THE WORLD THIS WEEK – The Masters at Augusta is to golf what Wimbledon is to tennis. Both have the same understated elegance, the lack of loud advertising, the knowledgeable, polite crowds. In fact, tickets to view the Augusta Masters are so hard to find that they are willed through the generations.
As one privileged to attend both events, it is hard to say which one is better. The Masters was a new experience since it was being viewed for the first time, but Wimbledon never ceases to amaze and is more than a match with its own traditions and superlative organisation. The Masters course at Augusta was a nursery until one day in the 1930s, the American great Bobby Jones discovered that this would be the ideal spot to build his golf course.
The event is steeped in tradition, with the winner getting a green jacket that he is allowed to wear for one year. The course may be the prettiest anywhere with manicured fairways and greens along with a riot of flowers of all types. This year’s Masters marked the resurgence of Tiger Woods, the greatest golfer of the past decade and one who dominated the sport in an unprecedented manner.
For a while in the fourth round, it was the Tiger of old, burning bright. But he just could not come up with the extra gear that he is so famous for. That could be because, in his absence, golf has engendered a new breed of golfer, the athlete.
Tiger, burning bright all too briefly: These youngsters have taken their cue from Tiger’s career. Like Tiger they are fit, strong and trained to the last ounce. These youngsters, in their early 20s, have added a much needed excitement to the otherwise staid country club style atmosphere of golf tournaments and as a result, this year’s Masters was perhaps the most exciting yet.
In the end, it was one of the youngsters, Schwartzel from South Africa who blitzed the last four holes to win by two strokes from Jason Day, another youngster from Australia. Adam Scott, Luke Donald and the spirited Irishman, Rory McIlroy were some of the other youngsters. McIlroy held the lead till the final nine when the weight of his expectations resulted in an implosion in his otherwise feisty temperament.
McIlroy is a name to watch for the future, provided this collapse has not left a permanent mark on his psyche. Other prospects are the world number one Martin Kaymer who failed to make the cut, and Hideki Matsuyama, the teenaged Japanese who has become such an icon in his native country. The future looks rosy for golf. There is no shortage of sponsors and the exciting young talent on display ensures the health of the sport for some time to come.
Lead up to the French finale: The tennis tour has travelled from the USA, across the pond, to Monte Carlo, as the clay court season runs up to its finale at the French Open. So far, 2011 has been all Novak Djokovic, a player who has raised his game a level above everyone else. For once, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are at a loss as to how to breach Djoker’s impenetrable defence.
Djokovic has ironed out the weaknesses in his game. His serve is much improved and cannot be attacked any more. He is a brilliant counter attacker and defender. Should Djokovic maintain this form he is a serious threat to Rafael Nadal’s number one ranking at the end of the year. Djokovic is not playing at Monte Carlo, in a bid to rest some physical niggles. He might also be trying to stay fresh for the French Open.
Should he stay healthy, Djokovic would be the favourite at the French. His two handed backhand is an effective counter to Nadal’s 3000rpm forehand which rips off the red clay like a buzz saw. Federer’s single hander, although an excellent shot, has trouble with Nadal’s forehand. He continues to respond to Nadal’s forehand with top spin on his own backhand.
The problem with that is that he has to wait till the ball is on its downward path before he can hit this shot consistently. By that time he is deep behind the baseline and out of position. Were he to mix it up by taking the backhand on the rise and hitting a firm chip, he could cause more problems for Nadal. He would be at an advantage in the time and space equation and the ball would skid low, making Nadal dig the ball up with his extreme grip.
Someone like John McEnroe would have countered Nadal in this manner. Clearly, tennis has caught up with Roger Federer. He ruled tennis in the middle part of the last decade like no one ever has. To reach 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals is a record that might never be broken. But now the young guns, primarily Nadal and Djokovic are posing too many difficult questions.
Federer continues to be a class act, out of the very top drawer and would still be fancying his chances on the grass at Wimbledon. That would, effectively, be his only realistic chance, unless the draws open up at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadow. It promises to be an exciting summer.
