A Sunday At The Masters... 

Yes, he really played solid and just didn't make many mistakes. He rarely missed left.. which is by design (his golf swing)

Fantastic Sunday round play, and was rewarded 3x

Just wonderful... but I imagine there would be folks posting those rounds on youtube from tape machines. My Dad video taped many of those classic era rounds and I still have many of those tapes laying around somewhere. I used to post some of them on the ABS website.. but with youtube coming on later, most of it is there now.

Any more postings of Majors you have or Australian and Canadian Tour tournaments would be awesome to see John 🤝

Of course they are not going to do it... someone else will have to do it. Just reboot the game with a new tour and rule book. It's been done in other sports. If the great spirit of the game is still looking down.. then it will return in great glory!

Love this analysis. Well done John. How anybody doesn't think this is the more pure sport as intended in this wonderful game, is beyond me. Its just better. Any decent player 45yrs of age or older knows this.

@@stanlee399 The generation that knows this let it happen. I am very disappointed with the USGA. It's their job, their purpose to maintain the integrity of THE GAME... not the business. Those are two different things. Even rolling the ball back is USGA admitting they made a mistake. The mistakes are huge, and not just the ball. Notice Lanny talking about just the grooves issue and how the traditional groove guys had to learn more shots.

@@lagpressure 💯 agree. For sometime now the businessman and science nerds have both moved the game in a negative trajectory brother.

@@stanlee399 I have the think or hope that the tide comes back into something based more upon common sense. None of this makes any sense within the context of the game itself. The tired argument/cliche I hear from every corner of the golf world is that "the equimpment companies would never allow it". That statement is absurd because the equipment companies are not the stewards of game of golf. Definition: (the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property: "responsible stewardship) This is the job of the USGA/ R and A. This is their job. USGA is not making clubs and balls. They regulate the game. That is their purpose. The USGA/ R and A is 100% responsible for this. There are no excuses they can make. Zero. They failed the game and turned it into something that was never intended. Cliche #2: "things change, get with the times" So when does the change end? Can we bring AI and computers and robots into golf? That would be change and technology. The same person that argues for frying pan drivers and plastic golf balls would say... "oh, you can't do that... that would not be golf. Robots are making music. That started with Drum machines. Why not golf? Use your app... program your robot to to hit the shot coordinated with GPS data and weather apps. This could go on and on. The intellectuals would say.. "it is all extensions of the human mind and consciousness, robots can't exist without being created initially by humans, and we are heading in this direction as a global community or other nonsense. I am a voice of reason, and we are not many, but I will continue to be a voice of reason because I refuse to be dumbed down or go along with what I know is not correct.

Well, it is a FACT that the average tour drive was around 250 yards, and now it's around 300 yards. That's 20% farther... FACT. Now, if we do some basic math... I mean grade school math.... Augusta at 6800 times 20% puts Augusta at 8150... if you want to keep it apples to apples. However, now it's playing around 7500... much shorter than 8150.. therefore the shot valuations are NOT at all similar. Only on the par 3's and I would agree with you there, but not any of the other holes. They have lengthened them, but not enough. I talk a lot about TRAJECTORY here, and those valuations (trajectory) in the modern game here at Augusta are NOT the same. I do applaud Augusta for doing their best to reign in technology by adding distance ... 700 yards in fact.. and it helps... it certainly does... but on the other hand, I believe this leaves a very bad precedent for the other great courses of the classic era. It's saying... "add 10% or you're no longer relevant". Not all these courses can do that. Look at the complete mockery of the US Open at LA Country Club last year. One of the great courses of the world and it was a pitch and putt and they just tore that place apart. NO WAY do they do that if they are playing a persimmon and balata. But back to Augusta, on 15, we see Faldo hitting driver then 1 iron. We don't see the greatest players hitting 1 irons anymore into long par 4's or in this case a par 5. Faldo could move the ball out there when he wanted to. He wasn't short... but he was not a long hitter like Nicklaus. Jack hit one of the longest drives on 15 all week and came in with a 4 iron. I have a clip of Watson and Seve, both very long coming into 15 with 3 wood and 2 iron. In more recent years I watched Phil hit 8 iron in... and many others doing the same.... even after it was lengthened. I know they have lengthened it even farther... but why? Why did this need to happen is the real question. Baseball isn't going into titanium bats and high tech composite balls. Baseball has kept things in check. As far as the modern players being stronger etc.. I would agree that more of them are, but there were plenty of strong players in the past that were great athletes and the ball still flew within correct parameters. Nicklaus, Palmer, Snead, Hogan, Player, these guys were very fit and athletic. As far as me talking about booming drives.. YES.... within the parameters of correct relationship to the course designs. Those 300 yard drives in the persimmon era were great, but those drives would be 350 or more now... which is not the same thing... and would not be in sync with the architecture of the great classic tracks. Remember, again... the ball/club combo is going 20% farther. So Jack's 300 yard drive would now be going 360. There is no disputing this. A final thought here.... the USGA and their silly roll the ball back thing is absurd. I can 100% guarantee you that Jack's 300 yard drive on 15 is NOT going 360 with the modern golf ball. Most of that gain is the driver itself... not the ball. With a giant head and extra length and lightweight, that's doing the majority of it. Obviously the USGA is ADMITTING they made a mistake ... and rolling back the ball is just a signal of that. If you watch this 1990 Masters, most of the guys are hitting metal woods.. and Faldo wins this with a persimmon driver. It's NOT metal vs persimmon.. it's driver heads the size of toasters 2 inches longer and lighter that the players can swing as hard as possible that is at issue... not the ball. If you put the modern ball back in play in 1990, the players would NOT use it.. because it doesn't spin correctly... it's not going to be the choice for the shot shapers and ball control guys. It's only the right ball for the modern driver combo... which the engineers have figured out to maximize distance off the frying pans.... and it's the right ball and club combo for most of today's pro events on wide open courses with big greens and not many trees. It was not the right combo on the 6600 yard US Open at Merion a few year back which really made a mockery of the modern players... that as Watkins commented here.. just haven't had the opportunity to develop those kind of shotmaking skillsets with contemporary gear.

