2015 Review Golf: The Masters

Hello. It feels like we have been waiting all winter and finally it is

here. Masters week at the magnificent Augusta National in

Georgia. The world's greatest golfers are here to play for the

coveted of titles and the fabled green jacket. It could be that we

are in for a classic Masters because seldom have we seen so many players

all of whom have performed well here in the past in such sparkling form

coming into a Masters. Golf's new big three - Jason Day of Australia,

Jordan Spieth of America, and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy have

won five of the last six major titles between them and they are now

ranked one, two and three in the world. They will be joined by a

whole host of other contenders and we will assess the possibilities and

the chances of many of them in more detail in our preview programme

tomorrow night. For now, let's sit back and relax and soak up the

colours and the familiar sights and sounds of this beautifully-evocative

place. A place that has produced so much excitement over the last 80

years or so. In fact, 12 months ago, it was dominated from the start by a

brilliant young man and it all began in 2015 as it always does on the 1st

tee early on a Thursday morning in the company of three legends of the

game. I would like to welcome back our

four-time Masters' Champion, still the King, please welcome Mr Arnold

Palmer. Arnold, the tee is yours. Arnold Palmer at age 85.

40 years ago, he became the first and so far only man to win the

Masters five times. On Thursday, after the honorary starters, in the

first group of the morning, Charley Hoffman birdied two of the first

three holes. And said later that on the range

that morning, he'd asked Jack and Arnie to autograph flags for his

foundation and he took command on the second nine, this shot at 15 set

up an eagle. And this approach at 18... Put him

at the top of the leaderboard. I'm trying to put myself in position

come Sunday. I don't see any reason why I won't be there.

The Watsons, Tom at 10, Bubba at 17, both two-time Masters' Champions and

both shot 71. Justin Rose, playing with Bubba, was

accurate with his irons, here at 6. And with his putter. A birdie at 10

and a tie for the lead. I think it is about playing good, solid golf,

and giving myself a chance on Sunday. Ernie Els, in his 21st

Masters, second at 15. It was right. Rory McIlroy on the 1st tee. The 1st

tee-shot is the only tee-shot of a tournament that I get nervous at. No

problem there. But a different story. On the tee at 2...

He was playing alongside Phil Mickelson, who split the fairway at

8 and then hit a 3-wood second shot. That led to an eagle and a round of

70. McIlroy to get under-par for the day at 15.

And he shot 71. Felt like it was a solid start. It could have been

better. It could have been worse as well. It was a good, solid start. I

played well today. And it's the first day. A good way to get the

tournament started. Tiger Woods in his 20th Masters started with a

bogey. Made three birdies on the day, with the help of a rejuvenated

short game. In the last group, Jason Day made

five birdies in a row, starting at 12 and ending here at 16. And that

tied him with Hoffman, Rose and Els. By that time, all of them were in

second place behind 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, playing his second

Masters as if he had been there a decade. A birdie at 10 tied him for

the lead at 5-under par. At 12, he thought he'd missed. I

started walking after I hit it because I was upset that I had a

chance to make a two and I didn't hit it right but got away with it.

He had the lead to himself and caught another break at 13.

Into the trees and back out to the fairway. Great tee-shot. Great

tee-shot, Billy Horschel said. Spieth took advantage. He laid up to

there... And then stuck his approach for another birdie. Now 7-under par.

In trouble off the tee at 14... Just go.

Get up! He couldn't see it hit the flag stick. What happened, he asked

his caddy? What happened was another birdie, 8-under.

Sit down! Bite! And then a mistake at the par-5 15th led to a bogey.

I don't like finishing rounds at a higher score than where I was at

some point in the round. I was 8-under through 14. I didn't want to

finish any worse than 4-under. To do that, he needed to birdie 18.

It is really cool. I would take three more of them. Spieth said that

once he got going, his target for the day was 10-under par. Not

realising that would have been a Masters and Major Championship

record. 11 players broke 70. 30 were under-par on a near-perfect day for

scoring. Ben Crenshaw... 43 years ago, a

young man played his first Masters and stayed up in the Crow's Nest on

the grounds of Augusta National. This year, seven amateurs were in

the field, including the Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion, a

19-year-old, and the first Australian to win that coveted

title. US Amateur Champion, two months younger than Jordan Spieth.

