The Australians at Augusta National

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 US Masters | Preview | Nicklaus | 04 Apr 2011

Six Australians have earned the right to play the 2011 Masters this week. This is the one major championship an Australian has yet to win although four different players have finished runner-up.

In 1950 Jim Ferrier finished runner-up to Jimmy Demaret, in 1972 Bruce Crampton finished second to Jack Nicklaus, in 1980 Jack Newton finished behind Seve Ballesteros and on three separate occasions Greg Norman finished runner up to Nicklaus, Larry Mize and Nick Faldo respectively.

Jason Day is the only Australian debutante this year the other five having played a collective 43 Masters Tournaments between them with Stuart Appleby the most at 13.

Let’s have a look at the records of those Australians in the field in order of their current world ranking and how they might perform in 2011.

Adam Scott

Scott is playing his 10th Masters and perhaps surprisingly his only top ten came on debut when 9th in 2002. He has only missed two cuts in those nine starts however but has never genuinely contended. He arrives at Augusta this year off the back of a good tournament at the WGC Cadillac event at Doral where he finished 6th. He has spent a little longer than normal in Augusta preparing for this year’s event so whether that helps or not remains to be seen.

A switch in putters at the Accenture could help or hinder Scott this week as using a still unfamiliar long putter on the treacherous greens at Augusta could be a great success or failure. He did show at Doral however that he was coming to terms with it.

Robert Allenby

Allenby has 11 starts to his name at Augusta National with a best of only 22nd in 2006. In 58 major championship starts Allenby has a best of only 7th and so on that stat alone it is difficult to see him figuring amongst the contenders on Sunday. He did however finalise his lead in last week with a very good tournament in Houston where he finished 6th.

Geoff Ogilvy

While Ogilvy has never really contended in this event he does have a good solid record and one that fits the profile of those who eventually win. The Victorian has made the cut in all five of his appearances with a best of 15th in 2009. Ogilvy finished off 2010 in style with a victory at the Australian Open and a runner-up finish at the Australian PGA but when looking to defend his Tournament of Champions title at Kapalua he cut his finger and has had solid but hardly spectacular results since.

Jason Day

Day plays his first Masters this year and only his third major championship. He has done well enough in the two he has played however to again be confident of a good week. He made the cut at the Open Championship last year when playing on late notice and then contended until late on Sunday at the PGA Championship. He started the year well enough with a top ten at Kapalua and made the round of 16 at the Accenture. He missed the cut narrowly last week in Houston but in terms of his preparation for Augusta that might not be such a bad thing.

Day’s problem this week will be that he is playing Augusta National for the first time and history has shown that it takes time under the heat of battle to absorb the subtleties of this great layout. Fellow Australians Rod Pampling and Mark Hensby tied for 5th on their debuts in 2005 and if Day was to do as well then it would be one hell of an achievement. His time will probably come at Augusta National but not yet.

Aaron Baddeley

Baddeley has played this event on five previous occasions with a best of 17th at his last start in 2009. There is little doubt however that Baddeley is now playing close to the best he has played in his career. His recent win at Riviera and follow up efforts at Bay Hill and last week when fourth in Houston confirm that statement. At his very best he could contend here especially having played the event enough to learn the ropes.

Stuart Appleby

Appleby has played this event more than any of the five other Australians in the field this week. In 13 attempts, Appleby has a best of 7th – that coming in 2007 when he led into the final round. He has made his last six cuts in the event and although his results in 2011 have been a roller coaster of sorts he has the capacity to play well.

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