Traveling With Tianlang

Gene Wojciechowski travels from Somewhere Near Kunming, China to Augusta and back to trail Tianlang Guan on the way to Augusta for the 14-year-old's appearance this week.

It's long, but fun:

After his round (followed by a long session on the putting green), we meet for dinner in the resort dining room. I hand Tianlang a 2012 Masters Annual that I brought from home (Augusta National sends one each year to writers covering the tournament). He thumbs slowly through the pages, as if he's memorizing each photo, story, stat and yardage.

The dinner group includes Tianlang, his father, a media relations consultant from Hong Kong, our ESPN crew of five and a "fixer" (part interpreter, part problem-solver). There is probably someone else at the table, but I can't remember after the drink toasts.

I've never done shots of jet fuel, but if I did, I think it would taste like Chinese vodka. Mr. Guan keeps standing up and offering toasts. Our interpreter says it would be impolite and a loss of face for Mr. Guan if we don't take part.

So three or four shots later, I'm cracking wise, yukking it up to the Guans. That's when the interpreter leans over and says discreetly, "Mr. Guan does not understand your particular sense of humor."

There is a short video bit accompanying the book, err, piece:

Phil On Augusta's Greens: "Nothing scary like they used to be."

Very interesting stuff from Phil Mickelson in response to yours truly asking about the condition of Augusta National, the firmness of the course, the shift from Wednesday to Thursday, and how Augusta National isn't has scary as it used to be.

I think it's (A) a statement about how fast regular tour stop greens have been getting, and (B) a product of the recent attempts to reintroduce drama and scoring.

Anyway, Phil, take it away...

Q.  You mentioned that the course is closer to tournament conditions; do you think we'll see a little less of that kind of flip of the switch from Wednesday to Thursday?  And also, the fairways look like they are a little bit thicker, lusher; do you think that's going to have an impact on how things play out?

PHIL MICKELSON:  So the grass is in incredible shape.  It's probably ‑‑ I mean, every year we come out and talk about how pristine Augusta is, but the reason I believe this is the best I've ever seen it is the areas that over the years have historically given problems or been thin, like the fairway shot on 13, even around the green on 12, where you don't get as much sun exposure, these are perfect.  The areas that have historically had problems are not having a problem this year.  They are perfect.

But as far as that switch you talk about going from Wednesday or Thursday, there has not been a switch in five years.  We make bigger divots on these greens than we make on the regular PGA TOUR.  These greens are softer than what we play week‑in and week‑out.  They are slightly faster, but nothing scary like they used to be.  They are more undulated but they are maybe a foot faster than what we play on the TOUR.  And quite honestly, they have been softer the last five years than anything we play on TOUR other than Pebble or something like that.

Fighting words! Does a certain three-time champion want the greens a little firmer, perhaps?

So when we used to have to know the course and know how the ball was going to be running and feeding, the ball doesn't run.  We are hitting 6‑irons that are stopping within a foot.  It's historically, like I say, only been the last five years, there's been no switch on Thursday and the greens have been soft.  You can fire at a lot of these pins without any fear.  I mean, I'm backing it up on some of those holes that I've never backed it up on.

So that fear factor has not been there, and I don't anticipate them going back to the way we expect.  I think it's going to stay kind of soft.

Punters: Masters Pairings And The Forecast

The latest forecast (4:45 ET Tuesday) calls for Thursday afternoon winds of 10-15 mph gusting to 20, with a 40% chance of scattered late afternoon thunderstorms. Thursday night calls for "rain and thunderstorms likely," with winds gusting to 30 mph.

Friday calls for morning clouds, chance of showers and t-storms, with clearing in the afternoon, winds 10-20, gusting 25-30.

What does this all mean for any potential tee time draw? I have no idea, but here are those groups and here's a quick take on the marquee pairings.

Day: Let The Patrons In Just A Tad Earlier

Guy Yocom talked to players about things they'd change at the Masters and as you'd expect for the world's best run sporting event, they struggled to come up with much criticism.

