Bulldogs Turn Attention To SEC Championship

Sam Straka and the Bulldogs are playing in the SEC Championship this weekend at Sea Island.

The Georgia men's golf team will be competing this weekend in the Southeastern Conference Championship at the Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island.

The 13th-ranked and third-seeded Bulldogs will compete Friday through Sunday on the par-70, 7,055-yard layout on the Seaside Course.

Georgia has been a dominant force at the SECs, winning a league-best 28 conference titles. Under Coach Chris Haack, the Bulldogs have secured seven SEC titles, including five of the 12 tournaments held at Sea Island. Georgia also boasts 15 SEC medalists, including Haack proteges Bryant Odom (2001), Brendon Todd (2004) and Russell Henley (2010).

Haack will use a lineup of senior T.J. Mitchell, junior Keith Mitchell, sophomores Nicholas Reach and Sam Straka, and freshman Lee McCoy. That quintet has been together just once this season, when the Bulldogs came in sixth in the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic in October. All told, Haack has used seven lineups in the eight events that featured five players.

"We've tinkered with the lineup this year, but we feel this group gives us a great shot at winning the SEC," Haack said. "We've got a good blend of experience and youth. Individually, they've all had their moments this year. Now, it's just a matter of all five guys putting it all together at the same time. If we can do that, it could be something special."

T.J. Mitchell, Keith Mitchell and Reach were in the lineup at the SECs a year ago when the Bulldogs were second after the first two rounds but wound up fourth on the final day. T.J. Mitchell was on the victorious squad at the 2010 SECs as a freshman.

T.J. Mitchell leads the Bulldogs with a 71.84 scoring average, followed by Keith Mitchell at 72.12 and Reach at 72.12. The top two Bulldogs in terms of scoring average following the SEC Championship will earn berths in the Web.com Tour's Stadion Classic at UGA being played May 2-5 at the UGA Golf Course. If a Bulldog wins SEC medalist honors, he earns one of the berths regardless of scoring average.

The SEC is as strong as ever with No. 2 Alabama, No. 9 Florida, No. 14 Arkansas, No. 15 LSU, No. 19 Auburn, No. 22 Texas A&M, No. 24 Tennessee and No. 25 Mississippi State joining the Bulldogs in the national rankings. 

"Two in the top 10, nine in the top 25, 13 in the top 50 -- that's pretty strong," Haack said. "But our league has always been like that. To win this tournament, you've got to get through some of the best teams in the country. Our guys respect that challenge, and it's one that they are looking forward to. There's a lot of pride in winning your conference tournament, and it shouldn't be easy to do. If you win this league, you've definitely earned it."

The Bulldogs will tee off Friday in 10-minute increments between 7:30 and 8:10 a.m. with their counterparts from No. 1 seed Alabama and No. 2 seed Florida. The Saturday and Sunday tee times will be based on the standings. Live results and tee times can be found here.

Also, this week's PGA TOUR stop is the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C. Brian Harman, Russell Henley. Chris Kirk, Harris English, Erik Compton and Justin Bolli are the former Bulldogs in the field

Henley Enjoying His First Masters Experience

Russell Henley, right, speaks with Tom Watson during a practice round at the Masters.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Russell Henley's head was on a swivel Monday at Augusta National, scanning the gallery for friends, family or anyone else yelling "Go Dawgs."

The former Georgia Bulldog and Peach State native is playing in his first Masters.

He is carrying the hopes of fans cheering for their first home-state champion since Larry Mize won the green jacket in 1987. Henley said he hadn't felt as nervous as he did Monday — and that was just practice.

"The excitement of being here and knowing I'm a contestant is a feeling like I've never had," Henley said.

The 23-year-old attended the tournament while growing up in Macon. He played the course while at Georgia and won his way into the field with a victory at the Sony Open in January.

He hopes that enjoying the moments early in the week will lead to focused golf when the tournament starts Thursday.

