Seven Aussies take on Masters hoodoo
Seven Australians have qualified to play in next week’s US Masters at Augusta National. Unless another Aussie can win at the Houston Open this weekend, it will remain at seven. While we’ve had a reasonable run at making the cut at Augusta, an Australian has yet to ever win the green jacket.
The Australian contestants this year are:
Robert Allenby (best result 22nd, 2006)
Stuart Appleby (7th, 2007)
Aaron Baddeley (52nd, 2007)
Mathew Goggin (debut)
Greg Norman (2nd, 1986, 1987, 1996)
Geoff Ogilvy (16th, 2006)
Adam Scott (9th, 2002)
Other stats, Australians at the Masters (2000 – 2008):
Most Aussies: 9 (2008)
Cuts made: 60%
Norman’s record: Nine Top 10’s. Eight of them Top 5’s.
Related articles:
Australians at the majors
Australians at the majors, 2000 – 2008.
That’s a pretty strong Aussie line-up. Should be great fun to watch, especially with Mr. Norman back in the game.
My question is why only seven and why such ‘sub-par’ performances at Augusta National, the other majors and otherwise on the PGA tour? Below are seven Aussies competing this week at the Shell Houston not playing at the Masters. I think talent wise O’Hern, Nitties, Lonard, Green and Senden are in the top 30-40 of all golfers on tour. Elkington was a top ten talent ever since his T59 at Colonial 25 years ago.
Nick O’Hern
James Nitties
Peter Lonard
Nathan Green
Jarrod Lyle
John Senden
Steve Elkington
Prior to Norman, the only Aussies on my radar were Jack Newton, David Graham, Kel Nagle and, of course, Peter Thomson. What always jumped off the screen with these guys, and the past couple decades of Australian golfers, is their supreme confidence and total lack of intimidation. It amazes me there are not few dozen majors and many scores of regular tour events on their resumes. I have always envied the Aussies because they seem to have the perfect mix of competitive drive, golfing skills and the, “..let’s get a pint, mate” coolness.
The common denominator these 14 golfers from ‘down under’ seem to share in contrast to a huge majority of American fellow competitors is college. Or, more accurately, the lack of it. For a while now, even many Euro golfers are attending American colleges on scholarship and matriculating while they hone their social and golfing skills. They arrive on tour at age 21-22 and seem pretty comfortable. Aussie golfers seem to play their tour, in the Asian and European tours before they arrive. I would think they would be better prepared to win, especially the pressure packed major tournaments.
Please do not regard this as anti-anything, anyplace or anybody. I am not a huge Greg Norman fan, but I have always respected and genuinely likes the Australian golfers. I am just very surprised their records in the majors are below what I thought they were and what I thought they could be…
It’s an interesting point. I’m really not sure why. The tough sandbelt courses in southern Australia gives them all a great grounding. Maybe it needs just one break through and the win will come.