AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > April > 09
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Plenty of greatness to go around in this Masters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Augusta — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods virtually jump-started their careers in golf winning the Masters. Palmer was 28 when he won his first, Nicklaus 23 and Woods 21. Phil Mickelson was 33 when he won his first, but now that he has put two together, would it be presumptuous to suggest that we have a new era in bloom at Augusta National?
It was another one of those Sundays in which Saturday’s unfinished business had to be taken care of first, carryover from the third round made necessary because of another one of those infernal rainouts. Mickelson began the fourth round about 2:52 in the afternoon, a stroke in the lead over Fred Couples. As much as the televisors attempted to make the two of them sound like old playmates, Freddie is 11 years old than Phil, but say this for them: They did stroll around the course chit-chatting between shots like two Rotarians playing for the cigars.
Mickelson was never out of the lead, threatened a time or two, but never out. As for Couples, he effectively eliminated himself when he had to use three putts to get down from about 5 feet on the 14th green. As always, though, there was the figure of Tiger Woods lurking, and at times even hovering over the scene. You see, it is to be presumed that until all the players have been accounted for and all the scores have been toted up, no field is safe from a potential Tiger surge. You win four times here, the very mention of your name can be considered a threat.
Woods was the beneficiary of what would seem to have been a severe mismatch. He was paired with Tim Clark, a wisp of a South African who uses one of those putters about as tall as he is, an educational guest of the United States who schooled at N.C. State. Woods is a bomber who regularly hits the ball on an (official) average of 302.9 yards last year. Clark’s average was 283, but settled into a 276-yard slump this year. Each had played the first 54 holes in 214 strokes, in a tie in fourth place. Clark would be spending his afternoon an average of 40-50 yards in Woods’ rear-view mirror.
Clark, 30, five years on the PGA Tour, never flinched. He had had one such pressure experience when he was in contention in the PGA Championship the year Shaun Micheel won at Rochester. As he said of Tiger, “He was always 40 or 50 yards out in front of me, but I kept hitting the ball the way I always do.”
In the end, Clark settled snuggly in second place behind Mickelson, and he did it his own way: He blasted out of a bunker into the cup on the 18th hole, finished at 283, two strokes back of the champion, and he and his little slingshot game had beaten the cannonade of the No. 1 player in the world.
But, of course, so had Mickelson, for the second time. It had been a virtual crusade of his, taking dead aim on the Masters. He had taken a long winter’s respite and played in the those events aimed at delivering him to the trophy ceremony on the green of Augusta National as the sun set Sunday. He tuned up on the West Coast, worked his way through selected events in Florida, then turned up the jets in the BellSouth, which he won for the third time.
Then came the migration to Augusta. He had played a few practice rounds after hearing horror stories about course renovations. Then he turned in rounds of 70, 72, 70, and on this balmy Sunday afternoon capped it all off with a 69, that should have been a 68. He got careless coming home, missed the green at 18 and it cost him a bogey, and the highest winning score since Mike Weir’s score of 281 in 2003.
It was an impressive day of concentrated work, for he never took a step backward, until the finishing hole. He had, with this accomplishment, reached the peak of his career, a third major to go with the Masters two years ago and the PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
Woods came home in 70 strokes, clustered in a tie with four others, Chad Campbell, Retief Goosen, Jose Marie Olazabal and Couples.
There had been a strong Spanish surge at one time during the afternoon, when Miguel Angel Jimenez rode into contention in tandem with Olazabal. Senor Jimenez wears a bushy ponytail, and it was feared, that had he won, all members of Augusta National would be obligated to wear similar headdress in tribute. Mickelson spared them.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Categories: Furman Bisher, Golf
Mickelson now golf’s other major force
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Augusta — This wasn’t a win. It was an elevation.
This wasn’t two years ago, when Phil Mickelson won a Masters, and it seemed more like a glorious exorcism of 42 previous majors. It wasn’t even last August in Baltusrol, when he won the PGA Championship. That qualified as mere reaffirmation of being one of the game’s elite players.
This makes three majors in three years and two jewels in a row. You win three majors in three years and two consecutively, there’s only one guy who can be compared with you — the same one who wrapped you in a green jacket Sunday.
“He did everything he needed to do to win,” Tiger Woods said Sunday.
And this, on his own game: “I’m probably going to go snap this putter in about eight pieces.”
Woods crumbles on the greens and bogeys three holes in the final round. Mickelson makes nothing but pars and birdies in 28 of his last 29 holes, until the 72nd hole when he had a three-shot lead and it didn’t really matter.
Who switched coats?
“The stress-free walk up 18 was incredible,” Mickelson said.
In 2004, he needed a birdie on 18 to avoid a playoff with Ernie Els. Last year, he needed a birdie on 18 to break a tie with Thomas Bjorn and Steve Elkington at the PGA.
So now he’s not just winning. He’s taking the drama out of it.
He ripped through the BellSouth Classic the week before, opening with a 63 and then making it look easy. He didn’t quite replicate those numbers in Augusta. He just looked a lot more at home than he used to. You come to these lengthened fairways and glass-like, rolling greens and shoot 70-72-70-69 — while others implode — then you have proved that you belong. You have separated yourself.
“The monkey is off his back around here,” said Jose Maria Olazabal, among those who tried to make a Sunday run at the leader. “He’s playing more relaxed than if he hadn’t won before.”
Mickelson used to be the one who wilted. From 1999 to 2002, he seemed to be channeling Greg Norman. Two seconds in the U.S. Open. Another second in the PGA. Three thirds at Augusta National. Place, show or forget it.
That all changed in 2004. Mickelson says the transformation began before the season when he changed his tournament preparation and began playing “a more controlled game.” But the affirmation came with the win in the Masters.
Now he doesn’t wilt. They wilt around him.
Playing partner Fred Couples was only one shot back through 10. Then he missed a 3-foot putt to bogey No. 11 and three-putted No. 14 to drop three shots back. Bye-bye, Freddy.
Olazabal went on a tear with birdies on 13 and 14 and an eagle on 15 to go to 5 under, one behind Mickelson. But he bogeyed 16, Mickelson birdied 13, and the space never closed.
Rocco Mediate was within three of the lead until self-immolation on the 12th, taking a 10. Miguel Angel Jimenez was tied for the lead, then fell back. Tim Clark got to within two shots, then faded. “I’m sure I’m the last guy he was worrying about out there,” he said.
There were others. It was like kids taking turns jumping for the cookie jar on the top shelf, then descending empty-handed.
Woods has made his mark on Sundays in majors. He was window dressing in this one. He drove the ball fine most of the day but was mortal on the greens. Twice he missed potential eagle putts of 10 feet (Nos. 13 and 15).
When the day was over, Woods held the traditional green jacket for Mickelson, the year after Mickelson had done the same for Woods. You might want to get use to this exchange. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer won 10 Masters between them. This makes six for Woods (four) and Mickelson (two).
“Well, I don’t want to really trade next year,” Mickelson said, laughing. “I certainly enjoyed having the jacket put on me rather than being the one who put the jacket on someone else.
“This gives me an incredible feeling of accomplishment.”
First he goes 0-for-42. Then he win three majors in a span of nine.
“Sound better, huh?” he said.
Sounds better. Looks better. Fits right.
Mickelson doesn’t stand alone. But there’s only one who stands with him.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Categories: Golf, Jeff Schultz
