Some more reading material this afternoon...
How Seve Ballesteros became the first European to win the Masters
Ballesteros went to Augusta in April 1980 in fine form and raced into a 10-shot lead, but he nearly threw it away in a gripping Sunday afternoon
The 1980s was a decade to remember for European golf, especially when it came to the Masters. A green jacket would be placed around the shoulders of a European on five occasions, as Spain, West Germany, Scotland and England celebrated victories at Augusta. The trailblazer was, of course, Seve Ballesteros, the Spanish genius who won Europe's first Masters in 1980 and proved the catalyst for the many triumphs that followed.
Seve was in good form on arriving at Augusta. Three weeks before the Masters, he had tied for third place in the Tour Players' Championship at Sawgrass, finishing just a couple of strokes behind tournament winner Lee Trevino. However, Seve had an injury cloud hanging over his head, as his aching back muscles were causing him concern. The Daily Express reported that the great man was hanging from a makeshift trapeze for 14 minutes to strengthen his back. He declared himself fit for the event and was in bullish mood the day before the event, his 23rd birthday, saying his game was "getting better all the time" and that he was "ready to go."
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Ewan has signed off:
jimmywilks:
Hi Ewan, In your opinion, what is the best shot ever played in a Masters, taking in to account the skill to pull it off and the importance of the outcome? Bubba's hook at the 10th? Tiger's chip-in at the 16th? Mickelson from the straw at 13?
Guardian staff Sandy Lyle's bunker shot must be right up there...
I'm not decrying it but Bubba's shot was actually easier because he is left-handed...
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GhostWiper:
Which group most catches your eye? Bubba, Sergio and Donald has a bit of everything. The scores in that could range from about -6 to +6 for any one of them. Mickelson, Els and Rose looks a good one, too.
Guardian staff Day, Johnson, Stenson is the pick, to me.
Aside from the biggest groupings, Matsuyama/Snedeker/Donaldson is also a good one.
Pasdabong:
What's your handicap?
Guardian staff
metalmicky:
Is Augusta as majestic and wonderful as it looks on the TV?
Guardian staff Yes. What I hadn't appreciated until I first arrived here was the extent of the slopes.
First hole for example, down then right up. Ninth, really uphill second shot. 10th hole, straight downhill. HD/3D television I think portrays that better than historically was the case.
jalfreziboy:
Does anyone on a golf course have more of a calm, cool response to pressure than Jimenez?
Guardian staff Scott always comes across as brilliantly calm but what happened at Lytham suggests he has his moments. Jamie Donaldson seems to have a great temperament, as do guys like Snedeker and Oosthuizen.
Stenson can famously lose the head... and lose the heads of his clubs.
boguscoleman:
What about Dustin Johnson? Big hitter, and putting well by all accounts ...
Guardian staff Watched him play 13 yesterday and whatever iron he had for his second shot, it was a short one. Knocked it 50 yards past his playing partners off the tee.
The only thing I'd worry about is his mindset when the going gets tough. He should have won the Open at Royal St George's but blasted one out of bounds. Shot 80 last Thursday at Houston and promptly left the premises.
And I don't particularly like people who spend their time gobbing all over golf courses...
Windyend:
Do they taser spectators for shouting 'mashed potato' or other such gibberish there, if not, why not?
Guardian staff You're not allowed onto the golf course with a mobile phone. I think they'd take a dim view of tasers.
dereksmalls5:
Who have you got a cheeky each way bet on? I have:
Harris English at 60/1,
Graham DeLaet at 80/1
Thorbjorn Olesen at 125/1
Kevin Stadler at 200/1
Will I ever see that money again?
Guardian staff Gambling is not allowed in this part of the United States.....!
English and Olesen aren't bad each way shouts.
jimmywilks:
Hi Ewan. Do you think Poulter has the potential to turn his fantastic match play ability in to an individual major? If not, what's missing?
Guardian staff The interesting thing with Poulter is that his major charges all seem to come when he is back in the field.. the Open at Birkdale, for example. That is easier to do than holding onto a lead. I'd like to see him in more of the latter positions and how he reacts to that.
He still clearly has it in him to win one but he hasn't had the best of starts to the year. He looks close at times then something mad happens (an 8 at Houston, for example, and a missed cut)...
baggioscot:
Hi Ewan, Ike tree was lost during the winter on the 17th hole. What has been done to replace it or keep the hole difficult? Thanks. Guardian staff Nothing. You would never know there was a tree there in the first place.
