April turned into an historic month with Adam Scott becoming the first Australian to win the most sought after item of clothing in all of golf – an Augusta National green jacket.

The early part of the month was still spent in the States and reporting on the Valero Texas Open and then the Masters.

Hereunder is my selection of April winners and losers.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH – Adam Scott

Adam Scott brought the Australian nation making its way to work to a halt on Monday morning April 15th.

It was near darkness Sunday at the Cathedral in the Pines when Australia’s golfing prayers were answered when Scott holed a birdie putt for victory at the second extra play-off hole.

Jim Ferrier had been the first Australian to contest the Masters in 1940 and in between the best golfers from the island continent had travelled to the Masters.

Scott’s stunning success ensured Australia was no longer an island at Augusta.

PREDICTION OF THE MONTH – Picking Augusta Winner and Leading American.

Scott Michaux writes for the Augusta Chronicle and he is one of the most estemmed writers in golf .  Each year he conducts a poll among fellow writers present at Augusta.

Once again, he asked everyone to pick the winner of the 2013 Masters and the leading American.  I was the last person mentioned in Scott’s article but the only one to pick Adam Scott to win and with Tiger Woods to finish the leading American.

BLUNDER OF THE MONTH – Your author.

Not backing Adam Scott to win the Masters!

BEST VIEW OF THE MONTH – The Office of the CEO at the R & A

Peter Dawson’s office commands one of the best views in all of golf – looking out over the famed Old Course.

Dawson is the CEO at the R & A and he hosted some 20 members of the media to attend his office where we discussed a number of current issues in golf.

However before sitting down, he invited us all to walk out onto the balcony to soak in the sights of the Old Course.

BEST WORLD WAR 11 WARSHIP INSPECTION – USS LEXINGTON

A day’s trip to the Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico ended up with a hands on inspection of the former WW2 aircraft carrier, USS Lexington.

The carrier is anchored close to the entrance of Corpus Christi is a remarkable reminder of the might the US delivered to the cause of ending the War.

BEST QUOTE OF THE MONTH – Adam Scott

Soon after being fitted with an Augusta National green jacket Adam Scott was asked what he thought of the idea of knowing that he will be returning to Augusta National every April for the rest of his life.

Scott responded:  “I am going to look forward to one day receiving a letter from the Chairman of Augusta National, whoever that may be at the time, saying that I am too old to play the course.”

AUSSIE GOLF WRITERS GRAND SLAM

While it was brilliant to shake Adam Scott’s hand soon after his Masters success, his victory also presented myself with an Australian first in becoming the first ‘Down Under’ golf writer to report on an Australian Grand Slam – 1993 Open Championship (Greg Norman), 1995 PGA  Championship (Steve Elkington), Geoff Ogilvy (2006 US Open) and Scott’s Masters triumph.

My first Major had been the 1989 Open Championship at Royal Troon where Mark Calcavecchia defeated Wayne Grady and Greg Norman while my first Masters was in 1996 when Norman endured his now imfamous Masters meltdown.

So now after being present at 60 Majors you can imagine the delight in being present to report on Scott’s Masters success.

SPORTMANSHIP AWARD FOR APRIL – Angel Cabrera

Argentine’s Angel Cabrera showed to the world why the ancient game is still so good in these modern times.

Cabrera went within millimetres of a second Masters green jacket on the final hole in regulation play.  Minutes later his ‘thumbs up’ gesture following Scott’s second shot at the second play-off hole won the hearts of everyone watching.

Then the sight also of the double Major winner embracing golf’s newest Major Champion was another wonderful moment on Cabrera’s part.

Well done. Angel!

LIFEGUARD OF THE MONTH – Scott Ohlson

Hilton Head life guard, Scott Ohlson was in the right place at the right time when he came across the mum to Graeme McDowell.

McDowell’s mum got hopelessly lost during an early Sunday morning stroll a week before McDowell was fitted with the RBC Heritage winner’s jacket.

Ohlson got her home and G Mac rewarded him with full tournament clubhouse passes for the week while Ohlson was on hand in the Media Centre to shake McDowell’s hand following his first regular PGA Tour victory.

RED-FACED GREEN JACKETS – Masters Championship Committee

The Masters is all about green but the Championship Committee were left red-faced over their handling of the Tiger Woods affair.

Despite initially finding Woods had no case to answer following his penalty drop at the 15th on day two, the Committee should have brought the issue to Woods notice straight after his round.

The whole episode smacks of pure amateurism.

BEST GOLF COURSE PLAYED IN APRIL – The Old Course, St. Andrews

Thanks to Richoh and IMG members of the media were presented with the opportunity to play the famed Old Course at St. Andrews.

Despite the wind being strong enough to blow a dog off a chain it is always an experience playing the Old Course, and to also walk from the 18th green with a par.

Thanks, as always to Michelle Mair and everyone at IMG, as well as Richoh for hosting us.

WHY SINGLE OUT THE 14-YEAR OLD – Tialang Guan

Many agreed with Graeme McDowell when he suggested golf officials should be ‘putting a rocket up more senior players’ than singling out 14-year Tialang Guan for a one-stroke penalty for slow play during the second round of the Masters.

When American Glenn Day competed on the Tour he quickly gained the nick-name, ‘All Day’ but that label has been handed to Aussie-born namesake, Jason Day.   The time he takes, particularly at set up on the tee, is appaling but where are the rules officials?

CADDY OF THE MONTH – John ‘Ronnie’ Roberts

Congratulations to supercaddy, John ‘Ronnie’ Roberts for helping steer Aussie Brett Rumford to victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.

After blowing a two–stroke lead in taking a double bogey at 17 in regulation play, Rumford found himself in a play-off.

But with ‘Ronnie’ calling the yardage and club, Rumford pulled off one of the shots of his career in landing a 5-iron to just a few feet for an eagle and victory.

‘Ronnie’ was soon on the phone expressing his joy in securing another Tour victory, and just a week prior to his 67th birthday.

COURIER OF THE MONTH – David Lynn

A big thanks to England’s David Lynn for carrying a couple of clubs from the Valero Texas Open to the Masters.

I certainly turned a few heads walking out of the Augusta National locker room with the clubs and then onto part of the golf course and then proceeding into the Media Centre with the clubs.

I recall Sergio Garcia’s father, Victor being told by Augusta security he could not walk the course carrying a wedge, as he had been so used to, so thankfully the ultra-strict security at Augusta didn’t ‘jump on me’.

DINNER OF THE MONTH – AGW’s 75th Anniversary dinner.

A special thank you to IMG, R & A and the Old Course Hotel for hosting the dinner to mark the 75th anniversary of the Association of Golf Writers.

The dinner was held within the Old Course Hotel, Resort and Spa with Renton Laidlaw again delighting guests with his tales from the past.

WORST HOTEL OF THE MONTH  – Knights Inn, Augusta.

The Knights Inn just off Washington Road is an absolute dump.   Even the staff working the hotel admit they wouldn’t stay there.  The hotel is so bad it should be bull-dozed.  One woman I bumped into actually slept in her car for the one night she was staying at the hotel.

There should be an Augusta authority to deal with the practice of hotels within the Augusta region not only charging outrageous prices for the week of the Masters but overseeing the state of hotel rooms.

Fortunately, I was able to source a spare room in a rented house and that is where I will stay in future years.

 

……. stay tuned for May’s Monthly Medal winners