Fuente: © Southern Africa Tour
http://www.sunshinetour.com/

GOLF: South African pair hunting the Tiger at Augusta

/noticias.info/ Tiger Woods is the firm favourite to defend his Masters title when this year's first major starts at a brutally long Augusta National however a big threat will come from the South African pair of Retief Goosen and Ernie Els.

Nine years ago Woods humble accepted the first of his collection of four green jackets but today the course will present Woods with a whole new set of challenges excluding the competition.

Another 155 yards have been added to the course making it the second longest course in major history at 7,445 yards.

At the moment the 11th hole has tongues wagging as Amen Corner was extended by 35 yards to 490 in 2002. This year, they've added yet another 15 yards to the 11th, now 505 yards. It's the longest par 4 in Masters history, and one of five holes lengthened this year by a total of 155 yards on a course that now measures 7,445 yards, 520 longer than the course where when Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997.

Players who have adopted a strategy of exploiting distance at the expense of accuracy will also be brutally awakened, as new pine tree added to certain holes will punish errant shots.

The competition…
Representing the South African contingent is three time Master's champion Gary Player, Ernie Els playing in his 13th Masters, SAA Open champion in 2005 Retief Goosen, Nissan Open champion Rory Sabbatini , top five finisher at the 2005 US Open Tim Clark and Trevor Immelman who finished fifth in the 2005 Masters.

Goosen will be the South African to watch as he is the inform player after a tied fourth position at the BellSouth Classic the previous week. Goosen has joined Tiger Woods as one of only two players to collect a win in each of the last five seasons on Tour and has finished in the top 10 in five of his last six majors including tied third at Augusta. And have a total of 20 international wins under his belt.

"It's very much a driving course now," Goosen said. "You have to drive it straight. In the past, you could drive it anywhere and get on the greens. Now every part of your game is getting tested."

However one should never forget Els, who has yet to add a Masters title to his long list of conquests. Els will be teeing off with 2004 champion Phil Mickelson and has had six top ten finishes including two-runner up positions in 2000 and 2004 at the Master. Els who are still on the road to match-winning form after knee injury,will draw on a wealth of experience including 15 PGA TOUR titles and 42 international crowns to see him through this tournament. notas_de_prensa_archivo