Sports Page Atlanta

As I mentioned below, a lot of big time winners of the AT&T Classic (formely the BellSouth Classic, formely the Atlanta Classic and so-on and so-on).

I also mentioned if you are a fan of Georgia or Georgia Tech golf there are a lot of people you can be watching…

The three most famous ones are probably David Duval, Stewart Cink and Larry Mize. These former Yellow Jackets have had great pro careers. Duval was the 1999 winner at the BellSouth, Cink has 6 top-10 finishes on the course, while Mize has had two 2nd place finishes here, back in 1987 and in 1990.

Ryuji Imada got everyone excited last year when he lost in a playoff to Zach Johnson who just got off a win at the Masters. Ever year Imada improves at this course. In 2005 he finished 15th, in 2006 he finished 10th and last year 2nd. In 12 Tournaments this year, the former Georgia Bulldog has 2 runner-ups and is 22nd on the PGA Tour money list.

Another former Bulldog is Bubba Watson. He is a big-time crowd pleaser while his pink driver and his booming drives. Watson is the leader once again averaging over 310 yards a drive.

Here are the former Georgia Bulldogs that are playing…

• Justin Bolli
• Paul Claxton
• Ryuji Imada
• Chris Kirk
• Franklin Langham
• Scott Parel
• Bubba Watson

Here are the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets that are playing…

• Ramon Castro 
• Stewart Cink
• David Duval
• Matt Kuchar
• Troy Matteson
• Larry Mize
• Nicholas Thompson

And then there were two…. after the 3rd round of The Masters, Larry Mize failed to make the cut and now we are keeping track of just 2 guys.

Former Georgia Tech star Stewart Cink is looking sharp and has moved up to 6th place after shooting a 71. He will most likely be paired with Tiger Woods (no pressure.)

And the former Bulldog, Bubba Watson is making the University of Georgia proud in his Masters debut. After 3 rounds his is currently 1 over par. The good part of his day (4 birdies) the bad part (5 bogeys.)
photo credit: dareneilert

Trevor Immelman is your halfway leader at The Masters. He matched his 68 in round one with a 68 in round two.

Locally, Georgia Tech’s Stewart Cink moved up 11 spots and is now tied for 8th after shooting a 69 in the 2nd round. He had just one bogey in the round.

The other Yellow Jacket in the field was not so lucky. Larry Mize shot a 81 and finished +14 and you guessed it missed the cut. Only Fuzzy Zoeller and Gary Player finished worse.

Former Georgia Bulldog Bubba Watson is looking good in his Masters debut. The long hitter is now tied for 21st after his 2nd round score of 71. He had 4 birdies and 3 bogeys in the round.
photo credit: dareneilert

When former Georgia Tech golfer Larry Mize won the 1987 Masters with his amazing shot he pocketed $162,000, which was a lot in those days.

In last year’s Masters, $162,000 would have meant you finished anywhere from 10th to 11th place.

As of right now on this year’s money leaders as of April 10th, if you won $162,000 you will be in 130th place on the PGA Tour in between # 130 Brett Rumford and current first round leader #129 Trevor Immelman.

There is a tie at 4 under after the first round of the Masters between Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman.

But…………….

Here is how the 3 locals are doing after the 1st round of The Masters…

Georgia Tech’s Stewart Cink is at even par and tied for 19th. He had two birdies on the front 9 and two bogeys on the back nine and everything else par par par.

Georgia alum Bubba Watson is at +2 in his Masters debut. He had birdies at 11 and 13 but scattered four bogeys throughout the course.

1987 Champion and former Georgia Tech standout Larry Mize is sitting at +5 and tied for 75th. He had 6 bogeys on the day, but did manage to get a birdie on hole number 13.

A tradition like no other… OK we have all heard Jim Nantz say those words over and over again, but if you are a golf fan (or this week patron) you watch and get excited about every swing and putt.

This year, 2 Georgia Tech golfers and 1 Georgia golfer are in the field. The most notable is former Yellow Jacket, Larry Mize. Also Tech’s Stewart Cink and Georgia’s Bubba Watson will compete.

Larry Mize was the 1987 champion after he chipped in his incredible birdie from 140 feet to defeat Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros in the 2nd hole of the playoff. Mize also finished 3rd in the 1994 event. Last year he shot a dismal 83 first round and followed it up with a 78 and missed the cut. He made the cut the year before and shot 2 rounds at even par.

Stewart Cink has played in 10 Masters and made the cut 8 times. Last year he finished tied-for-17th and his best finish happened in 2006 when he finished 10th (which was his only career-finish under par.)

Bubba Watson is making his Masters debut this season. The long hitter leads the PGA Tour in driving distance (he led last year and the year before that, too.) This year he has made the cut in 7 of 10 tournaments. He has never won a PGA Tour event and his best ever finish happened in the 2007 Shell Houston Open where he was the runner-up to Adam Scott.
photo credit: pocketwiley