Nearly making eagle at the 1st hole on Friday.

And the Latin America Amateur Champion. He may have had the best

time of them all from his hole in 1 at the Par-3 Contest to teeing it up

Thursday and Friday. None of the amateurs made the cut, but all will

have memories to share with family and friends for many years to come.

This is the best place a golfer could be. The crowd is awesome. They

always are waiting for a good shot and are really excited... They are

here to support you more than ever. I think it's been great. It's been a

great experience. I'm having a lot of fun here.

When Tiger Woods showed up this year, having missed last year's

tournament, he saw a new 17th hole. I didn't realise 17 was straight

ahead. I thought it was a dog-leg left. It's eye-opening to see, it is

dead straight. That was very shocking to me, to see it like that.

On Wednesday, the chairman unveiled a monument to that tree's role at

Augusta National, a cross-section with a timeline, one section of

which will remain at the club and another one will go to the

Presidential Library. Friday, the sun is out. Winds are

mild, great scoring conditions. Lee Westwood, second shot at the

par-5 2nd hole. Push it! Push it! That close to double eagle. Dustin

Johnson had eagle chances at 2 and 8.

Converted both. Now, his second at 15.

No-one has ever made three eagles in one round at the Masters.

Kevin Na playing his fifth Masters, second shot at the par-5 13th.

Sets up an eagle and he matches the best round of the day, a 66.

He's alone in second after 36 holes. Justin Rose on the tee at 16,

playing his tenth Masters. Shoots 70 and is tied for third with Dustin

Johnson. And Paul Casey, here at 6, putting

for birdie. And a round of 68. And again at 11. And he breaks 70

here for the first time in four years. I'm still right there.

There's not a lot of guys ahead of me. Phil Mickelson at 11, even par

on today's round. Go, go! Sets up a birdie and is 3-under for

the tournament. Playing alongside Rory McIlroy, who has gone out in 40

and in danger of missing the cut, until this second shot at 13 sets up

an eagle. Mickelson birdied 14, 15, now is at

17. Generated some good speed there with the sand wedge. Awesome shot

from Mickelson! 4-under on the second nine. McIlroy was one shot

better. With a chip-in birdie at 17 and a closing birdie at 18.

Birdie one coming in, it is. He's tied with Tiger.

But the best round of this grouping came from its third member, Ryan

Moore, who shot 66, tying the best round of the day. And including this

near hole in 1 at 16. It's been said that one of the

hardest things to do in golf is follow up a great round with another

good score. Jordan Spieth drove in a bunker at the par-5 8th and left

himself 229 yards for his third shot.

And the result is a tap-in birdie. He goes out in 33. Now, for birdie

at 10. He then adds birdies at 13, and here

at 15, and equals the day's low round with a 66. This is only the

halfway point. I'm aware of that. I'm going to stay in the moment and

patient these last two days and understand it feels like another

tournament. Spieth's total is a new tournament record after 36 holes and

gives him a five-stroke lead. He is 21 and this is only his second

Masters. It's a performance reminiscent of a 21-year-old Tiger

Woods who set the 72-hole scoring record of 18-under par in 1997. The

cut this year was 2-over and 55 players made it. His friend wrote a

lyric, if it wasn't for the passage of time, we wouldn't have had the

times we've had. Ben Crenshaw, 44 Masters, two wonderful wins, and now

his final round in competition. I tell you one thing that happened

today that was just kind of really neat, I was playing, we were playing

the 12th hole, we were going across the Hogan Bridge and there is a

red-tail hawk on the ground, right next to the green and Jason Dufner

said, Ben Hogan's watching, you better make that putt! Of course, I

choked! I choked on it. And missed it. It was surreal. It was a unique

moment. They were all neat moments. His

third shot at 13. He didn't miss that putt.

The final walk at 18. The final putt.

And a hug with his great friend, Carl Jackson. I feel like I have won

the tournament! I can't... The people... I will never forget that

as long as I live. All of our girls here, my wife, Julie. I can't

believe I have been here 44 years, but I have. It's been a great part

of my life. This place is, as you all know, has meant the world to me.