However, Jason Day did make one very good suggestion to the Lords of Augusta: let the fans in earlier.

While this isn't a big deal, as he notes, on Thursday when the Palmer, Nicklaus and Player trio makes their goosebump-inducing first tee cameo, the patrons have to move quickly to get a spot.

Let the fans through the gates just a little earlier, especially the first two rounds. I've been to the course early and have seen people racing to get to their favorite spot. I've heard that on Thursday, there's barely enough time for people to get in place to see the honorary starters. They're so excited, they don't want to miss a minute of anything. It's a long day, but for those who want to get there early, why not let them in?

Faldo: Probably Has Played His Last Masters

The Augusta Chronicle's David Westin on the likelihood that we'll never see three-time winner Nick Faldo tee it up in the Masters again.

Faldo doesn’t plan to play in the next few years, and he won’t be one of those former champions who plays a “farewell” Masters in his golden years. Predictably, they shoot high scores in the first two rounds and miss the cut by a mile.

“I can’t see that,” Faldo said. “I couldn’t let myself go and shoot any number. It’s just not me. … If I keep my nose clean and keep my job at CBS, I’m quite happy to be here and doing that.

Faldo believes he could play in the Masters and still call the tournament for CBS later in the day.

“I could have, if I spoke very nicely” to Sean Mc­Manus, the chairman of CBS Sports, Faldo said.

Punter's Note: Stricker Explains Why His Chances Aren't Great

From an unbylined Sky report on Steve Stricker's brutally honest comments Monday at Augusta National:

"You need to spin the ball here, and I'm not a spinner of the ball.

"I bring it in with some height but I don't put a lot of spin on it, and I think that's a negative for me here.

"And I'm coming in with usually a club or two more than some of these big hitters."

Having walked the course today I was struck again by how high the fairway cut continues to be. When combined with the mowing pattern toward the tee, this makes it very hard to spin the ball going into the greens. So one to two clubs will make a huge difference.

Condi Working As Berckmans Place Greeter?

And here I had Media Center duties in the pool.

David Westin reveals the details of Condoleeza Rice's first Masters Monday fulfilling rookie member duties as a greeter at the new(ish) Berckmans Place corporate entertainment venue.

 (The former Secretary of State made her green jacket debut yesterday playing golf with Phil Mickelson.)

“We turned the corner to the entrance to Berckmans Place, and there was Condo­leezza Rice standing there welcoming all the guests in for the morning,” said Jay Caldwell, of Conway, Ark., who had a Berckmans Place badge for the day.

Caldwell, who said he arrived about 8 a.m., described the experience of meeting Rice as “incredible. We took a picture with her and she introduced herself to all of us. It was over the top.

”She was really just there as a gracious host,” Caldwell added. “A pretty memorable welcome.”

John Helyar & Michael Buteau examined the role female memberships might have played in opening up the potential for increased corporate sponsor revenues that the club can put to grow the game initiatives. The Bloomberg duo report that the club may take in as much as $18 million annually from each of their four primary partners, who also didn't like entertaining their guests off site.

Enter the 90,000 square foot Berckmans.

All 400 weekly passes, costing $6,000 each and providing Masters badges and Berckmans Place access, were sold.

The addition of Berckmans Place has given the Masters-week economy in Augusta a boost, according to Diane Starr, whose Corporate Quarters Inc. rents area homes and condominiums for prices ranging from $3,000 to $30,000. Berckmans increased the supply of Masters badges for up-market patrons, in turn helping boost rental prices this year by as much as 15 percent, she said.

Masters Foundation Shares Rise On First Year Earnings Report!

Bloomberg's Michael Buteau has looked at the returns and reveals that $6.8 million was brought in by the Masters Tournament Foundation during 2011, its first year of establishment as a grow-the-global-game initiative by Augusta National Golf Club.

