Aussie Masters

[rooboy]

5 sleeps to go and i will be at the Aussie Masters in Melbourne! question is, as i have never been to a tournament before what are the do's and dont's apart form the obvious etiquette rules etc. If anyone yells out "get in the hole" is it impolite to smash them???
Whats the best way of viewing - stay in one spot or move around the course? There is going to be around 25000 people there and the forecast is for a hot (36 deg celcius) day.
Any feedback appreciated.

[Not a hacker]

If you want to see iger in action the best advice is to set up camp a few holes ahead and wait for his group to get there. You can do this a few times over 18 holes. Trying to follow his group around would be hard work, with all the jostling for position and craning to see around people in front making for a tiresome day. Another good thing about Tiger being there is if there is another player you want to watch you will probably be the only person following them. So my advice would be to set yourself up in some key positions to get a bit of a look at Tiger, then spend the rest of the day following around lesser names.

It's also definitely worth going to the practice range to watch all the pros. Personally I find it better than actually watching them play shots. Last year JD didn't bother practising before his pro am started so I didn't get to see him, but I got to see guys like Ogilvy and it was awesome. Watching Tiger on the range would be the highlight of the day if I was going.

[oldplayer]

Nah is spot on in his ideas. That is definately the way to go.

[Kiwi Player]

NAH & Oldplayer have summed this up nicely. I'll just add one point. No it wouldn't be impolite to smash some idiot shouting "Get in the hole!". In fact consider it your moral duty. Have fun, sounds like a great day out.

[exodus_john]

I just bought some clubs from a guy who is going to watch the pro-am and the first day. He decided not to buy the ticket for the weekend in case that if Tiger didn't make the cut, he would still see Tiger play. He had a friend who bought her husband the ticket for the weekend of British Open, and he didn't see Tiger play at all because Tiger didn't make the cut!

[Kiwi Player]

I just bought some clubs from a guy who is going to watch the pro-am and the first day. He decided not to buy the ticket for the weekend in case that if Tiger didn't make the cut, he would still see Tiger play. He had a friend who bought her husband the ticket for the weekend of British Open, and he didn't see Tiger play at all because Tiger didn't make the cut!

That would be a bummer. I would be surprised if Tiger doesn't make the cut in this event. He's playing a lot better than he was back during The Open Championship and the field is not as strong as you would get at a major.

How are you enjoying those MP-32's you accidentally bought?

[Mizuno>Ping]

5 sleeps to go and i will be at the Aussie Masters in Melbourne! question is, as i have never been to a tournament before what are the do's and dont's apart form the obvious etiquette rules etc. If anyone yells out "get in the hole" is it impolite to smash them???
Whats the best way of viewing - stay in one spot or move around the course? There is going to be around 25000 people there and the forecast is for a hot (36 deg celcius) day.
Any feedback appreciated.

You should bring a camera and snap wildly during TW's backswing.

Personal autograph guranteed.

[exodus_john]

That would be a bummer. I would be surprised if Tiger doesn't make the cut in this event. He's playing a lot better than he was back during The Open Championship and the field is not as strong as you would get at a major.

How are you enjoying those MP-32's you accidentally bought?

Was busy with uni exam and research report, so didn't play for almost two weeks. It is painful to see the good weather and couldn't go out and play.

[rooboy]

It's also definitely worth going to the practice range to watch all the pros. Personally I find it better than actually watching them play shots. Last year JD didn't bother practising before his pro am started so I didn't get to see him, but I got to see guys like Ogilvy and it was awesome. Watching Tiger on the range would be the highlight of the day if I was going.

Exactly what i was hoping to do. I'm trying to convince the other three guys i'm going with that if we want to get a good look at all the big name players we are probably better off standing at the range. Hell, i would even watch someone like Badds practise his putting!

[rooboy]

NAH & Oldplayer have summed this up nicely. I'll just add one point. No it wouldn't be impolite to smash some idiot shouting "Get in the hole!". In fact consider it your moral duty. Have fun, sounds like a great day out.

Thanks kiwi, one of my nz work colleagues wants me to ask steve williams whats it like to be the highest paid kiwi sportsperson? that wouldn't be right - would it???

[Not a hacker]

I would qualify the belting someone for yelling 'get in the hole' to only if it was in an American accent.

[rooboy]

I would qualify the belting someone for yelling 'get in the hole' to only if it was in an American accent.

Or Chinese..... don't know whats more annoying, "get in the hole" or that sound the chinese make after every close shot before they clap - you know the one awwwwwwwwww

[Kiwi Player]

Thanks kiwi, one of my nz work colleagues wants me to ask steve williams whats it like to be the highest paid kiwi sportsperson? that wouldn't be right - would it???

If he's on any kind of % deal it would probably be right.

