The Masters and the Australians

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 US Masters | Preview | 07 Apr 2010

The Masters is the one major championship trophy that has not, as yet, been held aloft in victory by an Australian.

Jim Ferrier, Bruce Crampton, Jack Newton and Greg Norman (three times) have each finished runner up but that elusive victory has escaped them all, some in the most excruciating of circumstances.

In 1950 the Sydney born and raised Ferrier was three ahead with six to play before losing to Jimmy Demaret by two shots.

The most famous implosion amongst Australians at Augusta however was that of Norman, who in 1996 led by six heading into Sunday before an Australian television audience watched in almost slow motion as he buckled under the weight of a Nick Faldo onslaught.

Norman had also missed a great opportunity when he bogeyed the final hole in 1986 to lose by one to Nicklaus and again in 1987 when he succumbed to a miraculous chip in from Larry Mize at the second hole of a playoff.

During the past ten years only Adam Scott (9th on debut in 2002), Mark Hensby and Rod Pampling (both 5th on debut in 2005) and Stuart Appleby (7th in 2007) have recorded top tens for Australia in that period. On the surface it does not appear that 2010 will see much change in that regard.

Geoff Ogilvy
Ogilvy has played the Masters on four occasions with a best of 15th in 2009. He has been solid each year making the cut in all four but in 16 rounds he has only once been in the 60’s, that coming in his very last round in 2009 when he finished with a round of 69.

Since his win earlier in the season in Hawaii, Ogilvy has hardly been at his best, a missed cut last week further evidence of that.

Robert Allenby
Allenby and Augusta do not seem to get along, an indifferent putter the cause of many of his worries. In 2006 Allenby had one of his better years on the PGA Tour with his putter and had his best ever finish at Augusta when 22nd.

In 2010 the Victorian’s putter is again working well and he has regularly put himself in contention. Whether this translates into a good week this week remains to be seen but this year shapes as potentially Allenby’s best at the Masters.

Adam Scott
When Scott debuted at Augusta National in 2002 with a very impressive 9th place finish; many felt that this would be the event that would eventually see the Queenslander break through in major golf. Seven Masters on and that has not been the case, in fact that very first year has been his only top ten.

Scott is playing significantly better now than was the case at this time last year including when 14th last week in Houston. In order for him to contend – never mind win – this event he needs a transformation in his putting.

John Senden
Senden might be one of the better ball strikers in the field but it counts for little at Augusta National if you can’t match it with a good week on the greens.

Senden has played at Augusta just once that coming in 2008 when he opened with a round of 80 before missing the cut.

His putting has shown improvement in 2010 and although he has yet to record a top ten this season he has been solid enough.

Marc Leishman
Leishman has shown a capacity to handle almost anything put in front of him in his first fifteen months on the PGA Tour. He earned a start in this event by qualifying for the Tour Championship last year which in itself was a huge achievement for a rookie.

Leishman earned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honours in 2009 and while it might be a bit much to expect him to contend this week it would not surprise to see him make the cut. If he does so then it has been a good week for him on debut.

Nathan Green
Green is in the field courtesy of his playoff win over Retief Goosen at the Canadian Open. Goosen is now one of the favourites to win this week which can’t be said for Green who is on debut this year. Normally one of the better putters on the PGA Tour Green has struggled a little in that department this season and like Leishman if he plays the weekend he will have something to learn from in the years ahead.

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