SBNation.com - 2012 Masters Leaderboard: Lee Westwood On Top After First Round

Tiger Woods' Swing Fails Him In Opening Round Of The Masters

2012-04-06T13:01:17Z

"I hit some of the worst golf shots I've ever hit today," Tiger Woods said following his opening-round 72 at The Masters on Thursday. After rounding into form two weeks ago at Bay Hill, picking up his first win since 2009, Woods struggled at Augusta National, especially off the tee. It started on the range in the morning, when Woods said he felt like his swing was off, and continued onto the first tee, where he pulled his shot way left, into the pinestraw.

It was a theme for Woods throughout the day -- wayward tee shots, almost always left, that forced him to scramble. This wasn't a smooth round, with fairways and greens, the occasional birdie and plenty of short par putts. For Woods, it was a battle.

"I just wanted to keep grinding," Woods said. "Whatever it is, keep fighting. I just hung in there, grinded my way around the golf course. Stayed very patient; stayed in the moment. Fortunately, that's about as good as I got right there. I could've maybe shot one, maybe two, better. I got a lot out of that round."

Whether it was the two weeks off following the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a setback in the process as Woods continues to rework his swing or just a bad day, Woods just didn't seem to have it. And still, he hung around for most of the day, heading into the final two holes at 2-under for the day before finishing with back-to-back bogeys.

For his part, Woods said the problems started on the driving range, when he noticed bad habits creeping in before the day began. The result was a pieced-together swing, he said, with some new mechanics mixed with the old.

"Old patterns. Yeah, just old patterns," Woods said when asked about his mechanics following the round, before elaborating a bit. "Some of my old stuff from a few years ago. So I've had to try and kind of work through it, and every now and again it pops up. And today it popped up a little bit."

"As soon as I'm done, I'm going over there," Woods added while motioning toward the driving range.

An example of Woods' struggles off the tee is below in the video. On No. 2, after opening the round with a dead-left tee shot on the first hole, Woods again missed left off the tee. His feet -- typically quiet -- are shifting quite a bit as he transitions into his downswing. He also seems to have a steeper downswing than he has had recently. Woods' indecision proves costly as he double-crosses the ball and sends it straight into the trees down the left-hand side for the second-straight hole.

After revamping his mechanics and swing with Sean Foley, Woods has been leaning on a cut shot more often than not. When he's missing way left, on holes that require a draw and those that don't, it's clear something is off. Woods was caught between playing that baby cut -- his new shot shape -- and working a draw -- shades of his old swing. Put the two together and you've got a ball flight that goes dead left, a place nobody wants to be at Augusta National.

It's been a recurring problem for Woods as he continues the process of refining his swing once again. It's a process, as Woods often refers to his own makeover, that's been painful at times, filled with rocky moments and horrible shots. When he starts to think too much about his swing mechanics, making tweaks on the fly, his game quickly goes off the rails.

On Thursday, it appears Woods was fighting himself as much as the golf course. As Bobby Jones, co-founder of The Masters once said, "Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course: the space between your ears." As he teed off on No. 1, and throughout the day, Woods struggled with the five-and-a-half-inch course between his ears, as well as the expansive track in front of him.

There was good news for Woods, though. Even as his swing failed him and old habits crept back in, Woods' ability to scramble never left. He was able to drain a few long par putts, work some magic around the green and get out of self-inflicted trouble time and again. A few slip-ups, notably at the end of the round notwithstanding, Woods squeezed as much out of the day as seemed possible.

Woods' opening round at The Masters was far from the end of the world, and it does not leave him in a poor position with three rounds to go. In fact, Woods has always started slow at Augusta National, shooting 70 or above in each of his four Masters wins. In 2005, the last time he won a green jacket, Woods opened with a 74, only to rebound with two rounds in the 60s and a playoff win over Chris DiMarco.

Despite his struggles, Woods is just five shots back of Lee Westwood, and part of a large group in a tie for 29th. As Woods plodded along and fought through his swing troubles, many of the world's best were doing the same. Call it a case of the opening round jitters or Augusta National chewing up elite golfers and spitting them out.

