Battle of the bulge and other Masters observations

The thrill is back in the Masters, or so the pundits say. But if you're like 75% of the rest of the world, if Tiger, Mickelson, or any of the  young turks aren't competing for the green jacket, interest isn't quite the same.

Still, this year's first Major had its moments. One thing that popped to mind was the absence of any gym-going, Pilates-practicing, flat bodies in the final groups. Judging from the girth of Perry, Campbell, and Cabrera, the trio heading into the playoffs, you're more likely see them lift a Bud than a barbell.

Which goes to show that golf is for everyone, Major tournaments and PGA events not the exception. How many times have you seen unathletic looking golfers with the touch of magicians on and around the greens? Or that skinny young kid who can blast the ball a mile past yours? That is the beauty of this game, isn't it? What other sport on the face of this world can let you, the weekend golfer, hit a shot as well as the number one golfer in the world?

All the buzz this past week, apart from the Woods - Mickelson showdown, was how Augusta managed to get the course back to the way it was - that is, allowing golfers to go for the green, and not play as conservatively as they had been these past few years. The course was set up pretty much perfectly, it seemed, and given that we saw Kim shoot 11 birdies on his way to the record books one day, and in the final day, see Perry bogey the last two holes (Mickelson and Woods also birdied 18 in the last round) on his way to seeing his first Major slip away, only showed that the excitement seems to have returned to the world's favourite golf tournament.

While the 48-year-old Perry and the 39-year-old Cabrera hooked their drives, chunked their irons, and struggled to save par into the late April evening this year, we can only agree that youth and panache cannot replace experience. Where was Danny Lee, Rory McIlroy, or Ryo Ishikawa? It is without a doubt that these three youngsters will have their days in the sun, just not yet. And to help them along, perhaps it is the responsibility of the media (especially the hordes from Japan that seem to trail Ishikawa's every step) to cut them some slack. They're barely out of adolescence, for goodness sake.

My favourite golfer at this year's Masters was Shingo Katayama. He embodies what modern golf should be. Dressed like a rhinestone cowboy (without the rhinestones), walking with confidence, and always with a ready smile, he embraced the moment, the crowd, and the golf, enjoying everyone moment of his week halfway round the world from the place he calls home. 

Today's professional game has an international face (just look at the winners of the last 5 majors - South African, American, Irish x 2, Argentinian), and it should be a smiling one. 

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