@lagpressure the professional driving distance has risen from an average of 256 in 1980 to 297 in 2023. That's 41 yards. The distances for the average Joe have stayed relatively the same at a modest 200 yards. Now, to address the courses. It's not that hard to reign in the distance boom. Grow the rough. Funnel it in tighter to where you want approach shots coming in from. There's one overwhelming caveat to the whole crux of the debate. Money. You're not buying a billion dollars of equipment, nor am I or any professional on any Tour. Their whole job from a manufacturers stand point is to sell product. Generally viewers want to see birdies. They want to see the 375 yard bombs. That's what drives sales and the viewership. Augusta is never going to grow the rough. They will continue to tinker with the course when they think a particular hole is too easy as they've shown. I agree with you playing persimmon and hitting a balata ball is a blast, but that doesn't sell tickets or merchandise. I can imagine this similar debate was made 100 years ago as the shift was made from hickory shafts to steal. My old sticks are from that Era. No grooves, they have dots in the irons. With the shafts painted brown to look like hickory from a distance. Along with leather wrapped grips. I'm sure the "purests" from 100 years ago complained about the wound ball too. I don't know about you but I can't afford $100 a ball. That's approximately the equivalent cost of a ball back then when they were handmade. Today's players are athletes. The classic players were not. They weren't hitting the gym and watching their diet. There's so much more in today's game because of money. Some of the solid players from the classic Era may not have been able to keep a tour card today because they're game just isn't good enough by today's standards. Golf Digest did an article about this 25 years ago talking about what the college athletic machine was going to be bringing to the tour. I have so many thoughts about it I could debate with you for hours on it.

@@industrialpalletworx3548 Your points are well taken... but we are talking two different issues here that are not the same thing. There is the GAME of golf.. and there is the business of golf equipment and other satellite business... clothing, bags, shoes, maintenance equipment, resorts, housing developments etc... goes on for days. The USGA SHOULD have been on the side of protecting the game. That was or is their job. That is the reason for them to exist. No one actually NEEDS the USGA to play golf. I don't need them. They have events etc, but very few events are actually run by the USGA. It's just a "go to" place holder for a standard rules. People buy into that for better or worse and that is understandable. It is NOT the job or purpose of the USGA to focus on the business of golf. They are the yin of the yang. There are to protect the integrity of the game, and clearly they have failed miserably. Even to the point that they are now trying to walk back the ball. They are admitting their mistake and error... clearly. They are admitting their failure to keep the integrity of the game. As far as hickory going into steel... steel did not hit the ball farther. It did not change the basic parameters of the game. Didn't create a need to change the size of the playing field. Steel just made it easy to have a set of clubs that would have more consistent shaft flexation for accuracy. Same thing as the early metal woods.. You just saw it in this video. Faldo won with a persimmon driver.. most of the guys were playing metal woods for reasons that did NOT have to do with adding distance to their drives. It was a feel and accuracy thing.. and more durable. Knudson talked about his frustration with persimmon changing weight in various humidity conditions. For a striker of his caliber.... that was a real thing. He would have liked metal woods.. but none of these guys would have supported a club and ball combo that would send the drives 20% farther. One of the biggest issues is that these legacy players are held under contract with companies to make some income, even significant to endorse their products. They can't really speak their minds. You here hints of it..from time to time... but it always feels under wraps. They are very careful with their words... the old saying.. "don't bite the hand that feeds". A friend of mine recently interviewed a former Major winner on a podcast and told me that then they were "off camera" he totally went off about it all, and it was pretty harsh. Again ... off camera and mic. Golf is a game... the game itself is not the business. Again, these are different things. Grow the game.. all that stuff.. that's business talk.... nothing more. The great game is still there for those to embrace and play, and these archived Master's footage are wonderful. The Augusta guys know that what has gone on is wrong, but they are trying to adapt... but they are not happy about it... having to change their golf course to suit the USGA... not good. They do it biting their lip I can assure you out of some remaining respect for the existing establishment. Just FYI, I have personally discussed this with Fred Ridley... I'm not making things up here..

