With the Masters teeing off yesterday, ESPN analyst Curtis Strange talked to The Post’s Justin Terranova about the season’s first major and the young guns catching up to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Q: What has you excited about this weekend’s Masters?
A: We have a changing of the guard going on right now. We have some young players playing really well. It’s really in good hands with some of these guys like Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney and Gary Woodland, who I expect to be a heck of a player. It’s exciting. One of these young kids is going to come up and win his first major this year and it will be a life-changing experience. And it’s exciting as a player to watch that and hopefully be able to translate that to the viewer on TV.
Q: Does that mean Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are no longer clear favorites?
A: The light goes on whenever Phil or Tiger comes to the Masters, so they are obviously a big part of the equation. Especially Phil, being the defending champion. But I think Tiger will do well again. To what level, we have to wait and see. He’s not the best player playing the game right now, but he still has the potential to be that every time he walks on the golf course. I still think he will break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors, but it’s going to be tougher to do now because the waters have really been muddied.
Q: Do you think Woods can do anything to aid his mental recovery?
A: He’s the best I’ve seen at talking a lot without saying anything. I wish he would be more honest with the viewer because there’s so much there to like, but he doesn’t. He’s standoffish a little bit. When he says, “I played well, I shot a 72.” I don’t know whether to believe it or not. That’s the way he is and he’s very protective.
Q: Of this “changing of the guard” group, is there any you are looking at specifically?
A: Dustin Johnson is on the top of everybody’s list. I don’t want to curse him by saying that, but as a player you don’t think like that. He knows he is playing well. He knows he has the game to do well there. He knows he had the opportunity to win two major championships last year and didn’t do it.
Q: What’s the most challenging part for you as a broadcaster?
A: It is really hard for a young player to put into words what I felt inside when I was winning my first major championship. To put into words what you feel like is one of the hardest things I have had to do — it’s impossible. The feeling of accomplish ment, elation and excitement you have; this is the goal of your life and you are doing it.
