Tiger, Bubba and the quest for perfection on their dream haven

When Bubba Watson was looking for this 90-degree hook to land on the green, almost no one could have placed a bet on its execution. It was one of those shots that would come once in a while, on a day when you’re knocking a few on your yards and wonder how illustrious the canvas would have been had the shot been on a crunch day of a Masters. Bubba, in 2012 Masters, didn’t just live that moment but also built his emotional Major triumph on the very foundation of that genius stroke – for once, the fairytale unfolded right in front of his eyes.

Yet, he hasn’t been the only one to have experienced an unforgettable simulation of a dream on the Augusta turf. In 2005, on the 16th hole, Tiger chipped in a jaw-dropping chip-in which is – even for Tiger – a shot that couldn’t be played again by a mortal again. The assumption and the calculations behind the shot which could curtail dream-like tournament runs into vanity, astonishingly worked in Woods’ favour – and how! The dip, pace and the decisive swerve is something that is etched into the memories of every sporting fan that thrives on witnessing brilliance mixed with subtle feel of inevitability about it; another shot that virtually decided that Tiger will wear the famous Green Jacket again.

Moments like these, in fact, exactly these, make the quest of achieving the seemingly impossible golfing perfection look like something you’ve always had a shot at, but never on the pragmatic end of your thought process. It requires madmen who would rather take the risks on high stakes than reflect helplessly on the lines of ‘what could have been’; Bubba and Tiger are one of those few ultimate connoisseurs of golfing moments that demand thrilling execution, irrelevant of the challenge that a situation could pose on a golf course.

On Thursday, they would head for another challenge that has been asking for their presence for quite a long time. Bubba wants to prove that his win last year was no one off miracle, while Tiger would be trying to unlock the last door that would cap an unimaginable comeback. The two will have their different set of strategies and approaches to tackle the game; add the likes of Rose, Mickelson, Rory, Oosthuizen and you know it’s never going to be cakewalk. Yet, the sheer intent and the familiarity which the two leads of this Masters plot share ahead of this year’s contest, affirms the fact that one of them could win on Sunday evening.

While Bubba will lean towards his hard hitting irons, Woods will look to keep up with his short game that has been incomparably consistent in his past two outings. By now, everyone on the field realises the fact that the two stalwarts excel in the conditions at Augusta only because they revel on the greens that oozes with familiarity. Bubba shares a bond with Augusta that he’s only been able to express in tears. He respects the traditions, the past winners and has always had that urge to become that character that the onlookers would remember every single time they talk about the Masters. On the other hand, we have Tiger who is still looking for the last stepping stone – a Major – that could exemplify his dominance in the game all over again. On the same green where he conquered his first Major with record breaking score to par, Tiger doesn’t need anyone else to remind how good he can be on his day at Augusta. Also, when we look at his past few wins on the tour that were claimed at Torrey Pines, Bay Hill and Doral, and the sense of ruthlessness that we’ve seen in his game in the past few months, Tiger, by far, is the safest bet for anyone to wear the green jacket for the fifth time this weekend.

It’s also rather startling to see that the two also share similarities in the way they approach their run on the Augusta challenge. Both favour in attacking the Par 5s, restraining from getting too carried away on the tricky front-9 and have had better records than most of the individuals on the field when it comes to setting the pace on the back-9s. When we dissect Bubba’s game at the Masters, and also consider Woods’ indomitable 100% record of winning a Major when he’s assumed the control of the leaderboard ahead of the final round, it’s easy to suggest that the two will look to play the waiting game on the first two days of the Championship. For Tiger, the chasing pack has always been the right place to be in the first couple of rounds as it helps his game shrug off the possible complacency factors to stall his progress on the longer run. Bubba, like Tiger, hasn’t been a believer of early onslaught either. His past four Masters appearances attest the fact that he has developed a liking for a safe start, before going for the extreme risk on the business end of the competition. It wouldn’t be surprising if we see the two edging each other for the whole weekend when it comes to holding on to their leaderboard standings.

The test will be daunting as ever – not that the two need any reminding of that. However, it would be interesting to see whether the two can keep their emotions in check for these four defining days of the competition. Woods may have not been all tears like Bubba on winning the coveted medal before, yet his comeback trail filled with redemption and the will to prove his doubters wrong, would have certainly taken a toll on his mental solitude. The two may bear a set of similar golfing attribute and equally contrasting demeanour, yet the two leads of this year’s festive battleground of Augusta embody a sense of assurance that only few have able to replicate in their performances in the tournament’s gigantic history. Woods and Watson may not have their defining strokes to accompany their winning prospects this time around, yet the dreams of ruling these fabled greens never gets too old for Augusta’s two favourite ambassadors.