The Masters: LFG baby!

Good Afternoon. Welcome to Caddyshanks. A newsletter the breaks down golf in a way that's quick, fun, and easy. Just like yo momma.

Here's what we've got for ya today:

• Update: The Masters

• A Nod To Seve

• Golf Shots Heard Round Augusta

• Let's Talk About Phil

• For The Group Chat

• Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

As far as first rounds of The Masters go, we couldn't have asked for much more. We've got big names at the top of the board, we've got LIV stars in the hunt, and we've even got an amateur with a heartwarming story in the thick of it all. LFG. 

As I write this, the second round has kicked off 30 mins early, due to anticipated inclement weather. The weather is set to roll in Friday afternoon, with Saturday being cold and rainy. (Not good if your name is Tiger Woods, and you've got achy joints).

A Monday finish isn't uncommon for The Masters, and that's what we expect for this week.

Now, for the fastest Masters round one recap I can write:

Brooksie: If you can look me in the eye, and tell me Koepka being at the top of that leaderboard is bad for the game of golf, you're wrong. You gotta love a little redemption arc for him, especially since we all saw the mental struggles in Full Swing.

Hovland: Gotta give the guy props for listening to Norwegian Death Metal on his cruise up Magnolia Lane. He played an incredible round in Tiger's group and putted very well. Is this sustainable?

Rahm: He started his round with a four putt double bogey and then proceeded to shoot an absurd 59 through the remaining 17 holes. Why? Here's Stephen A:

Day: Another guy, like Brooksie, who does amazing things when he's healthy. Guess what? He's healthy. 

Young: Last years rookie of the year is bound to win a major sooner or later, right? He's got Webb Simpsons old caddie Paul Tesori on the bag, and it seems to be helping.

Rory: Rory shot even through the first round. Will he ever play a dominant tournament when we all want him to? I think he gets his green jacket when we all finally give up - or he'll win it this weekend to make me look like a jackass.

Spieth: The Jordan Spieth rollercoaster continues. This tweet sums it up. He can still win it all though.

Sam Bennett: The young man from Texas A&M carded an incredible -4 yesterday. More on his personal story below. We will just note that he is currently +25000 if you want to take a flier on him. Final Note:

Scottie Chef: Oh, you thought we forgot about last years champ? He stuggled with his putter and still shot 68. Don't be surprised when he wins this thing again. 

The Rest Of The Pack: Dear Readers, your eyes would simply glaze over if I broke down every single player who's in the hunt, but there's plenty of talent in the -2 and -1 range.

A Nod To Seve Ballesteros

Most of the people reading this probably weren't forming memories yet when Seve Ballesteros was in his prime, but that's okay. We can still appreciate the greatness on Youtube.

For the uninitiated, Seve was a Spanish golfer who rose to prominence in the 70's and 80s and he was known for his flamboyance and imagination on the golf course.

Tragically, he passed away in 2011 from a brain tumor.

He won 5 majors (3x The Open, 2x The Masters).

He also had one of the sickest wedge games you've ever seen.

There's stories like this one, where he dazzled reporters and other players by hitting perfect bunker shots, over a head-high lip, with a 3-iron...

If you're the type of golf junkie who watches the pressers and old golf footage, you've probably heard Jon Rahm talk about the admiration he has for Seve, what he means to the country of Spain, and to the world of golf.

Another thing they have in common? They both four putted at The Masters.

So, yesterday, when asked about his four-putt... Jon Rahm quoted his hero.

"Then I remembered Seve's quote, I think it was here at the Masters, right, when he four-putted," Rahm said. "I just kept thinking to myself, 'Well, I miss, I miss, I miss, I make.' Move on to the next. I carried a little bit of that negative energy into the tee shot on 2, hit it about ten yards further than I usually do and moved on with my day."

In honor of Seve's birthday on Sunday and with rain threatening to delay Saturday's round, you may enjoy a rewatch of his 1980 Masters Win.

Golf Shots Heard Round Augusta

Every Hole: A different Masters champion breaks down every hole at Augusta.

The New Phil: The Fried Egg breaks down the new, less social Phil.

The Amateur: Sam Bennett played a phenomenal opening round. He's got heartbreaking story. 

Chaos: Looking back at another chaotic, cold, and wet Masters... 2007.

Let's Talk About Phil

I want to hear from readers in the audience. If you reply to this email, our team will see it.

What's your take on Phil? Miss him? Can't stand him? Think all the other players who are getting paid more owe him a thank-you?

I certainly miss watching him do things like; hit driver off the deck, hit driver off the straw, and swing and upside down righty wedge pure as the driven snow.

Guys like Phil make golf more interesting.

For The Group Chat

Some dude turned $1.75 into $21.2k for an absurd round one parlay.

Golf Thing We'd Buy If We Weren't Broke

It doesn’t explicitly say “The Masters PARADYM” but we all know exactly what Callaway is doing when they released this insanely dope and new limited edition PARADYM driver.

For the low low price of $699.99 you too can use the official driver sponsor of the PGA Tour (or whatever they say in the ads) and as an ode to The Masters, it’s in green and yellow. Noowww looook, I don’t NEED my driver to be this beautiful when I smash a 300-yard drive into the wrong fairway, but I HAVE to. *big sigh* My credit score is getting pounded these days.

That's all folks! See you Monday for a Monday finish?