Having had a good conversation with one of my mates last weekend about who will win the Masters this year, he said one thing that people think is perceived to be true about Augusta and the Masters. 'Augusta suits Left-handed golfers, that's why im backing Phil and Bubba this year to win...!!!' Now that sort of thinking can help you make your mind up when betting on players, very much similar to some horses running better at left hand courses as to right hand courses. If it helps you make your mind up, then all the better. So after doing a bit of research, not that im going to shoot my mate down with these facts, its hard to back that fact or myth up. But is can see where he is coming from... Firstly, the very first Major winner to be a 'wrong un', was Bob Charles (Sir Robert Charles since his 1999 knighthood) of New Zealand, who won the Open Championship in 1963 at Royal Lytham & St Annes in an 18 hole playoff with American Phil Rogers. This, bearing in mind, comes after the Open Championships had first been played in 1860 at Prestwick, Scotland. Not a great strike rate...!!! We then had to wait a further 40 years before a 'Lefty' struck again when Canadian Mike Weir struck to take the 2003 Masters title in a play-off win against Len Mattiace. Then, probably the main reason why some say left-handers are good at Augusta, Big Phil Mickelson took charge with his first win in 2004 on the back of Mike Weirs first and only Major victory. This started Phil's love affair with the Masters and his desire to win more Green Jackets. Its true, Phil's record is second to none around Augusta, only Tiger Woods has more victories than him, but Phil has the sign over Tiger in regards the last 10 years of this Major. His Masters record stands at... Wins - 3 times... 2010, 2006, 2004 Top 6 - 5... 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2012 top 10 - 3... 1995, 2000, 2005 top 30 - 2... 2007, 2011 30+ - 2... 1991 where he was a Amateur, 1993 Cut - 1... 1997 This all over a 22 year period where he has made the Masters for the last 18 consecutive years. Yes the winners get a invite back to the Tournament, but to be so competitve for this time scale is an amazing record... And then along came Bubba Watson. The flamboyant Floridian made a huge impact when he broke onto the scene with his wild driving and laid back approach to how the game of golf should be played. Absolutely massive of the tee, his driving averages are off the scale. In his rookie year, 2006 he lead the Tour Driving Distance table with 319.6 yard drive, only to better it in 2010 at the Sony Open by smashing a 416 yard drive...!!! This made him a big hit with the fans and this was enhanced even more when he claimed last years Masters Title. He dosnt have a particular good record in the Masters, only 3 times has he even made the cut in his last 9 visits. But he now has his name forever linked with this great tournament... Just worth of note. Both Mike Weir and Phil Mickelson are right handed at everything except when they come to play golf...!!! Of my mates statement that Lefty's do well here, i suppose when you look at the last 10 years of the competition, then he dos have a point. Bubba, once, Mike Wier once and Phil wiining it 3 times make it 50/50 as to whether or not a lefty or right handed golfer wins it. Plus the facts dont lie, as there are less than 1% of all players on the PGA Tour who are Left Handed. The truth of the matter is that the best golfer of the week wins the tournament and if he's a 'Wrong-un' on not we should just accept it... ps - I do have a mate who is a Left Handed golfer and he plays off a handicap of 3. He is the only one i know who is a 'Wrong-un', and he just happens to be the best standard of golfer i know as well... Must be something in this Lefty Myth...
Essentially they say it is easier for lefty's because Augusta is mostly a right to left course, it suits a right to left fade shot from the tee for a left hander which shortens the path to the green, the majority of pros hit fade shot's off the tee as they are easier to control and when one goes wrong it is relatively not too bad compared to the pull-hook a draw shot creates. The right handed players who fade the ball generally end up the wrong side of the fairway therfore take more risks down the left to try land on the 'right' side to approach whereas the lefty's can start the ball way out to the right knowing it will fade back into perfect positon to attack the greens. Kaymer famously lost his form recently changing his game from being a fader of the ball to trying a controlled draw as his main shot in order to win here, he now reverted to his fade shot to regain form ( i have experience of this also!) The right handed pros genrally don't like to play a draw from the tee unless it's an open fairway in case off that pull hook which will spell all sorts of trouble at Augusta usually shooting themselves out with double or treble bogey's. All in all that is basically the only reason red but at the end of the day they are pros and when on song they will shape that ball anyway, it's just the pull-hook miss is quite scarier than a soft controlled fade miss which is why it suits a left hander off the tee and that is where the advantage is often gained at Augusta. Hopefully that makes some sorta sense, i tend to ramble
