Hello Friends, Paul Mac has made his way back from Augusta and gives us his thoughts on the Masters that was.
Among the highlights were UGA Boy Bubba Watson's 350 yd drive on 15 and his easter egg pink outfit (Saturday) along with a hot pink driver shaft to go along with it. Other than the pink it's uncanny how much he looks like Fred Couples from far away. Bubba unfortunately 3 putted from 20ft Saturday on the same hole. Saturday was largely dull: no one making a move, everyone playing safe an tentative. Only Steve Stricker managed an Eagle on 15 that I saw, and Jim Furyk had the round of the day, I believe, a 67 with a wonderful little chip on 15 for birdie. Mickelson had a nice shot at Eagle from just off the green but unfortunately he pulled out that stupid 64 degree wedge and flopped it about 12 feet short of the hole instead of just using a more common 56 or 60 and being much closer. I had thought of ways that Bones could be a better caddie.
1) At the US Open loss, break both driver shafts, only hand Phil the 3 wood.
2)At 12 when he asks for 9 give him the 8 instead
3)break the 64 against a tree.
4) whenever Phil is ahead in a tournament, throw the driver into the woods or the nearest lake
5) Keep some ho ho's or bacon in the bag. If he gets to the back 9 with a lead dangle them in front of him before a 2 ft putt. Clearly he's got the yips better he think of food than golf.
The amount of people following Tiger and Phil Sunday is not easily conveyed by television. It was a massive wave of humanity and those not in it eagerly watched the mechanical score boards for the posted numbers. There was a buzz on the course all over just watching the incredible numbers Phil put up on the front 9. His 30 matched Johnny Miller, Greg Norman and KJ Choi on the front 9 but alas it wouldn't have been Sunday at the masters without Tin Cup committing more than a few blunders.
Before we get to that first let me say the course could not have been better. The weather was perfect, the course drained perfectly Friday night and even the high travel areas looked better this year than in years past. They have built permanent concessions buildings that are much nicer than the dark tents. The Sandwiches are still as good as ever.. the import beer is now Stella Artois a HUGE upgrade to the usual Heineken. Chips are Cape Cod... no expense spared... however... one improvement could be made... BRING BACK KLONDIKE bars. When I want chocolate covered turbo fat ice cream I want Klondike not Dove... what is this thing on a stick..?? How am I supposed to watch golf with this obviously sub par ice cream bar? The Dove bar is the snow man of ice creams... a box and a wrapper? What is this a freaking drumstick? Did I order a Push Pop? It comes in a freaking box? It's not even a delicious Mayfield Ice Cream Sandwich I want chocolate all over my hands and in my belly, the skilled eater can down the roughly half saturated fat sensation without even getting dirty. Bring back KLONDIKE... Thanks.
OK back to observations from the gallery. My buddy Too Tall managed to make the trip up so My Brother in law Brian and I got their early and then made the rounds. We got a good spot on the first to watch the guys tee off up the hill. Walking around the top of the hill really shows off the fashion statements by the way. Having money does not account for taste. One kid had Gold moon boots some guy was wearing a purple shirt with a glitter eagle and Capri pants... some other douche and his kids were in all white with white sweaters tied around their necks as if they were going to Wimbledon. Loved the argyle and knickers on display though... Payne Stewart would be proud. Props to the women in the gallery too. Women in the south in the spring no matter where they are from really know how to dress for events. Why is it that "that guy" gets into every sports event? As we await Rocco and Miguel Anhel Himenez to go off the first tee some guy behind me goes... hey there goes that MigUel AnJEL JIMenez...it's Sunday dude you should know his name by now... and then there is the WHOOOOO! Scream when nothing is happening. D bag. This is why they don't serve beer until 12 and stop at 4. There is also the 2 fairways away (Oh BE THE ONE or GET IN THE HOLE!) guy. It's a tee shot douche get a grip. This tournament on the course at least on the front nine had a decidedly Happy Gilmore feel to it. (shooters going to choke happy the gold jackets yours) Phil was killing it and the thunderous roars were almost felt as much as they were heard then all of a sudden the crouching Tiger FINALLY struck at 8 with a HUGE eagle. We were on the 10th fairway at the time waiting for Anthony Kim's approach when we heard a roar and having observed the T shots assumed it was Phil. Could he post 29 on the front? We thought. Then the score was posted... Phil put up 30 I knew that tied the record but now Tiger was at 7 under. These guys started the day well back at 4 under but no one there expected any of the leaders to stand pat and we all felt that if either of these guys could get to 10 or 11 that it would be a tournament to remember or at least a ridiculous back 9. The gallery all but ignored Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera on the front and rightfully so... they were freaking dull Saturday. Tiger and Phil were where the action was in addition to being uber famous.
