Trevor Immelman assumed his new role Tuesday, as he and Nick Faldo rode in golf carts through Augusta National’s second nine.
Immelman, the 2008 Masters Tournament champion, announced in December that he would forego competing, instead becoming an analyst for CBS Sports. The South African had missed the cut at Augusta National each year from 2014 to 2018 before finishing in a tie for 51st a year ago.
“Do I regret not playing?” said Immelman, as he watched Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Xander Schauffele play No. 15 on Tuesday. “No, not really. Well, I do a little — maybe 5 percent.”
Immelman and Faldo surveyed the greens, and bounced between two groups. Immelman and Faldo also looked on as Jordan Spieth, Gary Woodland and Henrik Stenson played holes 11 through 14, before riding to the group ahead. The analysts tagged along with Johnson, McIlroy, Mickelson and Schauffele from Nos. 15 to 17.
Faldo made small-talk with Mickelson, who predicted to his fellow three-time winner that the rye grass around greens shouldn’t penalize mistakes as severely. Mickelson told Faldo that he feels more comfortable short-siding himself this year because the grass “is gripping our chip shots.”