Should Henley triumph it would mark just the fourth Georgia native to capture the title since the tournament began in 1934. Savannah-born Claude Harmon won in 1948, Gainesville, Ga., native Tommy Aaron in 1973 before Mize — a true hometown favorite from Augusta — rolled in his 140-foot chip on the 11th hole to defeat Greg Norman in a playoff.
Henley, playing his practice round with two-time Masters champion Tom Watson and amateur Nathan Smith, twirled his driver as he walked the fairway, continually stopping to say hi to well-wishers.
"I heard a lot of 'Go Dawgs.' That was cool. Heard a lot of 'Go Jackets.' Didn't really get that one," Henley joked about Georgia's main state rival, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Henley hopes he makes an immediate mark on Augusta National and fulfill the dream of wearing the green jacket, something he's thought about since learning the game in Macon.
"I've dreamed about playing in this tournament. I've dreamed about winning on the PGA Tour and I've accomplished both of those," Henley said. "I've got a lot more on the list."

Henley doesn't want to think too far down Magnolia Lane, though, but can't always help imagining victory here. "It would be very special," he said.

Bubba's Pine Straw Drawing Crowds In Augusta

Bubba Watson watches his shot on No. 13 during the practice round on Tuesday.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — They came throughout the day, a steady flow of camera-bearing patrons, all wanting to pay homage to one of the greatest shots in Masters history.

Some snapped pictures of themselves taking a left-handed swing, trying to recreate the moment even if meant holding a folded-up chair instead of a golf club.

Others gazed through the narrow opening in the trees, the flag nowhere in sight, shaking their heads in disbelief even now, a whole year later.

Yep, Amen Corner has some competition this year.

There's a new must-see spot at Augusta National.

Bubba's pine straw.

"THIS is where it was?" one fan asked incredulously Tuesday. "Wow, that's a 90-degree angle to the hole!"

Indeed it was, but Bubba Watson pulled it off. From the innocuous hollow to the right of the 10th fairway, 155 yards from the hole but with no direct way to get there, he hooked a 52-degree wedge off the pine needles, the ball curling up to within 10 feet of the cup during a tense playoff with Louis Oosthuizen.

Two putts later, Watson was the Masters champion.

"I've never seen where it was," six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus said. "But it wasn't bad, was it? It won the tournament for him. It had to be pretty spectacular."

Funny thing, though.

Watson has no desire to attempt the shot again, not even for kicks during the practice rounds as the defending champion. He doesn't want to diminish the memory of a swing that has already taken its place in Augusta lore, right up there with Gene Sarazen's double-eagle and Tiger Woods' chip-in.

"I would never hit it again," Watson said. "Well, unless it's Thursday through Sunday (in the tournament). I've been known to hit it in the trees, but I'll lay up so I won't look as bad."

Watson has returned to the area a couple of times in recent weeks. First, while playing a round with his manager and a friend.

"I took pictures of the spot with them and the host member that I played with," he said. "The next day, we didn't care about the spot anymore, and so we didn't even look in that direction when we got to No. 10."

On Sunday, he played a round with his wife, Angie, who wasn't able to be at Augusta last year because the couple had just adopted a child.

"We went over there," Watson said. "I just showed her because it looks totally different without the crowds and cameras and her being nervous."

Later, as the couple was coming off the adjacent 18th tee, Watson noticed a group of guys hanging out in the trees along the 10th.

"I couldn't see who it was," he said. "I yelled at them and I said, 'No, that's not the spot. It's a little over.' I was just joking with them, and they saw it was me."

Later, Watson found out who it was — 1970 Masters champion Billy Casper, along with his son.
Everyone, it seems, has to get a look at Bubba's spot for themselves.

The shot was truly amazing — especially given the circumstances. In the second hole of a high-pressure playoff, Watson yanked his tee shot far right of the fairway. There was a decent-sized opening to get back out, and everyone expected Watson to just punch it through — especially after Oosthuizen's second shot came up short of the green.

Of course, that's not how Watson plays the game.

It's all or nothing — a philosophy that cost him a shot at his first major title, when he went for broke at the 2010 PGA Championship, wound up in the water and lost to Martin Kaymer in a playoff.

This time, he pulled it off.

"A lot of professional golfers can see it," Watson said. "Doing it's the hard part."

In hindsight, he's not sure exactly how he pulled off the shot. But there was never any doubt he would try.

"When you look at it, I'm not technical. I've never had a lesson," Watson said. "It was all about speed, speed — my hands rolling over, and the way I set up to it with a little closed club face, de-lofted it when I swung so it went lower, and just all that working together. How do you make that into scientific terms? I have no idea. But that's what I did. And I didn't think about it at the time. That's just what I naturally do."