Stanley Druckenmiller was the leading donor among members at $100,000.

The first tax records filed for the foundation show 58 people or organizations donated to the private foundation, which in turn gave $1.7 million to eight golf groups, including $1 million to the World Golf Foundation.

“That’s a lot of checks,” Andrew Morton, a Chicago-based philanthropy attorney and chairman of the Sports & Entertainment Law Group at Handler Thayer LLP, said in a telephone interview. “Let’s face it, members of Augusta have a fairly well-known allegiance to the club, so it’s not surprising that they would have that broad base of support, but it’s still impressive. It will be interesting to see what happens in Year 2. I would suspect that they will attract even more donors.”

Beljan's Back On Twitter And Complaining He's Not In Masters!

Once-retired PGA Tour Tweeter and recovering low blood sugar sufferer Charlie Beljan has returned to Twitter in a big way. He responded to former 420 arrestee Matt Every's Tweet about the Masters field makeup. Beljan appears displeased this his Disney win last year--labeled by one scribe as the four most remarkable rounds of golf ever played--did not earn him a spot in the field.

These guys are good!

2013 Masters Television Viewing Guide

ESPN, CBS and Golf Channel have quite a lineup for Masters week, most notably with expanded CBS Sports Network coverage and all day coverage on Golf Channel during the tournament days.

Here's my best copy and paste job on the key times, starting with ESPN:

Wed., April 10
Masters Par 3 Contest  3 p.m.  ESPN, ESPN3, WatchESPN
SportsCenter at the Masters 5 p.m. ESPN, WatchESPN

Thu., April 11
First Round 3 p.m.  ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN
First Round (encore) 8 p.m. ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri., April 12
Second Round 3 p.m. ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN
Second Round (encore) 8 p.m. ESPN, WatchESPN

Sat., April 13
Third Round 4 p.m. ESPN 3D

Sun., April 14
Final Round 4 p.m. ESPN 3D

And CBS Sports Network...

MASTERS ON THE RANGE*
 
Monday, April 8:                  12 Noon - 2:00 PM
Tuesday, April 9:                  9:00 - 11:00 AM
Wednesday, April 10:           9:00 - 11:00 AM
Thursday, April 11:              11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Friday, April 12:                   11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Saturday, April 13:               11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Sunday, April 14:                  11:00 AM-1:00 PM
 
REPLAYS*
Saturday, April 13:               Immediately following conclusion of CBS Sports’ live coverage
Sunday, April 14:                  Immediately following conclusion of CBS Sports’ live coverage
* Start and end times are estimates and subject to change.

And CBS...

Saturday, April 13  3:00-7:00 PM, ET

Sunday, April 14 2:00-7:00 PM, ET

Finally, Golf Channel, which is touting quite a revolving door of golf greats through their on-site studio doors this week:

Monday, April 8
7-10 a.m. Morning Drive
3-5 p.m. Live From the Masters News Conferences
5-6 p.m. Masters Highlights 2012: Bubba Watson
6-7 p.m.  The Golf Fix
7-8 p.m. Live From the Masters

Tuesday, April 9
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Live From the Masters (includes player news conferences)
7-9 p.m. Live From the Masters

Wednesday, April 10
7-9 a.m. Morning Drive
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Live From the Masters (includes player news conferences)
7-9 p.m. Live From the Masters

6-8 a.m. Morning Drive
8 a.m.-3 p.m. Live From the Masters
7:30-9:30 p.m. Live From the Masters

Thursday, April 11 & Friday, April 12

6-8 a.m. Morning Drive
8 a.m.-3 p.m. Live From the Masters
7:30-9:30 p.m. Live From the Masters

Saturday, April 13
7-9:30 a.m. Morning Drive
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Live From the Masters
7-9 p.m. Live From the Masters

Sunday, April 14
7-9:30 a.m. Morning Drive
9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Live From the Masters
7-9 p.m. Live From the Masters