Tour players, Golf legends and fans all circle Masters week on their calenders for a reason, and the 'tradition unlike any other' surely delivered. From Wednesday Par 3 contest to Sunday and the final putt fell in a playoff. There was no shortage of headlines, keeping millions of viewers were glued to the TV screen and if you weren't you should have...
The Big Three & The Par Three
As the tournament starts we are treated to the yearly reunion of Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, they highlight the Par 3 contest and hit the opening tee shot, with patrons lining up at dawn too catch a glimpse. If your unfamiliar The Master doesn't include a pro-am, so we have the par 3 contest. From current stars to past champions even past major winners, who never won at Augusta, come to play. Girlfriends, wives, children & grandchildren all take part. How can you not enjoy seeing golf's big three (Jack, Arnold, Gary) competing again. Or the eye candy behind the ropes thanks Paulina (right). But there's still the curse, no one has won both the par3 and the tournament in the same week.
Guan Tianlang, The 14 year old from China...
When you consider the remarkable story for the 14 year old beating pass major winners and locking down the sliver cup on Friday. Its hard to imagine another kid having a better week then Guan Tianlang, forget that month, he did arrive at Augusta three weeks prior to the event. Playing practice rounds with Ben Crenshaw, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods, could be enough for best week ever. Forget about being the youngest ever competitor at the Masters a mark that I hope isn't surpassed in my lifetime. I feel old enough talking about a 14 year old. With all the attention if he came out and failed to break 90 everyone would have understood. This kid proved you better believe the hype he opened with a 73 and beat players like defending champ Bubba Watson. And shut up PGA tour players who were critical of his invite (click here). He didn't stop there in the second round he was assessed a one shot penalty for slow play, which he handled with class. To still go on and lock up low amateur honours as the only one to make the cut, at +12 (73-75-77-75). If Adam Scott is the first Australian to win the Masters, Guan Tianlang could be the first from China.
Tiger F'n Wood Ya'll....
It's been said Tiger doesn't move the needle he is the needle and that was no more evident then Saturday at Augusta should he have been DQ'd? Should he WD? What happens if he wins? What if he doesn't? Everyone has an opinion. Personally I have no problem with him playing. What I can't understand is if the drop was reviewed after the round why did it take his post round interview to cause the penalty if your fine with in the scorer's tent. Leave it at that the rules are confusing enough and now every fool watching at home is calling to have an affect. This doesn't happen in any other sport. No one is calling to call a travel when Lebron take three steps for a dunk. But this is golf and the age we live in.
As we all know now Tiger wasn't able to win his 15 major, but this has to feel like it was his to win and late Friday on the back nine he was tied for the lead, looking like he was going to have a tap in for birdie on the 15th and then he hits the flag, one bad bounce and the ball ends up in the water and then there's drop gate. Ultimately ending with Tiger taking an eight on the hole and after he finished T4 at five under and the playoff number being nine under. What if ? he doesn't hit the flag has to be factored in. Will all that I think Mr. Woods will win his 15 and possibly his 16 major this year, and he has Lindsay Vonn to help with the disappointment. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi....
Well Adam Scott who for years has been in the discussion for best players without a major and after last years collapse at the Open, it's hard to be happy for him. A well liked guy at the magic age of 32 (the avg. age of Masters winners), winning for Norman, winning for Australia. It was a finish that has rightfully eclipsed all the other story lines and rightfully so. Sunday at the Masters is known for the roars and birdies and great golf that needs to be played down the stretch. And Angel Cabrera wasn't going to go away quietly either, when he stuck his approach on 18 to within 3 feet he looked poised to win his 2nd masters even if he's ranked 230 something in the world. There's just something about that drive down Magnolia lane that can change a players week.
Aussie's and there was a few with a chance late on Sunday Jason Day was in the mix until a bogey on the 16th ended his push. Marc Leishman the unknown Aussie in the hunt, played the final round with Scott was the first round leader and has earned the right to be on my fantasy team at some point this year. After all that it's still Adam Scott's moment and he earned it with a birdie on 18 that if you saw his reaction you must have thought he won, but Cabrera matched him. The weirdest stat of the day has to be with all the Masters playoffs in history none have gone farther then the second playoff hole, edition 2013 was no different. It wasn't Bubba from the pine straw but at 20 footer to win golf's greatest major who has dreamt of that...
-The.Frozen.Golfer
No comments:
Post a Comment