2017 Preview Golf: The Masters

He's got it! Oh, wow! There it is. Oh, what a shot. Absolutely

incredible. Danny Willett is the Masters champion. At last we have

thrown off the cloak of winter and on Sunday night, someone is going to

throw on the ultimate spring accessory, a Green Jacket. The quest

for major men's glory has been in hibernation for seven months, and

now it is time to wake up and smell the azaleas. We are in full bloom in

our studio as we look ahead to the 81st play of the Masters tournament.

What is on the menu? Asked Danny Willett. Because as defending

champion, he got to choose what these gentlemen were served at the

champions dinner. You won't be surprised to hear they enjoyed a

Sunday roast was Yorkshire pudding, naturally. And apple crumble. There

is a quiz on the website matching different menus to different

champions if you fancy a bit of fun. What a night for Danny, and a

guaranteed dinner date for the rest of his life with these legends of

the game. A beautiful evening for the gathering last night. But today,

it has been overcast. Play was suspended on practice day after

torrential rain, but not as dramatic as the storms we've had, one of

which was on Monday, and the weather looks like it could play its part in

events, particularly in the next couple of days. 12 months ago, Danny

Willett became the first British player and indeed only the second

Englishman, since Sir Nick Faldo to wear the Green Jacket. It was a

career changing moment for Sheffield's finest. And indeed, you

remember that final round in which Danny kept his cool when all around

him others were losing theirs. That's water! Just like that, five

shots gone. Danny Willett will shortly lead the Masters. Here are

hear all of the cheering in the crowd. You could see them change the

scoreboard. You almost waiting for them to change the scoreboard. And

then you obviously realise what position you're in. Oh, interesting.

I'm sure he has ever experienced what he is feeling right now. Your

hands are shaking, head is racing, heart pumping. It comes back to on

the range, a million times, just do what you do. Take a deep breath...

Swinging a big 8-iron from right-to-left, 181 yards, and

massive shot and fantastic result! All of a sudden, Danny Willett in

control of his own fate may be here. The biggest putt of his young life.

And it goes! All of a sudden it goes from three all 4-macro behind to

three in front. 18 inches, maybe a bit less.

That was the moment when you realise that what you have worked for and

achieved, in your dream is there and come true. Every one of the major

trophies is significant in its own way, but the Green Jacket for me is

that little bit more special. What a tournament it was. Peter, became a

major champion, Ryder Cup debut, became a father. A lot to get his

head around. How did he do, how tough is it? He hasn't had a very

happy time. -- he has. The power of the brain, the most extraordinary

instrument anyway. I'm sure his troubles are not hitting the golf

ball, they've all happened in his head and the magnitude of what he's

done, what he's one and getting back to the family and the press and

writing and books. And it piles up on you. And you go to bed and that,

you close your eyes and your brain is going. As soon as daddy gets that

-- Danny Glover cleared away, he will play. He knows how to play. --

Danny gets that cleared away. He won this. Spieth threw it away, we all

know that. But the last few holes, Willett played them wonderfully

well. He did indeed come and I'm sure it will be a bit of a relief

for him to get going. He has been enjoying being defending champion.

He was hitting some balls Tyrell Hatton, fellow Englishman,

yesterday. This is worth watching. This is the 16th. They will accept

these shots tomorrow, when they? Synchronise, dance the balls across

the putting surface. Till hadn't's in his way into the cup. -- till

hadn't's on his way. The crowd around them, there is a roaring

around the course. Danny and Tyrrell hat in our two of 11 English players

here in August this year. That is a record number at Augusta for any

country apart from the US. A new generation is emerging strongly.

With seven of these 11 English players aged 30 or under, including

Willett and Tommy Fleetwood. Hatton shot up world rankings at the last

few months. Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Justin Fitzpatrick, or finish

strongly behind Willett last year. In the top ten. English golf riding

high, on the crest of a wave at the moment. Danny Willett winning will

give all of those players, "If he can do..." They know if they can

play the game, they can be Danny Willett. There are ten of them in

the top 60 world rankings. It's just brilliant. We have the amateur

champion here as well. It's nice to have 11 from England playing. We

have two Scots. Ian Woosnam for Wales. And of course, the inimitable

Rory McIlroy, world number two. Let's just remind you of the top ten

in the world rankings right now. Rory's sitting there at two. Jason

Day F3, Stenson at five, but everyone is chasing Dustin Johnson

in or some form. South Carolina's 6'4" golfing losses is as red-hot

favourite as you could get coming in here, and no wonder. He is on an

incredible run of form. Since February, he's gone back to

back-to-back wins. He's going for four in a row.