Watson is off to a decent start this year, with a couple of top-10 finishes and only one missed cut.
But he knows how difficult it will be to repeat as Masters champion. There's only been three back-to-back winners in the history of the tournament.

"I can see pulling it off. It wouldn't shock me. I would still cry, but it wouldn't shock me," Watson said. "At the same time, it's hard. I mean, looking at history, we've only seen it, what, three times? ... So it's going to be tough."

But the tournament doesn't start until Thursday. There's still time to get a look at Bubba's patch of pine straw.

Padraig Harrington wandered over there during a practice round. He mimicked Watson's left-handed swing and jokingly suggested that Augusta National should mark the spot with a plaque.
Watson is all for it.

"Who wouldn't want to see a plaque that says 'Bubba' in the middle of the pine straw?" he said, smiling. "I would never ask for a plaque. But if I do it again this year, then yes, there should be a plaque."

Weekend Update: Bulldogs Come In Third In Augusta State Invitational

Keith Mitchell led the Bulldogs in the ASU Invitational.

Weekend Update:

• The 12th-ranked Bulldogs placed third in the Insperity Augusta State Invitational at Forest Hills Golf Club. The Bulldogs wound up at 2-over 866, three shots behind Texas. Keith Mitchell placed fifth at 3-under 213, four strokes behind Coastal Carolina's Sebastian Soderberg. T.J. Mitchell came in eighth at 2-under 214, while Nicholas Reach was 19th at 3-over 219, Lee McCoy wound up at 4-over 220 and Michael Cromie finished at 11-over 227. The Bulldogs will return to action April 19-21 in the SEC Championship on St. Simons Island.

• In the PGA TOUR's Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, Brian Harman came in 22nd at 3-under, followed by Harris English and Brendon Todd in 61st at 3-over. Justin Bolli was assigned MDF designation and played three rounds to 7-over and placed 149th. All eyes this week will be on The Masters where Bubba Watson is the defending champion.

• Richard Scott paced the former Bulldogs in the Web.com Tour's Brasil Classic in Sao Paulo as placed 37th at 6-under. Paul Claxton, Bryden Macpherson and Hudson Swafford missed the cut. The WNB Golf Classic will take place this week in Midland, Texas.

Bulldogs Hope To Master Field In Augusta

Georgia freshman Lee McCoy

The Georgia men's golf team will wrap up the regular-season portion of its schedule this weekend at the Insperity Augusta State Invitational.

The 12th-ranked Bulldogs will play 36 holes on Saturday and 18 holes on Sunday at Forest Hills Golf Club (par 72, 7,142 yards). Georgia's next competition will be the SEC Championship April 19-21 on St. Simons Island.

"We're getting down to it now," Georgia coach Chris Haack said. "We've been emphasizing consistency and course management, and this is another chance for us to hone those things before the postseason. We've been working really hard. I am looking forward to seeing how we compete this weekend."

The Bulldogs will use a lineup of senior T.J. Mitchell, juniors Michael Cromie and Keith Mitchell, sophomore Nicholas Reach and freshman Lee McCoy. T.J. Mitchell has the team's best (and the SEC's seventh-best) scoring average at 72.11. Keith Mitchell is No. 2 for Georgia and No. 10 in the league at 72.27.

Joining the Bulldogs and host Augusta State this weekend will be Baylor, Central Florida, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Illinois, Purdue, SMU,  South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, USC-Aiken and Virginia Tech. Thirteen of the schools are ranked in the top 50 in the nation.

The Bulldogs will be paired with Augusta State and South Carolina on Saturday. The first round will begin at 8:30 a.m., and three-hole scoring can be found here.

English, Watson Featured In Video Profiles

The PGA TOUR web site has a couple of nice pieces on Harris English. In them, English and several Georgia players and coaches are featured. Enjoy the segments here and here.

Also, Bubba Watson appeared on Morning Joe on MSNBC on Wednesday. Watch an interesting piece from that show here.

The PGA TOUR stop this week is the Valero Texas Open. Justin Bolli,  English, Brian Harman and Brendon Todd are in the field. On the Web.com Tour, Paul Claxton, Bryden Macpherson, Richard Scott and Hudson Swafford are competing in the Brasil Classic in San Paulo.