tower912]

I feel like Spieth was also riding an incredibly hot putter. Maybe my memory is skewed, but I remember him dropping bombs from all over the place, which probably covered up a lot of issues.

Yes.

[MuggsyB]

The greens look like they're playing faster. 

[CreightonWarrior]

I'm just a weekend warrior but I can't imagine that's the start Rory was looking for.

[MuggsyB]

Sweet Jesus.  You can't start with a double.  Wow. 

[MuggsyB]

I'm just a weekend warrior but I can't imagine that's the start Rory was looking for.

Those were brutal putts. 

[MuggsyB]

Rory has to have an immediate bounce back on #2. 

[cheebs09]

Rory has to have an immediate bounce back on #2. 

Driving into the bunker did not help.

This could spiral quickly for Rory.

[MuggsyB]

As bad of a start as possible for Rory.  Needs to figure it out quickly. 

[MuggsyB]

Driving into the bunker did not help.

This could spiral quickly for Rory.

Especially when you consider Bryson obliterated that tee shot dead center. 

[MuggsyB]

The greens are nasty.  Notwithstanding Tower, who would be draining birdies from everywhere, I don't see anyone going crazy low. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Rory wasted absolutely no time to go full tilt Rory.

[MuggsyB]

Rory wasted absolutely no time to go full tilt Rory.

Abysmal start. 

[MuggsyB]

There we go!  Huge birdie for Rory on 3.  That could calm him down. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Huge birdie there for Rory to hopefully get on track now

[cheebs09]

It feels like with the way the final group is playing, if Aberg or Scottie get hot, they could make things interesting. Although Rory's first shot at 4 is encouraging.

[Jockey]

Looks like we got a heavyweight fight today.

[CreightonWarrior]

Can go out and run a 5k between each of Bryson's putts today

[PGsHeroes32]

Well, the way things shifted through first 2 holes

They shifted even more the other way the next 2 holes

[MuggsyB]

Wow.  That was the craziest first 4 holes I can remember seeing from the final group of a major.

[MuggsyB]

Nm