But don't count out Woods, who always seems to find himself in contention at The Masters, even when things aren't going as well as he'd hope.

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream .

The Masters 2012: TV Coverage, Streaming Information And More

2012-04-06T13:00:35Z

The second round of the Masters tees off on Friday morning, with Masters.com once again providing plenty of video streaming options. Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson are two of the big stars and contenders who will go out in the morning before TV coverage picks up in the afternoon.

More Masters: Masters TV Coverage For Saturday

Masters.com will begin Amen Corner coverage at 10:45 a.m., and then add coverage for two featured groups and video of the famous par-5 15th hole and par-3 16th. Keeping with Augusta National Golf Club tradition, ESPN will then pick up coverage in the afternoon, just 3 1/2 hours before the cut is made on Friday night.

Full broadcast information below:

LIVE COVERAGE ON MASTERS.COM

10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m.:  Amen Corner live video coverage

11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m. : Hole Nos. 15 and 16 live video coverage

12 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.:  Featured Group 1 live video coverage;  Featured Group 2 live video coverage

3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.:  Masters In-Depth live video coverage and highlights

MASTERS RADIO

2 p.m.:  Masters Radio live audio

TV COVERAGE

3 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.:  Live coverage on ESPN

4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. : Live 3D coverage on ESPN 3D

8 p.m. - 11 p.m.:  Replay of the telecast on ESPN

11:30 p.m. - 11:45 p.m.:  Highlights Show on CBS

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters 2012 Video: Golf Is Hard, Especially At Augusta National

2012-04-06T12:31:07Z

The overwhelming theme of the first day of the 2012 Masters was frustration. On a day the conditions were ripe for low scores, many of the world's best golfers were left shaking their heads, wondering what happened at Augusta National Golf Club. It seemed like every few minutes, another tee shot was veering off course, into one of the many wooded areas surrounding each hole at the famed course.

And as those shots went left, right and everywhere in between, tempers flared. Thanks to many well-placed microphones, viewers got an inside look at what happens when some of the best golfers in the world aren't quite at the top of their game.

As a public service, we put together a low-light video of angry yells, thrown clubs and bad words.

All the favorites are here: A frustrated Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson with no idea where his ball is going, Henrik Stenson mid-meltdown on No. 18 and Rory McIlroy hitting a tree flush. Pay close attention to the "whoosh" fan during Jason Dufner's tee shot, the excited Houston Cougars fan on No. 12 and the Auburn fan at the end, as well.

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters 2012: Tiger Woods Faces Uphill Road To Fifth Green Jacket

2012-04-06T12:20:02Z

Tiger Woods entered the 2012 Masters with momentum derived from a victory at Bay Hill a fortnight ago and as the betting favorite to capture his fifth green jacket. But after a lackluster first round on Thursday, Tiger must stalk the leaders to make that happen. At Augusta, he's used to that.

Woods shot an even-par 72 in his first round, good for a tie for 29th on a day that coughed up a slew of red numbers; it's the first time since 2005 that he hasn't been in the top 25 after Thursday at Augusta. But it's also not a bizarre new wrinkle for Woods to start slow in The Masters: all of his four wins included first rounds in the 70s (70s in 1997, 2000 and 2001, and a 74 in 2005).

And Tiger has historically turned it on in the second and third rounds at Augusta, firing 66s in all four of his victories and 65s in two of them, while never recording a round of 70 or worse in a Masters triumph.

All of that is to say this: Woods' slow start does not dash his green jacket dreams, but a failure to get in gear on Friday and Saturday could.

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Watch The Masters Online With Live Streaming Coverage From ESPN, Masters.com

2012-04-06T12:01:09Z

Some aspects of the Augusta National Golf Club that hosts The Masters remain lamentably antiquated. Fortunately for golf fans who may not be able to get to a television, the club is not resistant to online streaming of play, and both ESPN and Masters.com will provide live streaming coverage of the 2012 The Masters during Friday's second round.

ESPN3 will have live video coverage of the second round beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, and an encore presentation at 8:00 p.m. for those who cannot get enough of dogwoods and doglegs.