Friends of mine met him last week. He was over here doing promo activities for the Kiwi Challenge. They said he was a pretty good guy. He's probably reasonably friendly when he's off the bag but reverts to type (D-Bag) once he's back on the bag with Tiger.

[Horseballs]

I heard Tiger is getting a $3M appearance fee to play this tourney.

[Kiwi Player]

I heard Tiger is getting a $3M appearance fee to play this tourney.

We got Tiger to come to NZ once to play in the NZ Open. I think it was in 2001. It was on a windswept links style course and he didn't do any good. His appearance fee almost bankrupted the NZ Golf Association.

[Horseballs]

We got Tiger to come to NZ once to play in the NZ Open. I think it was in 2001. It was on a windswept links style course and he didn't do any good. His appearance fee almost bankrupted the NZ Golf Association.

Who's to blame here? Tiger for accepting/requiring such a huge appearance, or Australia for selling out its national open?

[Kiwi Player]

Who's to blame here? Tiger for accepting/requiring such a huge appearance, or Australia for selling out its national open?

Don't know about Aussie but it NZ's case it was the NZGA that were to blame.

[Horseballs]

Don't know about Aussie but it NZ's case it was the NZGA that were to blame.

There's a bigger issue at stake. Is the Aussie Open just a sham tournament that can't assemble a respectable field without resorting to bribery? Prestige cannot be bought. With the sad state of Australian golf, I can see the need to attract foreign talent in order to stage a Nationwide Tour level event, but by paying Woods and the other top players, doesn't that automatically discount the title as tarnished and phony?

[Kiwi Player]

There's a bigger issue at stake. Is the Aussie Open just a sham tournament that can't assemble a respectable field without resorting to bribery? Prestige cannot be bought. With the sad state of Australian golf, I can see the need to attract foreign talent in order to stage a Nationwide Tour level event, but by paying Woods and the other top players, doesn't that automatically discount the title as tarnished and phony?

The crowds they'll attract due to Tigers appearance will be huge. The TV Ratings will go up. It's a great thing for Aussie golf and if they can afford the appearance fee why not. Aussies love their sport, especially Melbournites, and bringing a name like Tiger to the tournament just makes it a massive event.

I say good on them!

[lorenzoinoc]

There's a bigger issue at stake. Is the Aussie Open just a sham tournament that can't assemble a respectable field without resorting to bribery? Prestige cannot be bought. With the sad state of Australian golf, I can see the need to attract foreign talent in order to stage a Nationwide Tour level event, but by paying Woods and the other top players, doesn't that automatically discount the title as tarnished and phony?

It's disgusting. And if you do it every year with every player, it even beyond disgusting, it's the Yankees.

[oldplayer]

The crowds they'll attract due to Tigers appearance will be huge. The TV Ratings will go up. It's a great thing for Aussie golf and if they can afford the appearance fee why not. Aussies love their sport, especially Melbournites, and bringing a name like Tiger to the tournament just makes it a massive event.

I say good on them!

Yeah the buzz here is unbelievable. Huge crowds following Tiger on the Tuesday practice round. More media in evidence than has ever been seen at a sporting event.
It seems the 3mill. appearance fee has been vindicated as a great decision, as Kiwi said Melbournions are huge sports fans, not only that but golf fans are flying in from all over the country to see in person one of the greatest golfers that has ever lived.

[KoolCat]

My personal advice would be this: If you want to see Tiger play, stay home and watch it on TV. It's a pain in the ass trying to fight his gallery to get close. I hate going to a tournament in person when a player I like is paired with Tiger. It makes it impossible to see your player. I could give two shites about seeing Tiger in person. If you are set on seeing Tiger, you need to plan ahead. Go 2-3 holes ahead of his group in order to stake out a good spot to watch him come through. Once he goes through, wipe the giz off your cargo shorts and continue watching the rest of the field that is playing for a paycheck and was not paid $3 million to be there...

A good way to watch a tournament in person is to start at 18 and walk backwards. If you see someone you like, follow them forward for a few holes and then back track some more until you see someone else you like. Eventually you will see the entire course and will get to see a lot more action than if you try to follow one group the whole way.

[Horseballs]

The crowds they'll attract due to Tigers appearance will be huge. The TV Ratings will go up. It's a great thing for Aussie golf and if they can afford the appearance fee why not. Aussies love their sport, especially Melbournites, and bringing a name like Tiger to the tournament just makes it a massive event.

I say good on them!

I'm merely presenting an argument that bribery has cheapened and devalued this seminal event for Aussie golf. I'm glad Tiger is playing, but I now view this "championship" as an end of the year silly season cash grab, which is all the appearance fee taking players view it as. It's really a shame to see a country fall so far when just a few short years ago, up and comers like Adam Scott and Baddely had yet to fall off the face of the Earth.

