The Masters
It’s one of the world’s most graceful sporting events. It’s where the world’s greatest golfers descend upon Augusta National to see you wants to be the Masters champion.
It really is a course of absolute beauty, a modern wonder of the world. That probably attributes to its fame. The Masters is at the same course every year so the player and fans know it by heart. Even the people who have never been there feel as if it is a second home.
The 2007 edition was a scrappy one at best. The weekend was plagued with cold weather and stiff winds. Far from the normal spring weather at the course. The play suffered as a result. In fact the winning score tied for the highest score ever. But despite the adversity and the scrappy play, it is still on the highlights of the year.
And that scrappy play was exactly what won the championship for 31 year old Zach Johnson. He was a relative unknown; alright, a complete unknown. He showed the confidence, calmness and steely nerves to take the lead and hold onto it.
The first two rounds were tough and a typical Thursday and Friday. Impossible to win it the first two days but easy to get cut. And getting cut was what Retief Goosen just about did. But thanks to Tim Clark, who led after Friday, bogeyed his last hole he let Goosen escape the cut. The South African then went on to be a main contender in the weekend after a superb Saturday.
But after Saturday, which was the toughest of the four days, it was the Aussie Stuart Appleby who emerged on top with many close behind.
He was with Tiger Woods in the final pairing and was asked what he thought about the pairing in his press conference. He simply replied “He won’t know I’m there but I’ll know he’s there.” It was great comment to sum up the attitude of this generation’s greatest golfer. Tiger is the epitome of focus and concentration. Looking into his eyes it almost seems like the only thing he sees is his shot. It’s incredible.
And that concentration earned him the lead early on Sunday for a brief moment. Of course, a bunch of other guys had the lead as well. Goosen, the man who could win $10 million and you couldn’t even tell. Rory Sabbatini, the man who hit the incredible breaking birdie. And then Justin Rose, Jerry Kelly and whole bunch of other guys.
But it was Zach Johnson who did something that no one else did. Usually is these situations it is the guy who didn’t make the mistake that wins but in this case no one really made a killer mistake. Instead, Johnson did the unique thing and just went out there and won it. Three birdies on the back nine to take the competition by the throat and win it. No one else even came close to putting in that kind of performance. He deserved to the victory.
The hex for Tiger still remains; not being able to come from behind at a major. It is a bit of an overrated statistic. He did have a chance however in the last three holes but didn’t birdie a single one. And that stat probably didn’t really comfort Johnson down the stretch. With Tiger breathing down his throat, that streak was the last thing to go through his mind. But he handled the pressure gracefully. A fantastic chip on 18 saved par and right then everyone knew it was his day. A day that earned him the famed green jacket.
It is another Masters in the book for 2007 at the world’s most beautiful golf course. Sitting back on a Sunday afternoon and relaxing while watching great golf. It really is a tradition unlike any other.
It really is a course of absolute beauty, a modern wonder of the world. That probably attributes to its fame. The Masters is at the same course every year so the player and fans know it by heart. Even the people who have never been there feel as if it is a second home.
The 2007 edition was a scrappy one at best. The weekend was plagued with cold weather and stiff winds. Far from the normal spring weather at the course. The play suffered as a result. In fact the winning score tied for the highest score ever. But despite the adversity and the scrappy play, it is still on the highlights of the year.
And that scrappy play was exactly what won the championship for 31 year old Zach Johnson. He was a relative unknown; alright, a complete unknown. He showed the confidence, calmness and steely nerves to take the lead and hold onto it.
The first two rounds were tough and a typical Thursday and Friday. Impossible to win it the first two days but easy to get cut. And getting cut was what Retief Goosen just about did. But thanks to Tim Clark, who led after Friday, bogeyed his last hole he let Goosen escape the cut. The South African then went on to be a main contender in the weekend after a superb Saturday.
But after Saturday, which was the toughest of the four days, it was the Aussie Stuart Appleby who emerged on top with many close behind.
He was with Tiger Woods in the final pairing and was asked what he thought about the pairing in his press conference. He simply replied “He won’t know I’m there but I’ll know he’s there.” It was great comment to sum up the attitude of this generation’s greatest golfer. Tiger is the epitome of focus and concentration. Looking into his eyes it almost seems like the only thing he sees is his shot. It’s incredible.
And that concentration earned him the lead early on Sunday for a brief moment. Of course, a bunch of other guys had the lead as well. Goosen, the man who could win $10 million and you couldn’t even tell. Rory Sabbatini, the man who hit the incredible breaking birdie. And then Justin Rose, Jerry Kelly and whole bunch of other guys.
But it was Zach Johnson who did something that no one else did. Usually is these situations it is the guy who didn’t make the mistake that wins but in this case no one really made a killer mistake. Instead, Johnson did the unique thing and just went out there and won it. Three birdies on the back nine to take the competition by the throat and win it. No one else even came close to putting in that kind of performance. He deserved to the victory.
The hex for Tiger still remains; not being able to come from behind at a major. It is a bit of an overrated statistic. He did have a chance however in the last three holes but didn’t birdie a single one. And that stat probably didn’t really comfort Johnson down the stretch. With Tiger breathing down his throat, that streak was the last thing to go through his mind. But he handled the pressure gracefully. A fantastic chip on 18 saved par and right then everyone knew it was his day. A day that earned him the famed green jacket.
It is another Masters in the book for 2007 at the world’s most beautiful golf course. Sitting back on a Sunday afternoon and relaxing while watching great golf. It really is a tradition unlike any other.
posted by William Allison @ 8:25 PM
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