Scattitude:
Hi Ewan. How important is previous Masters experience really? How do you rate an Augusta novice in good form against a player with just extensive tournament experience on their side?
Guardian staff I would back the experienced player. But I think there is a danger of it being overplayed; sometimes knowing too much about a course, knowing where all the trouble is, causes problems. Rory McIlroy spoke about this yesterday.. you shouldn't overthink any course.
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Hi Ewan. What do think Rory McIlroy's chances are and are you surprised he is the bookies' favourite?
Guardian staff He's my favourite, as well, so I'd agree with the bookies (albeit prices for majors before they start are ridiculously short).
DavidWarnes:
Do you think there will be a hole in one?
Guardian staff
buglerks:
Every year I back Lee Westwood and he always keeps me on tenterhooks until around tea time on the Sunday. This year I have him at 50-1, longest odds yet.. But i feel extra optimism this year.. I am being naive or could this be Lee's year?
Guardian staff Put it this way- he is back hitting the ball very well. Certainly he was at Houston. He abandoned his Sean Foley experiment and is back swinging the club like he did in his successful old days.
That aside, I don't have to tell you where his problems lie...
hegman links to an article in Golf Digest that looks interesting:
Golf digest had a stab at this in 2010 - mid 90s would be my summary of this: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/golf-masters/2010-04/how-tough-augusta-knuth?currentPage=2
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patsyg67:
Hi Ewan. Do you think Stephen Gallacher will make the cut?
Guardian staff If he believes in himself, yes. It's not a question of talent with him.. I just think he lacks a bit of belief sometimes (ie the Match Play at Tucson this year).
dehanicel:
Who do you most enjoy watching in real life?
Guardian staff McIlroy or Mickelson.. there's a box office element there, aside from their obvious brilliance. Things tend to happen.
I always make a point, still, of watching Tom Watson, who remains a glorious iron player.
Day hits the ball like a dream, would just be a lot better if he didn't take so long to do it.
happyhacker:
Hi Ewan. Do you manage to get out there and walk all 18 holes during the week, or are you largely stuck to your desk once the action starts?
Guardian staff I'll see them all at some point... walking all 18 with one player is impossible for us basically because of the time difference and filing times. You could do it on the morning of an Open, but not here.
Plus, I need to keep an eye on what's happening generally rather than sticking with one guy all the time.
So it's just a case of seeing as much as possible.. and clearly this is one course where it's a pleasure to be walking around.
campbellpaul:
Mickelson on Woods:"It's a weird feeling not having him here. He's been such a mainstay in professional golf and the majors. It's awkward to not have him here. I hope he gets back soon. I hope he's back for the other majors, and as much as I want to win and I know how great he is and tough to beat it, it also makes it special when he's in the field and you're able to win."
Are the press pack missing Tiger, and do you believe Mickelson?
Guardian staff Put it this way, he is still being discussed... arguably as much as ever.
That was interesting because of who it came from, obviously. Their relationship has maybe thawed a bit.. albeit Mickelson is very good at saying the right thing at the right time.
He also added this: "Look what he's done for the game the last 17 years he's played as a professional. It's been incredible. I've told him, and I've said this before, nobody has benefitted more from having Tiger in the game than myself.
"I remember when I was an amateur and won my first tournament in Tucson, in 1991, the entire purse was a million dollars, first place $180,000, and Steve and I would sit down and say, I wonder if in my lifetime, probably not my career, we would ever play for a million dollar first place check. It's every week. It's unbelievable what this game, what has happened with the growth of this game.
"And Tiger has been the instigator. He's been the one that's really propelled and driven the bus because he's brought increased ratings, increased sponsors, increased interest, and we have all benefitted but nobody has benefitted more than I have and we're all appreciative. That's why we miss him so much; we all know what he's meant to the game."
Lespritdelescalier:
Hi Ewan. In your opinion, how much truth is there in the hackneyed assertion that club golfers would struggle to break 100 around Augusta? If you let a given 10-handicapper loose, how do you think they would fare?
Guardian staff Pretty accurate, I would say. If a 10 handicapper broke 100, they'd have cause to be very chuffed with themselves.
RivaldoRules:
Hi Ewan. Tiger's finished, isn't he? Do you think he'll win one more major, let alone the remaining to overhaul Nicklaus?
Guardian staff Depends how you determine "finished"... it's always dangerous to write him off, history has taught us that. But if you asked me to bet either way on it now, I don't think he'll win another major.
