The Masters Sunday

 

The 82^nd masters is already a memorable one with so many stories. Starting from Jack Nicklaus grandson holing in one in par-3 contest on Wednesday, Tiger Woods returning to masters after 3 years, Vandini Sharma putting up stories about her brother in the associated press, Tony Finau shooting 4 under in his very first round in the masters after having to go through MRI scan in the morning, Phil Mickelson hovering around the cut line and the defending champion Sergio Garcia shooting 8 over on par-5 15^th.

It has been amazing week in Augusta. The champion will be crowned tomorrow. Who will slip into the green jacket? We will know that tomorrow but by looking at the leaderboard it looks like whoever wins it, it will be his first masters win as two times masters champion Bubba Watson is 8 shots off the lead.

Patrick Reed and Rory Mcliroy are at the top of the leaderboard with Reed going into the final round having 3 shots leads. Will we be witnessing another Ryder Cup duel? Will Rory be able to avenge his Ryder Cup loss? After these two at the top, there is Rickie Fowler who had a great outing on Saturday shooting bogey free 7 under and currently sitting at solo third and then one shot off the lead is John Rahm. Can John Ram give back to back masters title to Spain?

Everyone eyes will be on Reed and Mcliroy. They have a great rivalry and patrons love to watch these two whenever they play each other. Reed hasn’t been this close in the masters while Rory can understand the feeling as he was in a similar situation in 2011 but blew it up on Sunday. The pressure will be on both. It will be a matter of nerves. They cannot afford to get carried away or look too far ahead. It will be a great spectacle of golf tomorrow.

Rooting for Rory!

First of many masters for Shubhankar

I haven’t waited this anxiously for a Thursday morning before. The excitement is over the roof as the young Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma will be teeing off for the first time at the coveted masters alongside two local boys Rusell Henrey and Larry Mize.

After great 4 months and terrific play at world golf championship in Mexico last month where he led through 54 holes, Sharma got the invitation to play in the masters, the first of four majors. He is only the fourth Indian player to play in the masters. It is a dream of any golfer to play in this tournament and then getting to play this early in life is indeed a special moment for him and for the entire nation.

While all the attention will be on resurgent Tiger woods, Phil Mickelson who is vying to become the oldest masters champion at the age of 47, Rory Mcilroy who will have an opportunity to complete the career grand slam or Sergio Garcia who will try to defend his title after Tiger Woods did 16 years back. Each one of them is chasing greatness.

The field consists of some great past champions and some exciting young guns, but there is man who can inspire billion people back home if he does well. It will help increase games popularity in Asia like Tiger was able to do for US and for rest of the world.

Sharma is playing well and he is high on confidence. He is calm and composed and is not stupefied by grandeur of the occasion or is overawed by seeing his childhood hero Tiger Woods.

I hope he starts well on Thursday and carries on the momentum. He has got the great caddy in Mitch Knox who has experience of caddying a major winner and have walked on the greens umpteen times which will help him making better and informed decision while hitting the shots or rolling the putts.

Asian golf is in good hands but we need more players and role models to draw more people into this sport. A masters winner here can open the doors for this change.

Hoping for a strong finish from Shubhankar Sharma on his first masters tournament. All the best!

Go Shubhankar!

He tees off at 12:32 EST or 22:02 IST on Thursday.