@lagpressure I don't disagree with the USGA and they're late to the game to reign in distance. 100% they screwed up. I do disagree with your take on technology. I truly am disgusted that the great courses are being rendered null in void. A topic for another video is the fact the average Joe can't play those courses anyway.

@@industrialpalletworx3548 Technology is fine as long as it doesn't change the parameters of the game... the essence of the game. All games have parameters.. and those parameters are what make great games. Baseball dimensions are perfect. A line drive to the third baseman is nearly a tie at first with a properly picked up grounder and a talented arm. If the bases were further apart, it would radically change the parameters. Same thing if they were closer together. They got it right.. and the great golf courses were right as well. Now they are not. Bowling has parameters. The pins are set a certain way, the lane is a certain length, the ball is a certain size. Suppose they made the bowling ball twice the size to "Grow the Game"... much easier to knock down the pins... would that make it a better game? More popular? Someone could sell more bowling balls and shoes? How about the spineless USGA that allows steel spikes but also allows a "local rule" to ban them at nearly all golf courses? LOL! I love that one. I can't wear their "legal shoes" at the golf course... but I am supposed to play by their absurd rules? Do you want to know what I really think of the USGA? I would be banned from youtube forever... believe me.

Well, like I said or suspect, I think he was happy with the shot he initially hit.. you can see it on his face. Most guys.. if they hit a bad shot know it right at impact.. and drop the club etc.. but Floyd looked content and engaged with the ball flight 3 or 4 seconds into flight. Look again. It's not until the ball is past it's apex (most likely) that he realizes it's going into the water. As far as him aiming left, he might have been playing a fade in there... only he would know. I can't imagine he would be play a draw in there and have the ball working toward the water. No way on that. I would guess he just took it dead aim at the pin and it caught some unexpected wind. This happened to me playing the 18th at Cypress Point last year where I hit what I thought was an excellent shot right at the pin and the wind came up and blew my ball right of the green. I couldn't feel the wind from down in the fairway, and it's hard to play a wind shot when you don't feel the wind on your body. Amen corner is know for this, and he might not have felt any wind back up in the fairway... also, those winds can move higher than the pin on the ground.... and you don't see the flag moving. It's all speculation of course, but I just found it interesting that his facial expression was NOT one of disgust after he hit the shot... only disappointment as the ball fell left after the apex of it's flight.

Cypress Point was Knudsons favorite

Not familiar with them. The last Hogan blades I hit were the Redlines. My favorite Hogan blades are the 58 Sunbursts, 69 Bounce Soles, 61 PowerThrusts.

@@lagpressure You should look them up. Considered by most as possibly the best blades ever created. Right before the tungsten days.

He certainly could have not won any of them... but he didn't make many mistakes and played good solid golf. Took chances when needed and succeeded. He kept the ball in the green zone.. (right and below the hole) more than most.

No, he won 3 Masters tournaments; he crossed the line; that's competitive sport. There are hardly any tournaments, least of all majors, where a player has won wire to wire. Mistakes happen, champions capitalise.

​@@lagpressure Awesome scorecard. Says it all. Thats talent wow

​@@lagpressure Wow look at the drives. 310 v 260 advantage for Raymond. Thats the 50yd draw bonus reward you referenced wow

@@stanlee399 This is why persimmon woods with balata was better... If you hit on the screws, you could move it out there. If you miss hit it slightly, you lost yardage significantly. It really rewarded precision as it should! It should NOT reward mediocrity ... it shouldn't. A great game of skill... this homogenizing of the game is not in the spirit of the great game.