Hi Ewan. You cited Sergio's fine iron play as important around Augusta and I'm always interested in what facet of the game the punters deem most important around any given track. I've also heard it said that the ability to draw the ball or that the best putter always fare well round Augusta... This makes me wonder about the merit of such wisdom... discuss?
Guardian staff Okay good question. I don't think there is any venue that wouldn't reward good iron play but some venues tend to produce "weak" winners... which offers an insight into the type of course. The greens and area around the greens are so specialised at Augusta that short game in general, not just putting, is vital.
Although drawing it is a big help around here, missing greens left is a disaster more often than not. So it's a fine line. McIlroy, for example, can miss a lot of shots left (either not cutting the ball or over drawing it) so needs to keep that out of his game this weekend (as he has done recently).
hegman:
What are your views on the chances on Fernandez-Castano making the top 10? Also, there's not been much noise about Matsuyama in the build up to the event? Is he carrying an injury? I was expecting him to be heavily touted this week.
Guardian staff He has been carrying an injury but you right, he probably hasn't had the attention he deserves. He's a terrific prospect, as those who play with him tend to testify, and has done well at the Masters. I don't think he'll win this week but would expect him to win something pretty big soon.
figba:
Hi Ewan. Which debutant do you think has the best chance of making an impression at this year's Masters? I'm hoping Stephen Gallacher, but I think one of the young Americans will have a strong week (Reed, Spieth, Horschel ect.)
Guardian staff If I'd to pick one, it would be Harris English. He had a hole in one on the 12th on Sunday, by the way.
edodd:
Is there such thing as a hipster's choice in the game of golf? And if so who is it?
Guardian staff I haven't polled the golfing hipster masses, to be fair, but maybe Henrik Stenson?
Morning Ewan. Couple of things: Could Jordan Spieth do what Rory almost did three years ago? Any other changes of note to the course besides Ike's tree? Thanks
Guardian staff I think Spieth is terrific, both as a player and a guy. The caveats to him doing well at Augusta is that the course does tend to reward experience and he hasn't started this season too well (albeit relatively, compared to how successful he was last season). That said, he has already proven himself to be fearless and I think some guys can get weighed down by too much information/worry over Augusta.
In 2011, Rory had already played in two Masters but there are similarities in the way the two of them play.
In terms of the course... it is noticeable from standing at the clubhouse or 10th tee that a lot of the trees have been either thinned or taken away. You can see "through" the course more than ever before, virtually down to Amen Corner.
Damian2907:
Hi Ewan, what do you make of the chances of the British challengers and in particular Justin Rose?
Guardian staff Rose has the best chance of any British player, I think. Simply because he has won a major already. That mindset factor is very important. It places him ahead of the likes of Westwood and Donald.
He also generally hits the ball long and straight enough to do well at Augusta. The one drawback is his shoulder problem which, although seems to have recovered, disrupted his start to the season.
GhostWiper:
Hi Ewan. Thoughts on Sergio's chances? Same problems as ever I expect.
Guardian staff On face value, his troubles at Augusta are baffling given it is a venue which rewards fine iron players. I maintain that, on his day, Sergio is as good as any player in the world on that front.
Two issues hold him back here. Putting, of course. Plus, he basically doesn't seem to like Augusta National. Last year he shot 66 in round one and still didn't seem to believe he could win.. unless that attitude has changed drastically, he won't.
I still think he'll win a major, and very possibly an Open Championship.
Ewan is online and awaiting your questions
Guardian staff Morning all... sun out here, weather set fair for rest of the week, my five to win cannot fail (!)... be kind with questions and I'll do my best to answer...
Good afternoon
Ewan will be online from 1pm BST to answer your questions.
Here are a few of our Masters previews to keep you going until then:
• The Masters: five players to watch
From Rory McIlroy to Jason Day, via Zach Johnson and the model of consistency at Augusta: Angel Cabrera
• Adam Scott desperate to retain the Masters title
World No2 ready to capitalise on absence of Tiger Woods: 'If I play well I have a chance to win this tournament'
• Kevin Stadler's big chance to get one over dad Craig
Craig Stadler knew he would end up playing in the same major field as his son. Relations have been strained but the 'Walrus' clan are looking forward to an emotional occasion at Augusta
Enjoy the webchat
Folks, thanks for the questions. Loads of good ones. Going to head for some breakfast here but by all means keep posting and I'll check back later with some more (hopefully useful!) replies.