[Not a hacker]

There's a bigger issue at stake. Is the Aussie Open just a sham tournament that can't assemble a respectable field without resorting to bribery? Prestige cannot be bought. With the sad state of Australian golf, I can see the need to attract foreign talent in order to stage a Nationwide Tour level event, but by paying Woods and the other top players, doesn't that automatically discount the title as tarnished and phony?

I don't want to be pedantic here, but Tiger is not playing the Australian Open, this week is the "Masters', which is just a very gimmicky, contrived, shameless copy of an even more contrived, gimmicky American tournament that somehow continues to defy logic by keeping it's 'major' status. These idiots even have a gold jacket for the winner. The only difference is that this tournament is so pathetic that Norman has actually managed to win six jackets, which proves it's a mickey mouse tourney with absolutely no pressure.

The Australian Open, on the other hand, is a prestigious event that has more tradition and history than at least one of the majors, and has such illustrious names on the trophy as Thompson, Locke, Palmer, Nicklaus (5 times), Player (6 times), Watson, Calc and most recently Ogilvy. It was long considered the 5th major, although that title obviusly belongs to the Italian Open.

[lorenzoinoc]

I don't want to be pedantic here, but Tiger is not playing the Australian Open, this week is the "Masters', which is just a very gimmicky, contrived, shameless copy of an even more contrived, gimmicky American tournament that somehow continues to defy logic by keeping it's 'major' status. These idiots even have a gold jacket for the winner. The only difference is that this tournament is so pathetic that Norman has actually managed to win six jackets, which proves it's a mickey mouse tourney with absolutely no pressure.

The Australian Open, on the other hand, is a prestigious event that has more tradition and history than at least one of the majors, and has such illustrious names on the trophy as Thompson, Locke, Palmer, Nicklaus (5 times), Player (6 times), Watson, Calc and most recently Ogilvy. It was long considered the 5th major, although that title obviusly belongs to the Italian Open.

The fifth is either the Masters or the U.S. Open. The Aussie and the Wop are 1 and 2, the order of which is open to debate.

[SoonerBS]

Anything done, to bring the greatest golfer in the world out for all to see and experience his greatness, is a great move and the people of Australia are to be commended.

[Kiwi Player]

I'm merely presenting an argument that bribery has cheapened and devalued this seminal event for Aussie golf. I'm glad Tiger is playing, but I now view this "championship" as an end of the year silly season cash grab, which is all the appearance fee taking players view it as. It's really a shame to see a country fall so far when just a few short years ago, up and comers like Adam Scott and Baddely had yet to fall off the face of the Earth.

Some days you go fishing and you are reeling them in the first minute you drop your line. Other days you get plenty of nibbles but they're all undersize and you have to chuck em back, no keepers. Then there are the days when you don't even get a bite. This was one of those days.

[Horseballs]

Some days you go fishing and you are reeling them in the first minute you drop your line. Other days you get plenty of nibbles but they're all undersize and you have to chuck em back, no keepers. Then there are the days when you don't even get a bite. This was one of those days.

Well I'm trying. It's difficult to get a discussion going about the sad state of Aussie golf when the evidence is stacked so clearly in my favor. And what is it with Aussies stealing names of major championships. Aussie Masters, Aussie Open, Aussie PGA; what's next Aussie British Open? Last I checked, even luckfests played on goat tracks don't need to pay appearance fees despite all the negatives inherent with playing golf in the land of no electricity and bad teeth.
At least NZ has that Korean transplant who doesn't speak English to represent your island.

[Kiwi Player]

Well I'm trying. It's difficult to get a discussion going about the sad state of Aussie golf when the evidence is stacked so clearly in my favor. And what is it with Aussies stealing names of major championships. Aussie Masters, Aussie Open, Aussie PGA; what's next Aussie British Open? Last I checked, even luckfests played on goat tracks don't need to pay appearance fees despite all the negatives inherent with playing golf in the land of no electricity and bad teeth.
At least NZ has that Korean transplant who doesn't speak English to represent your island.

Yeah he's doing brilliantly lately. Campbell is even worse. He's really lost it since his 2005 US Open moment of glory. He can't even make a cut. Such a shame he didn't kick on with his career after 2005. He loses his US Tour exemption in 2010 and has hardly cashed in on that great opportunity.

I have actually had lessons with Danny Lee's NZ based coach. He's a great guy. I can't believe he coaches a potentially world class talent like Danny Lee but he also has time for hacks like me. I've struck average club pro's that seem like they couldn't care less when you take a lesson from them, like they'd rather be somewhere else, but he never makes you feel like that.

[rooboy]

Anything done, to bring the greatest golfer in the world out for all to see and experience his greatness, is a great move and the people of Australia are to be commended.