There is nothing like playing your first Masters. This year, 13 pros

played their first and eight made the cut. It is the easiest, the

first time out here is your easiest. The third Masters invitee in history

from India. 25-year-old Morgan Hoffmann shared the drive down

Magnolia Lane, the fun he had during the practice rounds. We hit our

tee-shot first and went up to the water's edge and skipped a 5-iron

for me today, and it is always nice to have the crowd support also.

Luckily, I hit the green and all was good. Stopping on Hogan's Bridge.

Today in Round Three, maybe his biggest thrill.

Holing out for eagle! My buddy said, you are on 3, what are you going to

do? I'm going to lay up and hold a wedge. It is a crazy feeling. For

35-year-old Eric Compton, his road to his first Masters included two

heart transplants, the first at age 12. I have been dealing with this

for 23 years of my life. I'm a competitor. That's why I'm alive. In

1986 watching Jack Nicklaus, he drew this picture, imagining himself in

competition one day. Go in! I'm very happy and blessed to be

here. As the picture was drawn, it all turned out perfectly.

In the third round, the biggest names in the field made a run at

young Jordan Spieth. Rory McIlroy kick-starts his round with an eagle

at 2 and shoots 68. Tiger Woods birdies 2 and then

almost eagles 3. And adds another birdie at 4.

Like Tiger, Phil Mickelson birdies 2 and 3! And 4!

But Spieth answers. Go! With the help of a good bounce at 9.

Jordan Spieth continues to tear around Augusta National Golf Club,

1-under through nine today, lowering his overall score to 15-under par.

Spieth has a five-shot lead, the same lead he carried into this

moving day at the Masters. Four strokes back. But every time

you think someone is gaining on him, the young Texan response. Jordan

Spieth's tee shot at 12. And a birdie putter to go 16-under par.

Phil Mickelson at 15. I flushed it. Go, right. What a shot. What a shot.

He got up and down for birdie and was tied for second five back. Now,

a long and improbable birdie try at 16.

Oh my gosh! Crazy. It's crazy to make that part. Phil Mickelson, four

strokes back. Jordan Spieth at 15. Go. That is brilliant. Exactly what

he needed. He two putted for birdie and again had a five stroke lead he

began the day with. Justin Rose made a run. He birdied 13, made another

here at 14. Made a third at 15. And then, held at the bunker shot at 16.

He was in third, six pack. Jordan Spieth on the tee at 16. Be right.

Reaches 18-under par, Tiger's record score. Phil Mickelson coming off a

bogey at 17 has a chance to get it back at 18. He shoots 67. At 17,

Jordan Spieth's tee shot at the trees leads to a difficult third

shot. It is a really hard shot, when I got up there and saw it, no part

of me liked it. And he had this putt left for bogey.

His first double of the tournament. And everyone at that green shade his

pain. Justin Rose, tied with Phil Mickelson, patting for birdie at 18.

His second, 67 of the tournament. I knew I would get into the final

pairing so that will be a big experience tomorrow, Jordan is

playing incredible golf and it will be great to play in with him and

keep pace. I have a lot of work to do tomorrow and I'm quite a way back

but a good rant. It will be fun. At 18, despite all the magnificent

play, Jordan Spieth's four shot lead was in danger. He faced a daunting

third. If you caught me a year and a half

ago, I probably would never have played that scenario, so it was nice

to see that go that way, to play the aggressive play. I'm very pleased

with that up on 18. It's just... It took some guts. You can't rely on

the putter that much to save me. Two major champions are right behind, so

they will bring their game and I have got to have a relatively

stress-free round and, when I say that, I mean I have got to give

myself some tap in parts and make so many putts.

This is the event. This is the major Championship we want to win the

most. It gives kids something to strive for as a junior. The kids

want to be at Augusta. It's just special, the place. On the Sunday

before the Masters, just as much on the Sunday of the Masters, tensions

and passions run high. It's the second annual drive chip and putt

national finals for 80 boys and girls from ages seven up to 15.

Finalists from qualifying competitions in all 50 states

competing for the first prices of the New Year at Augusta National

Golf Club. One week later, in the same place, where the kids competed,

the last six golfers on Masters Sunday are getting ready for their

final-rounds. Ads on the course, the defending champion is that the

second hole. -- at the 2nd hole. I hit it perfect. I knew it was going

to land on the centre of the green. It landed perfectly. I knew it was

going to be good. You don't know how good from 227 yards away, but I

could make even so it was good enough. Bubba Watson finished tied

for 38. All eyes are looking up at Jordan Spieth. At the 1st hole, his

fellow competitor, Justin Rose, for birdie. That will get your

attention. Here is the birdie putt, yes. Justin made his putt to start.

