Masters 2011: Can Lee Westwood Snag First Major

When Englishman Lee Westwood overtook Tiger Woods atop the PGA Tour world rankings in October of last year, he made history.

Not because of what he had accomplished; rather, it was what Westwood hadn't done that made him so notable, namely: winning a Major title.

Westwood eventually lost the number one distinction earlier this year, but his winless streak in Major tournaments remains intact heading into the 2011 Masters Tournament.

The majors have long been a source of head and heartache for the 37-year-old Westwood, as he's come tantalizingly close to winning each of the four tournaments over the years.

Prior to last season, Westwood's best finishes in the majors were sixth at Augusta and third at the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. Last year, though, he came even closer, finishing second at The Masters and the Open Championship.

Now, he enters this year's first major as one of the favorites to win, but can he actually pull it off?

Westy hasn't played poorly through the first three months of 2011, but he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire, either. His decidedly mediocre play is a concern, although it could be chalked up to early season doldrums.

Plus, he showed us he could compete at Augusta last year, playing exceptionally well down the stretch and battling eventual champ Phil Mickelson shot-for-shot.

In the end, Westwood figures to be in contention come Sunday, and as long as he keeps things close, the 37-year-old has a fantastic chance to bring home his first ever major title, making him the first English Masters champion since Nick Faldo in 1996.

For more golf news, check out 2011 Masters Odds, Favorites and Predictions for This Year's Tournament.

Masters Ratings/Viewers Up, But Not a Record

According to Neilsen Media Research numbers from CBS Sports, an estimated 46.5 million viewers watched all or part of weekend coverage of The Masters.

Third- and fourth-round coverage of the tournament was the most watched in nine years, when 47.9 million viewers watched Tiger Woods win in 2001. This year's numbers were up 11 percent from last year, when 46.5 million people watched the final two rounds of the event -- which included a two-hole playoff before Angel Cabrera won over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.

Numbers for this year were up in large part because of the presence/return to competition of Woods and the storyline involving champion Phil Mickelson.

Still, Woods' first championship at The Masters, in 1997, remains the highest-rated golf tournament ever. Back then, 32 percent of all TVs in the United States were tuned into the action during the final round. This year's final round attracted 24 percent.

On ESPN, the first and second rounds last week (Thursday and Friday) averaged 4.3 million viewers to become the most-viewed two-round golf telecasts in cable history.

Cordial, Successful ... What Did They Expect?

Golf voice Jim Nantz wondered aloud about the reception for Tiger Woods as he walked up the fairway on No. 18 during his first round Thursday at The Masters. (It was golf claps all around, maybe even loud golf claps.)

Nantz then said the reception for the world's No. 1 golfer had been kind all day long.

After Woods' round, Mike Tirico did the obligatory interview in Butler Cabin at Augusta National and asked Woods the necessary questions about his nerves and the way he was treated on the course.

Both Nantz and Woods did what they had to do but, really, honestly, was anyone expecting anything but a cordial, even warm, reception for Woods at The Masters? And, really, honestly, was anyone expecting him to struggle after his layoff?

While we repeatedly heard that Woods had endured 20 weeks without golf, it's not as if he was unable to practice during that time. In fact, he told Tirico that focused practice sessions were the key to his strong performance -- his first sub-70 opening round at The Masters.

What people saw Thursday -- and they saw every possible shot from the time ESPN began its coverage at 4 p.m. until it concluded around 7:35 p.m. with the Tirico-Woods interview -- was a more focused Woods. And that means a productive golfer, as always.

Still, what's most surprising about the coverage was all the surprise from TV commentators -- the experts and our supposed on-site eyes and ears on site at the tournament, and on the tour itself. They're supposed to know the golfers, the tour and all the subplots we do not.

With Woods immediately in contention, just two shots back after the first round, and the on-air types seemingly surprised by what had happened, those at home knew just as much as those working the hallowed grounds in Georgia. Hopefully, we'll get more insights, some quality insights, in succeeding rounds of the tournament.

As The Masters Begins, It's (Correctly) Just Golf

When Tiger Woods tees off at 1:42 p.m. Thursday, ESPN will have the shot live.

Then, at 4 p.m., as the all-sports network begins its first-round coverage of The Masters and the world's best and most-talked-about golfer completes his round, almost all his other shots will be show live as well.

Judging by the comments of on-air talent and behind-the-scenes folks for both ESPN, which carries the tournament's first and second rounds Thursday and Friday, and CBS Sports, which carries the third and fourth rounds on Saturday and Sunday, it will be golf on TV and nothing more with Woods this weekend.

While ESPN gets the first opportunity at the story of Woods' return to competition (and it could be the only opportunity of he were to somehow miss the cut and miss weekend action, although that's unlikely), there's no sense of urgency to share that story. They certainly will not dwell on the infidelity, stint in sex rahab or much else.

In a teleconference earlier this week, ESPN host said "no one's bigger than The Masters" and ESPN executive vice president John Wildhack said the tournament is "THE story line, and we're here to cover The Masters tournament."

Likewise, in an separate teleconference earlier this week, Jim Nantz said nearly a half dozen times in the span of a half-hour phone call with CBS Sports talent and production staff that they would be in Augusta, Ga., to cover a golf tournament, not conduct a "studio show."

Both Nantz and Tirico are correct. At this point, the Woods story should move to his performance on the golf course. While some critics want background, context or perspective about Woods' off-course life and what happened last fall that cost him millions of dollars in sponsorship and possibly his marriage, to dwell on those aspects would be irresponsible and wrong.

Sure, they need mentioned, probably when we viewers first meet Woods again on a telecast. After that, though, it would be overkill. Most viewers no longer care about the specifics -- they either know they'll never know or have finally come to the realization that there's no need for him to know.

Still, Woods will be front and center Thursday and Friday -- as least as much as ESPN can put him front and center in a responsible manner -- because he remains golf's overriding personality and story. His news conference from Augusta National on Monday drew higher TV ratings than all the tournaments on the Golf Channel last year.

People -- that's patrons if you're watching The Masters -- want the golf story, though. And both ESPN and CBS Sports seem more than happy to oblige.

Master-ful Move Makes Comcast a Player

When Tiger Woods returns to competitive golf at The Masters, ratings on ESPN and CBS Sports should spike to record levels.

It's a fairly safe place for Woods to return, because officials at Augusta National can limit who gets credentials from the media to the exclusive event, thereby limiting questions about the personal problems of the world's best golfer. It's also a ratings bonanza for the tournament's TV partners -- ESPN, which provides coverage of the first two rounds and CBS, which carries the final rounds the season's first major, scheduled April 8-11, as it has since 1956.

Still, another media player has emerged this year: Comcast. According to Variety, the media giant, which built its strength as a cable operator and might soon acquire NBC, plans to provide 3D coverage of all four rounds of The Masters.

That coverage will be available only on a special Comcast channel or online (masters.com). Of course, people who want to see the coverage must have computer screens or TV capable of showing 3D programming.

While that's a minority of screens at this time, industry and TV experts expect 3D-compatible hardware as the next major area of growth for media in the coming years. Also, the move makes Comcast a player on its own terms for a major sports event -- something else that might become a growth area in future years.