[골린이이야기] Masters reopened in 5 months… Who is the main character of the green jacket?

(Seoul = News 1) Reporter Na Yeon-joon = The Masters of’Masters of Heat’ is coming to an end again in 5 months. The world’s top golfers, including’defending champion’ Dustin Johnson (USA), Bryson Dishambo (USA), and Lim Seong-jae (23, CJ Logistics), cover the protagonist of the’Green Jacket’.

The 85th Masters Tournament will start at Augusta National Golf Club (par 72, 7475 yards) in Augusta, Georgia, USA for four days starting on the 8th (local time).

The Masters is originally held in early April. However, in 2020, it took place in November due to the aftermath of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Then, as the 2021 tournament was held in early April, as usual, the Masters was held again in five months.

◇ Augusta National Green Jacket… Symbol of masters

The Masters, which started in 1934, is the only tournament among the four major tournaments to be held at the same venue, always at the Augusta National Golf Club. This golf course was created by Bobby Jones (USA), one of the best amateur golf players of the 20th century, with his friend Clifford Roberts, who was a financial wealthy, in commemoration of his retirement.

The tournament was held in the name of the Augusta National Invitational in 1934 and received a lot of attention. The first tournament was won by Horton Smith and the prize money was $1,500. From 1939 it began to be called the Masters Tournament.

One of the specialties of Augusta National Golf Club is the’Amen Corner’, which is attached to holes 11 through 13. It originated from the meaning that the course was so difficult that the players spontaneously burst into sighs of’Amen’.

It is a section that requires elaborate shots to avoid narrow fairways, lakes, and bunkers, and it is difficult to win the Masters unless you conquer it. In 2020,’Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (US) was embarrassed for committing a Septuple Bogey (7 over par) on the 12th hole (par 3).

The green jacket given to the winner also symbolizes the Masters. It has been given to the winners since 1949, and the tradition continues in which the previous year’s winners wear them to new champions. The winner retains the green jacket for one year and returns it to Augusta National the following year.

Jack Nicklaus (USA), the first in the history of the Masters to win two consecutive years, wore a green jacket by himself. Afterwards, players who succeeded in losing the Masters for two consecutive years, such as Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Woods (2001 and 2002), were dressed in green jackets by the president of Augusta National Golf Club.

There are fewer Masters players than other majors. Between 90 and 100 athletes compete, but qualifications are not granted through separate qualifying rounds. It is a great honor for the players to have the right to qualify for the Masters.

◇ Nicklaus Woods, the champion who brightened the Masters… Lim Seong-jae Asia’s highest grade

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus (USA) has won a total of six times, remaining the Masters top winner. Nicklaus won his first championship in 1963 and held the last trophy in his arms in 1986. He continued to play for the Masters for a long time.

When it comes to Masters, Woods is also indispensable. At the time, Woods, who made his debut as a pro, won his first green jacket at the Masters in 1997, overtaking Tom Kite by a whopping 12 strokes. At the time, at the age of 21, Woods became the youngest winner of all time. It was also significant in that he was the first black Masters winner.

Woods later wins and wins at the Masters. 2001, 2002, 2005, etc., successively wins the Masters and enjoys its heyday. Since then, he fell into a slump after various things such as injury and scandal, but once again in 2019, it rose to the top of the Masters and caused a big topic.

In the 2020 tournament, Korean players’ propaganda also shined. The 2019 PGA Tour rookie King Im Seong-jae participated in the Masters for the first time last year and took second place. This was the highest record ever for Koreans, surpassing Choi Gyeong-ju (third place in 2004). Im Seong-jae will also participate in this competition and challenge to win the first Korean Masters.

◇Spotlight is’Hulk’ DeChambo

Woods is absent from this year’s event due to a car overturning accident, but there are plenty of things to see, such as the challenge of losing the world’s No. 1 Dustin Johnson (USA) to the Masters for the second time in a row. Among them, the attention of fans is focused on the challenge of Bryson Dishambo (USA) to win the Masters.

DeChambo won the US Open in September 2020, boasting an explosive distance of 325.60 yards on average. He showed confidence in his slugging power, saying, “I see it as a par 67 competition. Two-on is possible in all par 5 holes” before the Masters. In fact, ahead of the tournament, it became an issue with a play aiming for two-on in par 5 holes in the practice round.

However, the Masters wasn’t sloppy. Last year, DeChambo ranked first in distance with 323.88 yards, but the hit rate fell. Eventually, DeChambo accepted the shabby report card, tied for 34th place. DeChambo said, “I made too many mistakes. I have to think about reducing these mistakes in the future.”

Despite the failure at the Masters last year, expectations for DeChambo are still high. DeChambo also won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and tied for third in the Players Championship, dubbed the’Fifth Major Competition’.

DeChambo is currently No. 1 in the FedEx Cup rankings and is showing the most outstanding performance this season. CBS Sports is predicting the odds of DeChambo’s winning the Masters this year as second place (9-1) after Dustin Johnson (8-1).

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