It was nice to drop one on top to start around. He birdied the second

hole to cut the lead to three. Jordan Spieth for birdie at the 3rd.

I set it out there and it broke five feet from 12-15 feet and it went in

with perfect speed in the middle and I gave a little fist pump after

that. Dustin Johnson had an interesting three whole run

beginning here as number six. Birdie. -- hole now watch what

happens at seven as he's looking over a birdie putt. The ball begins

to move. Closer and closer to the hole. It had not been marked, no

penalty, and left him a much shorter birdie putt. For two in a row. Now,

at eight, he is chipping in for eagle.

The ball hung on the lip but would not drop. Jordan Spieth made a bogey

at five and then this drive at seven. It led to another. Rose,

coming off a bogey of his own at six, was in danger of making

another. Here we go. Straight back to their cats. This is perfect. This

could be a three. He saved par and two or three behind the leader. --

cut. Tiger, 1-over on his round, this shot at 9 cents a bolt of pain

through his wrist. You had to wonder whether he would be able to finish.

Jordan Spieth, chipping for eagle at eight. Made that for birdie. Rose,

on a more difficult line, had chipped eight feet past the hole.

And again, trailed by four. One year ago in the Masters, he lost to Bubba

Watson, Jordan Spieth faced the same shot at nine as he did this year.

The difference was huge. It was just, last year versus this year. I

felt more comfortable. The ball stays up last year came down, it was

symbolic in a way. I made par there, Justin Rose gave me a three shot

lead going into the back nine. I was aware of that at the time, trying to

play Match Play from there. Phil Mickelson made two birdies and two

bogeys on his first nine. It should release coming from the

rough. That is a fabulous golf shot. Oh my goodness!

At 13, Hideki Matsuyama, two-time Asian Pacific amateur champion had a

round of the day going, 5-under after the eagle. At 11, Rory McIlroy

had a birdie putt. And he was 3-under on the day. That the leader

kept shutting the door on all their hopes. Hit a putt which broke left

to right and it went in with perfect speed. I really still one there. I

think I birdied three times this week. Played it 3-under. It is a

hard hole. That was the key hole for me this week. Tiger was able to keep

playing, though his round was a struggle. Tiger for eagle. Finally

hits the fairway. Finally takes advantage of hitting a fairway. At

11, Jordan Spieth put another tee shot in the trees. It couldn't have

hit a better second shot at 11. I didn't have many other options and

the Lott could have gone wrong but. If it catches a pine needle and goes

in the air and catches a tree, it could be a big number. I was in a

good position but left it to where it was just two foot from centre.

Ideal. I just stole a stroke back. I feel like I still one on ten and 11.

I was statistically 1-over. On those two holes. Now, on the tee at 12,

you gain applied the lessons learned in his first Masters. On that

Sunday, his tee shot found the water.

On this Sunday, he made sure it did not. Sit down. Sit down. Down. 12,

hit it over the bunker instead of last year, going to the pin and

hitting it into the water. Charley Hoffman, so strong through the first

three rounds, struggled on Sunday and was 3-over as he played 13. He

finished in a tie for ninth. Jordan Spieth, cross the bridge, named for

fellow Texan, Ben Hogan. Phil Mickelson, six behind, for eagle, at

13. Settled for a birdie. Jordan Spieth

had this for par at 12. Just too aggressive, 3-putt. The lead was

suddenly down to four strokes. Every time he seemed vulnerable, someone

else might have a chance, he hit a golf shot which said, no, you don't.

13 was the biggest shot I've ever had in my life. Coming off a 3-putt,

and Justin being in a good spot off the tee, I needed to do something.

Go, hard. Go! What an absolutely brilliant shot. I was yelling, get

up, get up, and, when it landed from my angle, I thought it would go in

the water and all of a sudden, a law came up. It was on the peninsula. He

two putted for birdie. The film acolyte, the par-5, 15th. A little

left to right. A beautiful shot. An eagle three. Rose, in third place,

was putting for eagle at 13. And he settled for birdie. Rory McIlroy,

for eagle at 15. Went to 5-under on his round. Five holes to play and a

five stroke lead. Phil Mickelson fell to third after a bogey at 14.

