Harry Hall was trying to will his way into two more Masters rounds. He had shot five over through 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 did not have coin-flip odds, not even close. But that wasn’t the point. He had labored through the toughest test of his golfing life, looking and sounding completely broken after the first round, explaining how he needed two drivers in the bag, a new putter and irons he could spin better.
By the time he stepped down from the podium Friday, his wife was waiting for him with a big hug. She threw her arms around Harry’s side as he stared 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 fought back
Sean Zak
The next time I thought about Harry Hall was Tuesday, as I turned my gaze to this week’s PGA Tour event in Hilton Head Island, S.C., the RBC Heritage. The remnants of all those missed cuts at Augusta showed themselves in who was grinding at Harbour Town — Hall among them.
The Englishman hit 266 shots on the range Monday, 46 more than anyone else, at least 50 of which were drivers. Some missing left, others right. His search was evident in the data, but you also could see it in the final question I asked of him in Augusta.
What are you fighting with the driver?
“Fighting to hit it where I’m looking,” he said.
Only J.J. Spaun, Rickie Fowler and Andrew Novak joined Hall in the 200+ range balls department Monday. Fowler didn’t qualify for the Masters, Spaun missed the cut on the number and Novak, well, he walked up the 18th hole wondering if it was the last time he’d play in the tournament.
That’s the headspace pros can find themselves in at Augusta National. And before they’ve even have had a chance to absorb what happened, it’s on to Hilton Head and its $20 million purse.
As mind-numbing as it may be to be a regular PGA Tour TV viewer to have to tune in for more significant golf this weekend, my advice would be to view this week through a different lens. While Scottie Scheffler may walk away with the title (and tartan jacket) given the form he seems to be in, other players are thinking scary thoughts — and a more laidback week in Hilton Head might be just the warm embrace they need.
3 things I’m hearing…
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 make the drive down Magnolia Lane without ever getting an invite to play the course. Maybe we all should start driving Ubers in Augusta?
2. Koepka’s coming
As of this typing, Brooks Koepka is the first alternate for this week’s Signature Event in Hilton Head. That matters a lot because the only way he can qualify for these events is not via sponsor exemptions but by playing good golf. Koepka’s recent run of four top-20 finishes in his last five starts has earned him enough FedEx Cup points to be on the verge of playing his way back to the Tour’s top events. Is anyone surprised?
3. So bad it was good
At the Masters, I often find myself spectating from where Rory McIlroy’s final tee shot ended up Sunday, on the edge of the 10th hole. It’s a fun spot. Most shots with that much spin clank around in the pine trees and can drop into all kinds of crazy lies. I’ve watched numerous players have to pitch out with 4-irons just to reach the 18th fairway. McIlroy’s first shot was so bad it gave him enough room to rip a 6-iron at the green, making for an easy bogey. But I keep thinking about an alternate universe in which he had to work a lot harder to make 5.