Yep, and judging by his first round (6 under) it will be money well spent. I think it shows the class act he is when confronted with such a different type of course he is up with the leaders straight away. it will be interesting to see how he handles the afternoon time slot on the second day when the wind picks up a bit and the greens make Augusta look slow.

[Horseballs]

Yep, and judging by his first round (6 under) it will be money well spent. I think it shows the class act he is when confronted with such a different type of course he is up with the leaders straight away. it will be interesting to see how he handles the afternoon time slot on the second day when the wind picks up a bit and the greens make Augusta look slow.

If by different you mean easy, I'm in agreement. This is by far the shortest par 72 course Tiger has played all year. He hit 17 GIR's and birdied every par 5. Throw a few windmills and clown's mouths out there to challenge the players, because this Mickey Mouse setup isn't cutting it.

[oldplayer]

If by different you mean easy, I'm in agreement. This is by far the shortest par 72 course Tiger has played all year. He hit 17 GIR's and birdied every par 5. Throw a few windmills and clown's mouths out there to challenge the players, because this Mickey Mouse setup isn't cutting it.

They have put a lot of water on the greens in the lead up to the tourny as the weather is very warm at the moment. This has made them very receptive. Tiger was surprised by this and even said so. They need the greens to hold up over the hot spell, but wait until the weekend when they get hard and fast. The birdies won't be so easy to find then. Fast, bouncy, tricky greens are a major defence for this course, not unlike Augusta.

[rooboy]

If by different you mean easy, I'm in agreement. This is by far the shortest par 72 course Tiger has played all year. He hit 17 GIR's and birdied every par 5. Throw a few windmills and clown's mouths out there to challenge the players, because this Mickey Mouse setup isn't cutting it.

Far from it. Yes it may be a short course by todays standards but a couple of factors haven't come in to it yet. The greens have started out fairly soft because the organisers are scared of losing them through the weekend when the weather is forecast to be hot. Once they quicken up the players wont hold a bunker shot on the greens, and will have no hope on downhill putts. If there is any wind about and players miss fairways up and downs are out of the question. Even Tiger himself said its a treat to play such a different course ie:skill required other than bomb and find and bomb again to soft greens!

[Not a hacker]

The fifth is either the Masters or the U.S. Open. The Aussie and the Wop are 1 and 2, the order of which is open to debate.

Good point. It's a bit undecided at the moment, as JD played both tournaments last year, but the appearance of BOTH of the famous Molinari brothers might give it that little extra celebrity power. It doesn't matter anyway as it would be an honour for our Open to be considered second only to the Wop Open (I like the new name btw, much more cosmopolitan. When did they change it?).

[SoonerBS]

Any of you Aussies close to Melbourne?

There looks to be some huge crowds there . . . . .

[SoonerBS]

If I was in the gallery today, I would hide any food I was eating whenever Craig Perry comes down the fairway. That dude looks like he would steal candy from a kid . . . . . . what a lardarse!

[oldplayer]

Any of you Aussies close to Melbourne?

There looks to be some huge crowds there . . . . .

I live an hour away. Bit the crowds are so big i'm not bothering to go. If I was 6'4 i might see something, but at my height all i would see is the back of other people's heads.

[rooboy]

If I was in the gallery today, I would hide any food I was eating whenever Craig Perry comes down the fairway. That dude looks like he would steal candy from a kid . . . . . . what a lardarse!

Funny you should say that Sooner - the guys i went with and me all agreed, most of the players and their caddies looked a lot shorter and thinner in "real" life that they do on tv....except for craig parry. If Ogilvy was any thinner he'd blow away, and tiger looked super fit and lean.

[SoonerBS]

Did you have a good time, rooboy?

[famousdavis]

In case anyone didn't know, Tiger won this tournament. Just thought you'd like to know.

[famousdavis]

Funny you should say that Sooner - the guys i went with and me all agreed, most of the players and their caddies looked a lot shorter and thinner in "real" life that they do on tv....except for craig parry. If Ogilvy was any thinner he'd blow away, and tiger looked super fit and lean.

Sounds kind of strange to me that you and your guy pals are all checking out the bodies of other guys instead of watching golf. Did you visit a few bath houses afterward?

[rooboy]

Did you have a good time, rooboy?

It was better than i expected. Got there early and walked 3 holes with Ogilvy and backtracked for a few groups to see Appleby and Goggin(Tassie boy like me!!). Took N.A.H's advice and camped at the practise range and watched Badds,Pampling and Sim for an hour or so then got a real good spot on the ropes at the 5th and watched the last 10 groups of the day play through (tiger being in the last). Got to see the whole of the hole being played with uninterrupted views and then got a look at tiger on the 10th teeing off with the driver - again uninterrrupted view. The 2 things i took away from the whole day - tempo is everthing as is the extension the players get past impact. That and the way the fairways were manicured - better than most peoples carpet!! Tv does not do justice to the undulations of both fairways and greens.