The tour winner wanted to lose Cut in the Masters debut. Here is the sincere reason why

Austin eckroat, in the masters start the number one year ago, viewed on the board. He was near. Maybe he would make the cut. Maybe he would play the weekend.

But man, he really hoped he wouldn’t do it.

Do you not?

You don’t.

“I didn’t want to play on Saturday,” Eckroat said.

But why?

He can explain. Wants, in fact, and we will reach it in a minute. Speaking Tuesday at his press conference before this week Classic connoisseurhe said Master The week was funny, though he was not laughing. He would be hope. But unresolved shaky issues, he said, made it anxious and a cocktail of those nerves mixed with the first time jitters did not sit well. The lack of a round of the week’s practice before the master also did not help. Not even the cute conditions on Friday.

Then it was the backyard book.

“I don’t know if it’s a bit of an annoying thing, but you don’t know anything until you get there, and the backyard book,” Eckroat said, laughing. “There are so many things you need to understand through experience.”

Put them all together, and he said he felt exposed. In his first crackdown, he tied his left ball. In his first hole of the masters, he doubles. In hole 18, the one with double. He fired a two-on 74. During the second round in AugustaHe was three shots worse. He wanted out. He received his wish. He lost the cut. He was relieved.

“I was ashamed, honestly, with everything that continued and played poorly,” Eckroat said. “It was a strange feeling. I had great expectations. I didn’t want to play on Saturday. I was looking at the cut autumn of the line, and I was like, oh, gosh, I’m ready to make this cut. Oh my Lord, I will shoot 80 tomorrow. “

At this point, let’s break for a minute. Something bigger is happening, right? The discovery revealed something. You usually don’t listen to such things, as the company line is usually something either ignorant or forgotten. Why would you go 74, 77, then go down Magnolia Lane? “It wasn’t my week.”

But that was honest. He was open, whether you agree with him wanting to leave, or disagree. We appreciate it. While Eckroat tries to find his place between a pros flees, who can all ride, make openings and hit with aplomb, you will probably remember the guy who allows you to have a look inside the golf bag, to say . There are benefits for everyone.

So what about this year in Augusta?

This season there was a strange start, he said, and it is difficult to argue. He has played six events. He was missing four cuts. But recorded the two 15 main conclusions. “I’ve felt very sure sometimes,” said Eckroat, “and then felt like I have to rebuild my entire golf game. But golf is a funny sport.” But a win last year in Well -knownwhich preceded a victory last November at World Technology Championshipchanged his approach.

The risks no longer seem dangerous, he said.

“I think maybe out of work security, the biggest thing for me was the ability to take risks earlier during the week in the next events,” Eckroat said. “Especially my first year, I left for a slow start, and making the cut was so important, getting those points, trying to save my card for the next season, with work security.

“But the biggest thing for me was to feel like Friday afternoon if I am close to the superiority, I can take more danger. I don’t have to worry so much about making cutting. I can try to win this golf tour than To finish well. The other guy, it’s a win or the bust has nothing else.

“I feel like having two wins under my belt, if I’m going down to stretch trying to fight for a victory, in my opinion is victory or bust now. I think that’s something that is not really known as a spectator. “

All of this should help with masters within weeks.

Maybe he will make the cut. Maybe he will play the weekend.

Or maybe more.

“I really look forward to,” said Eckroat, “to get another chance in the beast.”

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