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Iain Carter Column

PGA Tour

by Iain Carter (U7103772) 24 March 2008

It was a rather smug colleague who informed us he had just placed a bet at 50 to one on Geoff Ogilvy to win the Masters. “An absurdly generous price,” he said. And that was only after the Australian’s first round 65 at Doral.

The odds have tumbled now and with justification. Ogilvy has every right to travel to Augusta feeling that he has a genuine chance of becoming Australia’s first ever Masters winner.

It’s not just that he has added a second WGC title to go with his 2006 US Open, it is more the manner in which he gained the victory that ended Tiger Woods’ winning streak that should give the Adelaide 30 year old grounds for optimism at the first major of the year.

Not only did Ogilvy hold it together with Woods in his wing mirrors, he also held off a stellar chasing pack that included Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and Jim Furyk. Only Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els were missing.

Admittedly the Aussie rode his luck, holing a chip for par at the 13th that was destined to finish fifteen feet past the hole had it not crashed into the pin. But didn’t similar breaks go the way of Woods in his seven tournament winning run?

And where Ogilvy was most impressive was in the key short game area. He didn’t have a single three putt in the entire 72 holes.

He didn’t flinch in the company of Woods either. The laconic Ogilvy was unperturbed by sharing the tee with the world number one. “I can’t speak for how he played in the last round, but in the third round Tiger hit the ball better than I did, he just made nothing,” Ogilvy said.

“At some point they stop going in, and I guess they stopped going in for him this week.”

Ogilvy doesn’t seem to be phased by the world number one’s dominance and resents critics who claim the rest of the golfing world isn’t trying as hard as Woods.

“The frustrating thing is that people think we’re not trying and flying the white flag. I don’t think that’s true,” Ogilvy said.

No one could question Ogilvy’s effort over the five days it took for the WGC CA Championship to be completed. He was atop the leaderboard from early in his first round and stayed there all week.

That takes some doing and will provide a superb well of confidence from which to draw in the future.

Woods says he feels that he is in very good shape as he begins his Masters preparations, but Ogilvy can argue the same.

Could it be that next month the land of the baggie green cap will at last be able to add a slim fitting green jacket to its wardrobe?

It's got to be worth a bet, even if the odds aren't as attractive as they once were.

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comment by Iain Carter (U7103772)

posted Mar 25, 2008

Harrington believes he plays best in the third week of a three week run of tournaments. This is why he missed Doral. He will play the next two weeks on the PGA Tour, making the third week the Masters. Good to see a European genuinely setting out his stall for the majors. As for Graeme Storm coverage, we mentioned his progress throughout the weekend on Five Live and the audio of his post round interview is available on the golf page here.

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comment by kwiniaskagolfer (U6520188)

posted Mar 25, 2008

Iain,

Agree re Harrington. (I had him coming Masters runner up to Ogilvy in my tips for this yr, and I'm sticking with that.)

The Storm audio was not on the original report, hence my comment. But good to see it there now.

Remember, some of us who look to the Beeb for sports and news don't have access to all the multimedia content.

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comment by 335BMW (U7617328)

posted Mar 25, 2008

Why on earth would you tip an Aussie to win the Masters when one has never won it..............

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comment by nigeweir (U6776914)

posted Mar 25, 2008

Because the Aussies have half a dozen great golfers

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comment by kwiniaskagolfer (U6520188)

posted Mar 25, 2008

335BMW:

Ogilvy played very well there last year, just some huge numbers, snowmen and worse, inflating his score - I reckon it set him back for the season, but it looked like he had the game for Augusta.

Remember, no Aussie had won on Tour for 50 weeks before he broke through at Doral. Just a hunch, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them go on a run now, nauseating as that may be on this site!

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comment by 335BMW (U7617328)

posted Mar 25, 2008

Agree a few good ones around but they do struggle a bit at Augusta, probably the memories of Greg's big 4 iron cut into the crowd and the biggest back peddle in a major. Funnily enough though I would quite like Ogilvy to come through - he has the most sublime swing and very good attitude - nice guy.

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comment by Limerickjohn (U6846988)

posted Mar 26, 2008

It would be great to see Mickelson and Tiger going toe to toe on the final day...........don't think it will happen though........Mickelson not quite right yet

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comment by saintigs (U6513709)

posted Mar 26, 2008

Imagine if Ogilvy began winning as much as Tiger has...........then we would have 2 golfers at the top and not just one. It would appear that every time Tiger loses, the winner of that particular tournament is ready to challenge Tiger's credentials. What strange thinking!

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comment by harrydod (U9984987)

posted Mar 28, 2008

I would love Ogilvy to win although I'm putting my money on Tiger.... again.

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comment by rpbabylon (U8049773)

posted Apr 1, 2008

Stuart Appleby played well last year until he imploded on the final Sunday and if Robert Allenby could ever learn to hole a short putt he too could contend. Peter Lonard has made the tournament and is in great nick and just the type of consistent player who can find enough greens to be up there so the Aussies have a great shout without Ogilvy and Scott (who personally I dont like). Watch out for Tim Clark he always plays well and will be a good price...they say Augusta is set up for Tiger but this will be my third masters being there and I havent seen him win there yet!

It will be another fantastic week thats for sure I cant wait to get there and to just walk the fairways it is believe me a surreal experience.

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