Harry Hall was trying to WILL his way to two more Masters rounds. He had shot five in two mentally exhausting days when, on Friday afternoon, he promised reporters: “It’s not over yet.” He felt he had a 50/50 chance of making the cut.
Hall had no chance of a rollover, not even close. But that was not the point. He had gone through the toughest test of his golf life, looking and sounding completely broken after the first round, explaining how he needed two drivers in his bag, a new gauge and irons he could swing better.
As he walked off the podium on Friday, his wife was waiting for him with a big hug. She threw her arms around Harry’s side as he looked off into the distance. All I could think was, That man chose this profession and, at this moment, the game is beating him.
;)
Augusta National broke this Masters rookie. Then he shot back
Sean Zak
The next time I thought of Harry Hall was Tuesday, as I looked back at this week’s PGA Tour event in Hilton Head Island, SC, RBC inheritance. The remnants of all those missed cuts in Augusta showed who was grinding in Harbor Town – Hall among them.
The Englishman hit 266 shots on the range on Monday, 46 more than anyone else, at least 50 of which were drivers. Some are missing to the left, others to the right. His quest was evident in the data, but you could also see it in the last question I asked him in Augusta.
What are you arguing with the driver?
“Fighting to hit it where I’m looking,” he said.
Only JJ Spaun, Rickie Fowler and Andrew Novak joined the Hall in the 200+ range department on Monday. Fowler didn’t qualify for the Masters, Spaun lost his number and Novak, well, he walked up to the 18th hole wondering if it was the last time he’d play in the tournament.
This is where the first space professionals can be found at Augusta National. And before they’ve had a chance to absorb what happened, it’s up to Hilton Head and her $20 million purse.
As boring as it may be to be a regular PGA Tour TV viewer to tune in for more meaningful golf this weekend, my advice would be to look at this week through a different lens. WHEREAS Scottie Scheffler could walk away with the title (and tartan jacket) given the form he seems to be in, other players are thinking scary thoughts – and a quieter week at Hilton Head could be just the warm hug they need.
3 things I’m listening to…
1. Uber. . . Green?
An Uber driver of mine last week told me he had the pleasure of picking up Nick Faldo and his wife a few weeks before the Masters. That meant he could drive down Magnolia Lane without ever getting an invitation to play the course. Maybe we should all start driving Ubers in Augusta?
2. Koepka is coming
As of this writing, Brooks Koepka is the first choice for this week’s signature event at Hilton Head. This is very important because the only way he can qualify for these events is not through sponsor exemptions, but by playing good golf. Koepka’s recent streak of four top-20 finishes in his last five starts has given him enough FedEx Cup points to be on the verge of returning to Tour main events. Is anyone surprised?
3. Too bad it was good
At the Masters, I often find myself looking back at where Rory McIlroy’s last shot ended up on Sunday, on the edge of the 10th hole. It’s a fun place. Most shots with that much spin land in the pines and can land on all kinds of crazy lies. I’ve seen many players have to 4-iron just to get to the 18th fairway. McIlroy’s first shot was so bad it gave him enough room to rip a 6-iron onto the green, making it an easy bogey. But I keep thinking about an alternate universe in which he had to work a LOT harder to do 5.