Justin Rose, for birdie at 14. And was four strokes back again. Phil

Mickelson, at 15. Eagle! He ties Justin Rose for

second place. Four behind Jordan Spieth. At 18, Hideki Matsuyama for

birdie. And the best round of the day, 66. He played all four rounds

under par and finished in fifth place. Here we go. He's going to go

right at it. Be good. I think it might be. It

will work. That will work just fine. The patrons got behind Phil

Mickelson and his caddy pulled the flag stick for his bunker shot at

16. Now watch. And he saved his par. He

still brilliant, isn't he, at that? Jordan Spieth for birdie at 15. Yes!

He has been relentless. First ever to 19-under par, Justin Rose for

birdie. In second place on his own. Trailing by four with three holes to

play. Jordan Spieth on the tee at 16. Sit down.

This is Tiger in 2005. This is the shot. Let chipper this thing in the

fourth I think that was arguably the greatest shot which has ever been

hit in Championship golf. I was sitting there looking at it.

An easier chip but the same kind of, pitch it up. Missed the chip and had

a five or six footer. The one time it got interesting for me was the

16th hole. I felt if I could make Jordan miss his potential, and I'm

two back with two to play... A good-looking putt. Just across the

front edge of the hole. At that point, I didn't care what it looked

like, didn't care about my posture, the mechanics, it was all based on

feelings. It was a huge moment, let's knock this thing in.

CROWD CHEERS Could've been a two shot, all

square. I would call that the biggest putt I've ever had in my

entire life. At 18, Rory McIlroy finishing. With a birdie and a 66 of

his own. Tiger, for bogey, and a 73. Phil Mickelson for par and a round

of 69. I'm happy with how I played.

Obviously going to take a lot of positives from it. If someone told

me I'd finished 12-under par at the start of the week I would have taken

it and sat back and seeing where I finished. I played very well to

shoot 49 and I simply got outplayed. By a young player who just played

some incredible golf. Indeed he did. He walked to a team about to be the

first wire to wire winner since Raymond Floyd in 1976. His family

looking on, mum and dad getting cuddles from Bubba Watson, who kept

their son from winning last year. Justin Rose bogeyed the final hole

and finished in a second-place tie with Phil Mickelson. Jordan didn't

really open the door and I didn't expect him to. He's played with the

lead now for the last month it feels like and he's obviously very

comfortable doing that. And this putt was for a new tournament

scoring record. It's OK. It's OK. CROWD CHEERS

It's incredible. The best feeling I've ever felt. This was arguably

the greatest day of my life. He takes his place in Masters history.

I would be grateful if you would please do the honour of placing the

green jacket on Jordan. To go down on the list of these

winners is just an honour. I believe it is somewhat of a life changing

experience. I plan to represent this jacket the way others have and they

have said a really high bar. It was extraordinary performance from

Jordan Spieth and it was really just the start of a phenomenal year in

which he also won the US Open and five titles in total. So, now comes

the hard part, following it up. Can Jordan Spieth follow in the

footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to become only

the fourth man in history to retain the Masters title? Well, he will

know more from Thursday and this is our plan for coverage over the

coming days. We will have an in-depth look at the contenders for

this year 's Masters in tomorrow night preview programme on BBC Two

at 11:15pm. For viewers in Scotland, half an hour later. Then highlights

of the opening round on Friday in the BBC Two, 6:30pm. And second

round highlights follow on Saturday afternoon, 1:30pm on BBC One and

that rails into our lives and uninterrupted coverage of the whole

of the weekend 's play. So I hope you will make a date with us here at

Augusta, surely the most evocative, beautiful and exciting venue in

sport. Catch you soon. Bye-bye. # Is this the road we walked all

those years ago? # Are these the parts we crossed we should really

know # Is it the darkness # Of passing time? # That makes it hard

to see the finish line? # But when all is said and done # It is still

today # To make up for the time it didn't go our way # And maybe why

one light still needs to shine # If we are to reach the finish line. #.