Watching new approach almost every tournament, almost every round, you

always look calm and relaxed. Is there an extra tingle when you come

here to the Masters that perhaps we don't see on the outside that you

get on the inside? The drive down is always very special. For me, going

up so close, it's a special place for me. I enjoyed it every time I

step on the grounds here. 62-macro years ago, fourth last year. Are you

a better player now, or just plain better? A bit of both. My game has

gotten better, but I'm also playing better. The more you play, the more

comfortable I get on this course. The more I learn the course. It is a

difficult golf course and you need to know where to hit it, and then

you need to be able to hit it there. In it goes, US Open champion! What a

day, what a story and what a victory. Fans, experts, anyone you

talked it in the build-up to this year 's Masters, they say you're

winning everything at the MDs yourself as the man to beat? I'd

like to think so. You just never know, especially around this golf

course. I'll have to play very well if I want a chance to win. The

floodgates have opened for him since his breakthrough major title in

Oakmont last year. He has moving up six tournament wins in the last ten

months. He has got to number one in the world and on an upward curve at

Augusta having been sixth and fourth in the last two years. With the

improvement in his wedge game and controlling that draw that he's got,

how different a player is he, even in the last few months? What do you

admire about the way he is a sender to world number one? With the

thunder cracking overhead. I believe it's clearly, when you get that

level, it's in your head. I know a lot of people don't agree, but he

can hit the ball miles and he's putting things, confidence,

consistency and confidence. There are 30 or 40 players here, they can

all hit the ball wonderfully but are inconsistent. They can hit, but they

can't play. I see it watching snooker. The long shot at the wrong

time, it result in that happening. -- the incorrect shot. Dustin has

come through all that, he is confident, he has not got a lot of

imagination. He plods through life without too many interruptions

appear and get on with it and does well. This is the first time Dustin

has been quite this fancied. It's 12 years ago that the last favourite

and indeed the last world number one came to Augusta... As we hear more

Thunder! And actually came through to win. I was Tiger Woods in 2005.

Mike is whether actually pay tee pay to his advantage? He's a massively

long hitter. -- might this weather. That's a bit close! He has developed

a more controlled flight of the tee. He is really hitting three quarters

drivers. He still hits it a long way. That has been his real key to

success. He's gone away from trying to hit Miles every time, more

control. His iron play is good. He'll get some of the short irons as

well. He has the game, coming with full confidence he'll be tough to

beat. Since 1960, the par-3 contest here on the Wednesday has always

been the kind of appetiser before the main event. But as you can hear

and see, the weather has certainly played its part. It has been called

off today. Our correspondent has been soaking up the atmosphere,

quite literally. Usually on Wednesday before the Masters, the

par-3 contest would be underway. The hillside would be awash with colour

and spectators and enjoying the fun and games before the serious

competition gets underway. Today, it has been pretty much a wash-out.

Play did get underway earlier. 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir lifting

the gloom with a hole-in-one. But then the rain really came down.

Thunder and lightning came into the error, and the course had to be

evacuated. For the first time in 57 years, the par-3 contest had to be

cancelled. I'm off to go and do a little Sundance and hope for better

weather over the next four days. Safely in out of the storm is Rory

McIlroy, who once again has something very, very big and

tantalising on his mind. It's a career grand slam. He has won three

of the four men Majors. All he needs is a Green Jacket to join some of

the legends of the game. Rory, your ninth Masters. How do you

feel about the challenge? I'm feeling good. I'm feeling more

relaxed this year than previous years. The build-up and the hype

around it hasn't been quite as much as in previous race. I don't know if

I've just done a good job of shielding it from myself, but I feel

like I've been able to prepare quietly and come up here and had a

couple of good trips. We played a lot of golf around you. I feel good.

Mentally I'm in a good place, I fill up my game is in good shape. It's

just a matter of getting the shots and holing the putts. Bike you don't

need me to tell you what that stay, the career grand slam. How do you

handle the extra pressure? I just have to treat it as a golf

tournament and not think of the consequences. My place in history if

I were to win. You know, I want to win a Green Jacket and that would be

the same whether I'm going for a slam my first Major my tenth Major.