Masters.com's live video section will also have an exhaustive array of options for the cubicle-bound or TV-free fan on Friday. From 10:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., there will be live video coverage of Amen Corner -- the famed stretch from hole No. 11 through No. 13. The 15th and 16th holes will get live video coverage from 11:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., as well.

Additionally, there will be live video coverage of two featured groups from noon to 7:30 p.m., and Masters.com will show in-depth highlights from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; all times, of course, are Eastern.

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters Leaderboard: Lee Westwood Leads Tournament, International Bloc Entering Second Round

2012-04-06T12:01:07Z

Lee Westwood tops the 2012 The Masters leaderboard entering the second round at Augusta National on Friday. But the Brit is not the only international name near the top of the leaderboard, just one of many; he may have to fend off an international bloc to earn a signature PGA Tour triumph.

More Masters: Tiger Woods Battles Swing In First Round

Westwood sits at 5-under after a Thursday 67. He is followed by 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and Sweden's Peter Hanson, both at 4-under, and a trio of non-American players at 3-under (Paul Lawrie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Francesco Molinari) is joined by a trio of players representing the Stars and Stripes, Ben Crane, Jason Dufner, and Bubba Watson.

For Westwood, being in contention at a major is nothing new: he has top-three finishes at all four of golf's major championships. But Westwood has never won a major, and hasn't won on the PGA Tour since 2010, when superb but largely non-winning play helped elevate him to the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings. If Westwood can pull out a win at Augusta, his career resume — marked by scads of European Tour success and few breakthroughs on the other side of the pond — would finally have a unquestionable top line.

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters 2012: Upbeat Phil Mickelson Likes His Chances Despite Jungle Adventure at Augusta

2012-04-06T12:00:39Z

Despite a costly, unplanned detour through the wilds of Augusta National Golf Club, Phil Mickelson likes his chances heading into Friday’s second round of the Masters.

“Tarzan-y-ish,” is how Lefty termed his “hoofin’ through the jungle” after slicing a drive so far left he probably ran into Cheetah while searching for his missing Callaway Black Hex.

“I’ve never lost a ball here at the Masters, that I can think of, besides water,” Mickelson told ESPN after pulling himself together enough to make three birdies in the final five holes and card a 2-over 74 after the mess on No. 10. “I’ve never had a lost ball. That’s just nuts.”

Considering his errant play on a day when he carded four bogeys and four birdies (in addition to that ungainly triple-bogey seven) and conceded he had no control over his wayward swing, Mickelson was not unhappy with his position, even if he ended the day seven shots behind leader Lee Westwood.

“I missed the ball in the wrong spots, my short game didn’t save me, I let three or four shots go, I hit a horrific drive on 10, made triple,” Mickelson recited. “I’m only two-over.”

And that, claimed the southpaw who said his putting was “phenomenal,” though he did not play “smart” golf, was excellent news. All he had to do to make a run at his fourth green jacket was “shoot six- or seven-under” to “be right in it for the weekend.”

Phil’s excellent adventure, by the way, included a timeout on the 18th tee for an equipment tune-up. After checking the club head of his adjustable Callaway RAZR Fit driver and calling over an official to ensure he could do so, Mickelson pulled out a wrench and tightened a screw. He then proceeded to hit one of his few decent tee shots of the day, prompting the ESPN yakkers to wonder why he had not tweaked the big stick earlier.

With all the drama, and though he maintained his usual cheerful demeanor, it had to be a long day for Mickelson. The 41-year-old arrived at the course some seven hours before his tee time to watch three of golf’s legends hit the ceremonial first drives. It was an event he had observed on TV annually and had always wanted to see in person.

“It was perfect,” he said of witnessing Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus kick off the 2012 Masters. “I came out, watched them, had breakfast with [swing coach] Butch [Harmon], had a practice session, and went back home and took a nap. It was a really cool experience,” Mickelson said.

Still, we’re betting he’s looking forward to sleeping in a bit later on Friday, when he’ll tee it up at 10:48 a.m.

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.

