Sergio Garcia is now the proud winner of the 81st Masters and is heading to New York for the day-after whirlwind media tour. With another Masters in the book, a few random thoughts about another incredible Sunday at Augusta National:
Garcia had a huge amount of support from the galleries on the back nine. Everyone knows his story and his frustrations. After a solid two-under front nine, back-to-back bogeys at 10 and 11 looked like another “here we go again” for Sergio, who has too often in the past been one of those “woe is me” guys. But this was a different Sergio who battled back, found some confidence, overcame missed putts at the 16th and 18th that would have won it outright. He stepped up and fulfilled his destiny.
Justin Rose and Sergio proved to be the consummate sportsmen. Both exchanged good shot after good shot on that back nine. They hand-slapped each other after their spectacular tee shots at 16 and Rose gave Garcia the “thumbs up” after Garcia’s approach to 18 in regulation that left him seven feet for the win. Golf continues to be a sport that displays sportsmanship among its biggest names unlike any other.
Garcia smashed a drive and hit eight-iron into the 15th from 176 yards out. An eight-iron!! Back in 1975, Jack Nicklaus smashed a driver and hit one-iron from 242-yards out on his way to the title. Think today’s equipment makes a difference? Take Nicklaus from 1975, throw him at these guys with this modern ball and equipment and it wouldn’t be a fair fight.
Credit Garcia’s fiancée, Angela Akins, for helping change his perspective on life and golf. The couple will tie the knot in July. She was right there with Garcia, along with her entire family. You can see the change in Garcia’s life. Things are finally going his way, on and off the golf course.
It was Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday on Sunday. Seve is the Godfather of the European Tour and the first European to win The Masters. “It’s an honor,” was Sergio’s thoughts to joining Seve and Jose Maria Olazabal as the third Spaniard to wear the Green Jacket.
Loudest “Koooooooooch” ever came on Sunday at the 16th hole when Matt Kuchar holed a seven-iron for a spectacular ace that helped him shoot the day’s low round, 67, along with Hideki Matsuyama. Kuchar then took the ball, signed it and gave it to a youngster who ironically was wearing a Rickie Fowler orange Puma golf shirt. Maybe Kuchar will be his favorite player now.
Speaking of Rickie Fowler, he and Jordan Spieth were simply awful on Sunday. There was no pressure on them, they were the pursuers. It was time to make a move and both looked like a pair of chokin’ dogs, as Dottie Pepper once proclaimed at the Solheim Cup.
Speaking of Spieth, for the second straight year, he hit his tee shot at the 12th hole into Rae’s Creek. Once, okay, twice? Now you have to wonder if the 12th hole is getting into Spieth’s head. At least this time he was able to make five.
Thomas Pieters had his coming out party. On day one he was five-under par through 10 holes. He had his struggles as well but shot 68 on Sunday to tie for fifth and with a little more course knowledge, it won’t be surprising to see this big guy win a Green Jacket one day. Pieters made 18 birdies and an eagle over his four rounds.
Once again the name Paul Casey is high on the final leader board. Casey finished solo sixth after shooting 69-68 over the weekend.
Rory McIlroy, who had the door wipe open for him this year in his attempt to finish the career Grand Slam, finally broke 70 for the week, shooting 69 on Sunday and finishing tied for seventh with Kevin Chappell at three-under par. Just goes to show it takes more than talent to slip on the Green Jacket.
Mid-amateur champion Stewart Hagestad took low amateur honors. He shot 74-73-74-73 and says he has “absolutely no plans to turn pro.” He can brag that he beat world-class players Henrik Stenson and Patrick Reed, both of whom missed the 36-hole cut.
CBS had another good telecast but it also has a dirty little secret. A lot of the action is not live. They admit it on some of the shots but on others, pretend it’s live. The real giveaway are the loud roars, giving us the hint that they missed a big shot. More taped action that you would think.
The first two days made it even more interesting with the challenging conditions. Some handled it, others did not. Only one American, Kuchar, managed to finish in the top six, showing us that perhaps the Americans don’t handle adverse conditions as well as the guys from across the pond.
Final thought: Another GREAT Masters. Plenty of drama on Sunday although it basically came from two players and not from a lot of players as the talking heads had predicted.
6 Comments
beege
Hi Tom,
another great Masters indeed! comments: i like cbs’s coverage–even when they make mistakes and there are always several—no problem–like the game they are covering its not perfect and should not be expected to be so—taped, live, we know it and who cares!
sunday was more of a moving day than saturday which has been happening alot around there in recent years—its because sustaining excellence for 72 holes is impossible–not possible. the fact that sergio won was just icing for me as i love rosey also–but clearly sergio has become, like monty an american fan favorite–when you do come to a peace about life and golf and realize that neither are perfect it gives you an inner peace that can only come from within each person in his or her own way–then the best things can and will happen–amazing isn’t it.
Tom Edrington
Bob: Have to admit I was pulling for Sergio. His putter let him down, he missed a bunch of short putts on the front nine. Rosey let him off the hook there at 17. I figured that miss at 16 for Sergio might have been lethal and certainly had he made that one and the one at 18 he really could have ended it in style. It was interesting how everyone expected numerous other guys to make a run, but basically no one did. This guy Pieters was incredible, 18 birdies and an eagle! Once he learns more about how to play the course, he should be a total threat to win. I LOVE THE MASTERS!
hrfdez
As Sergio’s countryman I’m proud of his accomplishment. I was very proud on how he handled the bogeys and poor short putting and how he came back on the playoff to win. Sergio displayed maturity as never before and paid off.
Felicidades Sergio!
Tom Edrington
Maybe his Spanish friends, followers and fans will take him from El Nino to El Hombre, because now, he is the man. Delighted for him. He’s endured a lot, enormous expectations from the time he was 19. Seve is smiling down from above.
hrfdez
Indeed! I’m so proud of him, but I also feel for Justin Rose. Rose is an amazing player and it seems a bigger human being.
You can tell how different the European Tour is from the PGA Tour by the way they cheer for each other. That’s sportsmanship!
I hope Sergio gets a few more, he still has the game, and with his new attitude and lack of self pity, the future looks bright.
Sergio is El Niño no more! Ole, ole, ole, ole ole!
Tom Edrington
Good point about the European Tour, because of its nature, many of the players travel together and there is more comradery on that tour. Not as much money over on that tour as the PGA Tour. I like the European Tour because it goes to so many wonderful venues, gives me a glimpse of places I won’t get to but you get a wonderful feeling from the scenery and the galleries. I’m sure Sergio is the happiest guy on the planet but don’t worry, Justin Rose will earn his Green Jacket sooner than later, he plays the course incredibly well.