I just want to win the Masters. It would put me in a place in golf

history that very few people have gone before. It would put me in a

very elite Place, elite company. If I do that, the other stuff will

take care of itself. He has had a couple of chances to complete this

grand slam at Augusta and hasn't had the greatest build-up, only weighing

13 competitive rounds this season but he seems relaxed this time. I

would say he is in the perfect sport and -- slot, he has played many

practice rounds. He is in the perfect spot coming to Augusta under

the radar. He has the game that is ideal, I would say this would have

been the one he would have won first. He knows the grand slam is

therefore the grabbing. His game is ideal for Augusta National. But

every chance that passes, the anxiety increases. So many people

tell you you should win. I finished three or four shots behind Peter

Thomson in 1954 at Birkdale, and they said my time would come but it

never did. The same thing might happen to Rory, we hope it doesn't,

those who support him, and he does have the perfect game for this. He

has had some high schools here, four or five holes he doesn't like and he

plays them very badly. He has to learn to play those holes at whether

using a 5-iron and a putter, he has to get over those. He will be OK.

Another great who did not complete the grand slam as Arnold Palmer. He

will be badly missed here, a four-time winner here and I think

his loss will be felt tomorrow as the ceremonial tee shots get

underway. Peter has been looking back at his life and career. There

have been golfers with a more elegant swing. Elvers who have won

more than his seven Majors but there was only one Arnold Palmer. --

golfers. He took golf to places and people as never before. He had a

presence, especially at Augusta where he won the Masters four times.

He was one of the big three with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. They

pushed the boundaries of golf beyond belief. He remained to his dying day

one of the golfing fraternity. Respected by the players of today

and a dear friend to all from yesteryear. Beta, Mr Palmer is so

richly associated with this place, there will be of poignancy on the

first the one Jack the Gary Player tee off for the ceremonial tee shots

in the morning. It will be keenly felt I think. Then there were two.

He will be missed because he was very human. Apart from all of the

wonderful things, silly things, throwing tournaments away. He was

human, he had human file tears. He liked a drink and knew a well turned

ankle when he saw one. -- he had human frailties. A seven time major

winner. Danny Willett set is iced and lemonade last night to toast his

good health and loving memory. He indeed change the face of golf in

the 60s. There are acres of newsprint written about Arnold

Palmer. And there I say he would approve of the changes in the press

facilities here at Augusta National this year. If you've never been to

Augusta before, you may not know that the golf club is no Tory as for

making subtle taint is to the course that go almost unnoticed but blend

in with the beautiful surroundings. -- notorious. This was built in ten

months and looks like it has been here for years. The magnificent new

press building at Augusta has become the standard centre for media

facilities at sporting events. It has state-of-the-art technology for

every member of the media encoding work stations with two screens, with

scoring, statistics and access to 17 related -- golf related TV channels.

No expense has been spared to ensure that those responsible for bringing

the stories from the Masters are cared for like every thing else at

Augusta, they have got it just right. But who will they be writing

about on Sunday night? These are the current odds. The bookmakers can't

see past Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth. They like Henrik Stenson and

Phil Mickelson who fought at that duel in the Sun last year. Japan's

superb Hideki Matsuyama with five wins in nine starts recently. And

what about a first rookie win since 1979, Spain 's John Rahman is

attracting plenty of attention. There are 94 players in total

starting tomorrow. Andrew Cotter has been assessing the best of the rest.

Jordan Spieth is the man thought to be dragging with the chains of last

year, his form is not great but just think of his record runner-up,

winner and runner-up. And a man in positive mood. We have put in great

work the last couple of days. I feel confident of the path we are headed

on. It comes down to making the putts. Attention on Hideki Matsuyama

will be intense, he has two wins this season and a game designed for

this post, top ten finishes in the last two masters. The Open champion

doesn't feel quite at home here. And expense and has never finished in

the top ten at Augusta and has struggled of late. What about the

man he beat at Troon, Phil Mickelson is one of the Masters of Augusta.

Three wins and 15 top tens from 24 appearances. You can almost ignore

indifferent recent form when he drives up Magnolia Lane. No rookie

has won since 1979 but what about the Spaniard who came through the

American College system? 22, just outside the world top ten, mighty

and relate the Spanish masters? One of the hottest players this season

is the American Justin Thomas. Three wins have taken him to seventh in

the rankings and four of the last six winners at Augusta have been

playing in their second masters, as he does this year. And then there is

Jason Day. Golf has recently taken a distant second to the health of his

mother but better news that has lifted his spirits and make him

believe he can challenge again. I feel my touch is pretty decent

around a place like this. I would like to position myself better on

the greens that I will focus on the mental game. I would not say

implement as much as apocalyptic at the moment. This is a ring, if there

is more of this in the next couple of days, it will sort the men from

the boys. Who is your fancy here Peter? Della macro there are a lot

of them of course. There are so many good players from South Africa now.