Masters Tee Times And Pairings: Tiger Woods Tees Off Friday Afternoon Looking To Make A Charge

2012-04-06T12:00:34Z

The second round of the Masters tees off on Friday morning just before 8 a.m. ET, with Americans Sean O'Hair and Scott Verplank leading off. After unremarkable first rounds, superstars Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson go off in the morning in consecutive groups, with McIlroy goes out at 10:35 a.m. and Mickelson at 10:46 a.m. ESPN should cover the last four to five holes for each player when their coverage breaks in at 3 p.m. Leader Lee Westwood tees off at 9:40 a.m. and will likely be in the clubhouse when TV coverage begins.

Tiger Woods, who shot an even-par first-round 72, tees off in the second-to-last group at 1:42 p.m. ET. Defending champion Charl Schwartzel and PGA champion Keegan Bradley will be one group ahead of Woods. The last group of the day will feature the No. 1 player in the world, Luke Donald, who had a scorecard scare on Thursday afternoon.

The weather forecast calls for rain in the morning, and it's going to be unseasonably cold throughout the day with the sun warming things up slightly for the afternoon. The later tee times should have a weather advantage, if the morning rain is light enough to not suspend play.

7:50 a.m.	Sean O'Hair	Scott Verplank	Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
8:01 a.m.	Martin Laird	Chez Reavie	Mark O'Meara
8:12 a.m.	Corbin Mills (a)	Simon Dyson	Sandy Lyle
8:23 a.m.	Kevin Chappell	Edoardo Molinari	Ian Woosnam
8:34 a.m.	Louis Oosthuizen	Graeme McDowell	Mark Wilson
8:45 a.m.	Zach Johnson	Patrick Cantlay (a)	Ian Poulter
8:56 a.m.	Ben Crane	Kevin Na	Fredrik Jacobson
9:07 a.m.	Jonathan Byrd	John Senden	Paul Casey
9:18 a.m.	Jason Dufner	Charles Howell III	Bernhard Langer
9:29 a.m.	Webb Simpson	Brandt Snedeker	Mike Weir
9:40 a.m.	Lee Westwood	Jim Furyk	Vijay Singh
10:02 a.m.	Scott Stallings	Rory Sabbatini	Thomas Bjorn
10:13 a.m.	Fred Couples	Darren Clarke	Ryo Ishikawa
10:24 a.m.	Sergio Garcia	David Toms	K.J. Choi
10:35 a.m.	Bubba Watson	Angel Cabrera	Rory McIlroy
10:46 a.m.	Peter Hanson	Hunter Mahan	Phil Mickelson
10:57 a.m.	Tim Clark	Brendan Steele	Craig Stadler
11:08 a.m.	Jose Maria Olazabal	Robert Garrigus	Randal Lewis (a)
11:19 a.m.	Paul Lawrie	Anders Hansen	Larry Mize
11:30 a.m.	Ross Fisher	Harrison Frazar	Ryan Palmer
11:41 a.m.	Robert Karlsson	Ben Crenshaw	Bryden MacPherson
11:52 a.m.	Martin Kaymer	Bo Van Pelt	Adam Scott
12:14 p.m.	Stewart Cink	Padraig Harrington	Steve Stricker
12:25 p.m.	Aaron Baddeley	Kyung-tae Kim	Lucas Glover
12:36 p.m.	Bill Haas	Kyle Stanley	Jason Day
12:47 p.m.	Justin Rose	Rickie Fowler	Trevor Immelman
12:58 p.m.	Hideki Matsuyama (a)	Tom Watson	Johnson Wagner
1:09 p.m.	Matt Kuchar	Y.E. Yang	Geoff Ogilvy
1:20 p.m.	Henrik Stenson	Gary Woodland	Alvaro Quiros
1:31 p.m.	Keegan Bradley	Charl Schwartzel	Kelly Kraft (a)
1:42 p.m.	Miguel A. Jimenez	Tiger Woods	Sang-Moon Bae
1:53 p.m.	Francesco Molinari	Nick Watney	Luke Donald

You can view the live Masters leaderboard here.

For more on the 2012 Masters, check out SB Nation's golf page and this StoryStream.