AUGUSTA, Ga. – The British are coming! The British are coming!
A green-jacketed member didn’t exactly ride around the verdant expanses of Augusta National warning fellow members and countrymen of an impending British invasion, but it might just have been in order on opening day.
After 12 years since Nick Faldo’s 1996 victory with only faint sniffs of Masters glory, British fans celebrated an embarrassment of riches as British golfers leapt into Masters contention on Day 1. It was if we were back in the 1980s and 90s when Faldo, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam were measuring themselves for the most prestigious jacket in sports.
Indeed, one member of that trio actually got in on the act.
Ian Poulter led the way in his own cocksure way. He arrived in Augusta facing questions over quotes he made to a British golf magazine.
“I don’t rate anyone else ... the problem is I haven’t played to my full potential. And when that happens it will be just me and Tiger,” Poulter was quoted as saying.
Poulter had no intention of dissing Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and other top 10 players. However, he put one over on Woods in the opening round when he beat the world No. 1 by two shots with a 70.
Those two shots came at 16th hole when he holed one with an 8-iron from 169 yards.
“That’s probably the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve had,” Poulter said. “It was a great buzz.”
It wouldn’t compare with the buzz he’d get if he were to carry on and win the green jacket. The dapper Englishman would have no problem matching the Augusta green to his wardrobe.
“I might just have a shade of green to go with the jacket on Sunday,” he said.
Lyle doesn’t have to worry about a green jacket, one already resides in his private cubbyhole in the champions’ locker room. There were times on opening day when it looked as if he was hell bent on adding another coat to the one he slipped over his shoulders in 1988.
Lyle, 50, got it to 3-under par after 12 holes to jump into the lead on his own. He stayed that way until the 15th tee but went bogey, bogey, par, bogey to finish level par.
Luke Donald also got to 3-under par. He reached that mark by the sixth hole via birdies at the first, second and sixth holes.
Donald is used to contending for the Masters. He tied for third in 2005, his Masters debut. He also tied for 10th last year.
Unfortunately, Donald went into backslide motion on the back nine. He played the final 15 holes 4 over to close with a 73.
“I made too many mistakes today,” Donald said. “It was disappointing. To make five birdies around here, you’re doing a lot of good things. It’s a shame to give them back with a few silly mistakes.”
Lee Westwood also let himself down badly on the back nine, albeit not as badly as Donald and Lyle. Westwood’s bogey on the 17th hole had as much to do with trying to get his round done before dark than it did poor play.
In contrast to Donald and Lyle, Justin Rose went the opposite way. He started badly and finished well. Two over par after four holes, Rose turned his game around. He played the next 14 holes in 6-under par to jump into the early lead at 4 under before Trevor Immelman tied him on that mark.
Rose knows about being in contention for major championships. He announced himself to the world by contending for a major. He was a 17-year-old amateur when he finished fourth at Royal Birkdale in the 1998 Open Championship.
It won’t be lost on anyone that it’s been 10 years since that historic feat. In that time he’s been to hell and back and blossomed into the complete player. He proved that last year with a fourth-place tie.
He’s looking to go three places better this year.
“I’ve gone out there today with a really relaxed frame of mind and that’s what I’ve got to recreate the rest of the week. There’s 54 holes left, and you’ve got to stay in the moment until the back nine on Sunday.
“Hopefully last year what I learned will help me finish the job off a little better.”
Throw in Paul Casey at 1-under par and there are six Brits within five shots of the lead.
Watch out Augusta. The British really are coming!
Posted: 4/10/2008
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