The tension was in the air... again it was felt and the hopes and prayers were palpable on this Easter Sunday. Phil got to 10 under and then... the 12th. An ill timed wave of Phil judgement and he slid the 9 iron into Ray's creek. Temporary setback right? 13 and 15 with chances at Eagles looming with 16 easily approachable too. 14 was tough right behind that ominous false front that lulls you to sleep before the green chews you up and spits you out. Tiger and Phil would both birdie 13 and remain in contention. Then on the 15th with the lead at an accessable 11 under (Cabrera was at 12 and then bogeyed and Kenny Perry would rock along making pars before finally making a little run of his own) The fateful 15th would play large again. Tiger and Phil hit HUGE drives with Phil outdriving tiger by some 10 yards well on the down slope. Then they each hit beautiful approach shots to have a good eagle try.. Tiger still well off by his standards but roughly 12 ft. Phil knocked his shot within 4 feet with roughly no break strait in from that distance... impossible to screw up right? Wrong. Tiger would miss over reading the break like so many before him and going off right... so what does Phil do? Overcompensates and pulls it left. He would tap in for birdie though and get back in somewhat before they each again screwed the pooch on the last two holes and left many headed for the exits.
At this point Paul Mac's support is squarely on the Kentuckian Kenny Perry. Kenny made good at 15 and then a brilliant shot at 16 almost had me looking brilliant. At 14 under with 2 to play 274 was indeed the score to beat. An easy par par victory would be nice. Hey he had at this point 22 holes without a bogey. What happens? Bogey. Bogey. Chad Campbell quietly put some putts home to lead in the club house at 12 under. Angel Cabrera made several CLUTCH putts especially the one on 16 to get him to 12 under. Perry inexplicably pulled out the driver on 18 and put it in the 305+ bunker right there waiting for well hit drives left in the fairway on 18. You saw the end result, a nearly missed par put from 15 ft and we had playoff golf. Unfortunately it wasn't the 5 way playoff between Tiger, Phil, Campbell, Cabrera, and Perry we wanted. I'm thinking.. ok cool we get a great finish now this is good. Wrong. Now it's I don't want it you take it golf. Cabrera is Shank-a-potamous and puts it in the woods. Campbell and Perry shank their approaches. Perry nearly holes his birdie chip which would have been 1987 all over again but no, it wasn't to be Campbell missed his putt and we go to 10. Instead of 1987 we got 2003. Yeah... the most boring playoff ever. When Mike Weir 2 putted to victory when Olin Browne shanked his approach left. Unfortunately for 48 year old Kenny Perry Mint Julups would not go all around... instead we get argentinian steaks... though that's not too bad just lackluster. The way it ended. Perry absolutely shanked his approach on 10 to the left and Cabrera 2 putted for the win. I hate the way this ended. This is like ending a race under caution. I much prefer a really good shot like a chip or a hole out from the fairway or a really nice long put beating a shorter putt but it's what we got. This has been one of the better Masters weeks in a while with joy and sorrow great shots and bad shots.... perfect weather, perfect course. The ending just could have been much better. I sure hope Kenny Perry gets another shot at a major and comes through next time if so... bourbon is on me.
Until next year Friends, Cheers!
Paul Mac
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