They look great. Why they haven't won more, I don't know. There are

some odds there, around 66-1 that are very tempting indeed. Louis

Oosthuizen. You like an extension as well. You agree yes. My man. We

talked about the only rookie winners in 1934, Fuzzy Zeller, why not the

young Spaniard, so much hype about him? He has played ten times and he

has a win already, in San Diego. He has had a couple of top five

finishes. 22 years of age and he has the complete game. And his

confidence is absolutely sky-high. A big task but you never know. We

haven't discussed Jordan Spieth a great deal, to what extent will he

be smarting at what happened to him last year and a point to prove

perhaps? He had a funny remark in the press, he talks about week, he

wants them to be afraid of us, that is not the language of overs. That

is rugby and boxers. He is developing into a cocky man. It

depends how he goes whether he will be OK or a bit of a twerp in years

to come. That is your opinion but let us talk about Phil Mickelson who

has been on the scene a long time. A three-time Masters winner, the age

of 46, interesting number with Jack winning in 1986. He has still got it

even he hasn't won a tournament in The Open in 2013. He has the ideal

game, most notably his short game. This velvet touch, he is not

frightened to make putts. He has all of the experience under the sun.

This bit of rain will suit him. And the sub system now, they will be

turning it now, it will suck the water out and it had better be

sucking hard. We talk about the weather here, unlike recent years,

these conditions could play a significant part in the coming days.

Ten as ever is ready for anything. There is a list talk about the golf

course but the weather is a major factor. So far this week, Monday it

or down, torrential rain and because was closed at -- closed at 1230.

Today it is 80 degrees and perfect. They are out there enjoying the

course, it is magic. The weather plays such a major part here. What a

difference a Day makes. Today there has been found and lightning. The

players have not been able to practice on the golf course. But

what will the weather hold for the rest of the week? They say it will

be windy, if it gets too windy, Augusta becomes very difficult.

Fingers crossed the breeze stays away. It looks like a very breezy

start, stronger asks of up to 30 mph in the first round. -- strong gusts.

It should come down for the weekend, interestingly, the wind is due to

switch direction on Sunday out of the north-west. That is the toughest

scoring wind into the faces on the par-5s. Step up the strong men. It

looks like a pretty unsettled picture. Very much so. The wind is

so dramatic around here. A bit like Wentworth. The West Course. It

swirls around all the time. You are never quite sure where it is coming

from. It will take a lot of skill and some luck and let us hope the

best one wins. A look at some of the shots we are seeing from the course

right now. There is not going to be a problem in getting the course

ready because there is every technological device available to do

so. This is genuinely a factor you feel. Because playing soft makes a

lot of difference, you can get to the flags. But then with the breeze,

that nullifies any advantage. When those pins are tucked in the corner,

club selection is so critical on a breezy day, this course becomes an

absolute monster. It all gets underway at Atrium our time in the

morning. These are the groups, Jordan Spieth with Martin Kaymer and

Matthew Fitzpatrick. Justin Rose out with 12 month of three Jason Day and

Brandt Snedeker. Danny Willett begins his defence in the amiable

Matt Kuchar and the Aussie amateur, luck. Tyrrell Hatton is the new boy.

We have a full time major winner, Rory McIlroy is out with the inform

Japanese player. And what a final group, an all-American major winning

trio of Bubba Watson Dustin Johnson and Jimmy Walker. Look out for that

one. This is our schedule. Highlights of the opening day for

you on Friday. Also available on the red button in the morning from

9:15am. And thereafter, we are live all the

way with round three. Clear the decks, get the supplies in because

we will get underway at 7:30pm on Saturday night. And Masters Sunday,

the final round live starting an hour earlier from 6:30pm. All four

days live on radio five live. Mark Chapman and his top team and also

coverage on the BBC sport website. Loads of access to video streams and

clips and the best of social media. So it is all to come over the next

four days. It is 30 years since Larry Mize chipped in with that

incredible shot at the 11th in a play-off to win his Masters title

and it is 20 years since that incredible victory for a certain

Tiger Woods. We announced last week that unfortunately he will not be

able to come back on the anniversary of that amazing win in 1997. I am

afraid injuries mean he is not tournament ready. It doesn't stop us

celebrating and remembering that landmark victory for golf. We will

catch you soon, goodbye.