Tom Watson - New Masters Honorary Starter

[aenemated]

Just saw the announcement from Jack on his Instagram. Pretty awesome - always been a fan of Tom, his "Strategic Golf" book was an absolute game changer for me back in the day (I had no clue what "course management" was till I came upon it in a book store when I was 15) and I've actually been watching his Golf Digest vids a lot recently. One of my favorite swings of all time. 

 

Congrats Tom! 

Edited January 11, 2022 by aenemated

[ChillyDipper]

Be careful who you stand next to, Tom!

[Titleist99]

Tom's A great choice.......I like it!

 

On a side note: can't wait for the lady's senior or regular have a Par 3 contest.....JMO

[Hawkeye77]

Good move!  Maybe he'll call Gary out on a rules violation!

 

Tom Watson's Strategic Golf is just as relevant to me today as it was when I bought it many moons ago.  I've always enjoyed him, even when he's a little annoying, lol, but being a "Jack guy" I wasn't always rooting for Tom. I watched every minute I could of the entire 2009 Open Championship and lived and died on every shot over the weekend almost as much as I did during what was televised of the '86 Masters, but I still do when I watch that! My heart sunk when his approach ended up just long, but I figured of all people he'd get it close (I have that book, too) then just knew that putt wasn't going in - agony.  He probably felt worse, though. 😉

 

I forgave Stewart Cink last year, and he and I are at peace now - meant a lot to him.

[Kenbone]

Tom is the obvious choice. Only other golfer of his vintage and pedigree would be Johnny Miller but he's not really cut out for the Augusta crowd.

[Pepperturbo]

Tom Watson is a fitting choice.

 

[pgatw]

Fine choice, always a class act.

[miamistomp]

23 minutes ago, Kenbone said:

Tom is the obvious choice. Only other golfer of his vintage and pedigree would be Johnny Miller but he's not really cut out for the Augusta crowd.

 Johnny never won the Masters

[imakaveli]

This is the right choice. Well done.

[bscinstnct]

I bet after a while being an honorary starter

 

Really starts to suck

 

🤣

 

Is like cool but as the years go by, just a reminder the players always stay young, and you’re just getting older, your wins longer ago, your contemporaries passing, and your drives getting shorter.

 

I mean, kudos to Jack for sucking it up all these years, I’m sure he’s ready to pass the baton to like anybody. Get Greg Norman up there for all he cares.

 

Gary? He loves it. He’ll be out there when Jordan Spieth is an honorary starter 40 years from now lol

Edited January 11, 2022 by bscinstnct

[Kenbone]

12 minutes ago, miamistomp said:

 Johnny never won the Masters

Wow. Always thought he had. Looks like 3 2nd's though so maybe they'll let him hang out and watch. 😜

[Forged4life]

1 hour ago, Kenbone said:

Tom is the obvious choice. Only other golfer of his vintage and pedigree would be Johnny Miller but he's not really cut out for the Augusta crowd.

..

Edited January 11, 2022 by Forged4life

[Forged4life]

29 minutes ago, Kenbone said:

Wow. Always thought he had. Looks like 3 2nd's though so maybe they'll let him hang out and watch. 😜

He can be jacks caddy 

[miamistomp]

 Ray Floyd would be a good one too

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, bscinstnct said:

I bet after a while being an honorary starter

 

Really starts to suck

 

🤣

 

Is like cool but as the years go by, just a reminder the players always stay young, and you’re just getting older, your wins longer ago, your contemporaries passing, and your drives getting shorter.

 

I mean, kudos to Jack for sucking it up all these years, I’m sure he’s ready to pass the baton to like anybody. Get Greg Norman up there for all he cares.

 

Gary? He loves it. He’ll be out there when Jordan Spieth is an honorary starter 40 years from now lol

You mean his son will be selling little jars of Gary's ashes! 

[jobin]

Time for Fuzzy?  I believe he is unique among all Masters winners.

[paulshack]

2 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 Johnny never won the Masters

Yeah but he shot 52 at oakmont 60 years ago 

[bscinstnct]

33 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

You mean his son will be selling little jars of Gary's ashes! 

 

Hawk! Brutal! 
 

Im thinkin more like the man above will just let GP live forever so he doesn’t have to deal with him “upstairs” 🤣

[LeoLeo99]

I doubt I'll live long enough to see Tiger as the honorary starter.  

As a teen, it was always fun for youngin like me to see the old, old guys actually playing in the tournament since they had the unlimited exemptions for past winners.  Sam Snead, Doug Ford...  Gay Brewer.  Always made The Masters different to me.  

[iBanesto]

Fitting choice and greater man.

 

[BobMorris]

1 hour ago, miamistomp said:

 Ray Floyd would be a good one too

As would Crenshaw.

[Mr.Cleeks]

Should've been Faldo smh

 

[gvogel]

34 minutes ago, BobMorris said:

As would Crenshaw.

I was thinking of Crenshaw; he won two Green Jackets, just like Tom and Bernhard.  Crenshaw would be very popular with the Augusta folks, moreso than Bernhard and Sir Nick.

[Mr.Cleeks]

Do you guys think Seve would've been an honorary starter if he didn't pass away so young?

[NJBigFish22]

I could see Crenshaw, Faldo next up, Fuzzy won’t get after the Tiger comments and the wokeness of today, not that ANGC probably cares.  I think Phil and Tiger will be Jack and Gary’s replacements before long.

[iBanesto]

8 minutes ago, PHILsThemannnn said:

Do you guys think Seve would've been an honorary starter if he didn't pass away so young?

 

For sure.

 

Watson and Ballesteros would have been a good choice as they are both greats and rivals.

 

[aenemated]

40 minutes ago, NJBigFish22 said:

Phil and Tiger will be Jack and Gary’s replacements before long.

 

Before long? Jack's 81 and Gary's 86. 

 

Neither Tiger nor Phil will even be in their 60s before those two are gone. Phil won't stop competing at Augusta till he can't walk anymore ... probably same for Tiger; which will unfortunately probably be sooner than Phil. 

 

I feel like Tom is bridging the gap of guys who were at their peak in the 60s/70s into the 70s/80s. I could see Faldo and Freddie Couples (largely due to him being such a fan favorite) next down the line. 

Edited January 12, 2022 by aenemated

[bladehunter]

3 hours ago, miamistomp said:

 Ray Floyd would be a good one too

Absolutely, heck.  Lets have 4 now !  

[bladehunter]

2 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Hawk! Brutal! 
 

Im thinkin more like the man above will just let GP live forever so he doesn’t have to deal with him “upstairs” 🤣

Didn’t  there used to be shirts or buttons in the 80s that said “ heaven doesn’t want me and hells afraid I’ll take over “?  Remeber whne everyone’s Levi’s jacket had buttons all over it?  

Edited January 12, 2022 by bladehunter

[iBanesto]

15 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Before long? Jack's 81 and Gary's 86. 

 

Neither Tiger nor Phil will even be in their 60s before those two are gone. Phil won't stop competing at Augusta till he can't walk anymore ... probably same for Tiger; which will unfortunately probably be sooner than Phil. 

 

I feel like Tom is bridging the gap of guys who were at their peak in the 60s/70s into the 70s/80s. I could see Faldo and Freddie Couples (largely due to him being such a fan favorite) next down the line. 

 

If Ernie Els got a Masters win...

 

Tiger, Phil and Ernie would have been perfect in 15-20 years time.