AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > April > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPlenty 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
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Leroy Rogers
April 9, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this
Tiger’s luck wasn’t there this year. Remember the unbelievable shot on 16 last year? And has anyone ever won the Masters’ after bogeys on 17 and 18, like last year and win in a playoff? I await some one’s answer please. Thanks. Rocky Top Rogers
By p
April 10, 2006 07:56 AM | Link to this
Nice weekend of golf.
I think the people running the show at Augusta have figured that they have to keep expanding the course distance to maintain the quality of the game, and they have done it successfully. When you see Tiger (nothing against Tiger, by the way, just an example) hitting what looked like a 4 or 5 iron into the green from over 250 yards, the equipment development has gone way too far.
It would be a shame to ever have to watch someone finish the Masters at 28 under par.
By Matt
April 10, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this
It looks like the much talked about course changes did what they were supposed to.
By Magnolia Lane
April 10, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this
The Masters once again is in a class by itself. I give major credit to the Masters Committee for allowing TV coverage of the 3rd round Sunday morning and 18 hole TV coverage of round 4 . Remember that it was not too long ago that they showed only the leaders on the back 9. Thanks for giving us more of a great thing.
As for the tournement, Mickelson certainly made the fewest mistakes and deserved the win. Couples will think of his final round often as one that could have produced another green jacket. His ball striking was the best on the grounds yesterday but he missed very makeable putts on 2,3,8,11,&14. Woods’ putter may be headed to the same bargain bin as Couples’. Tiger missed almost every must-make putt that he looked at. In the end, Phil’s “A” game was good enough to beat the field.
Phil’s 3rd win in the last 9 majors is great for the game. It shows that Tiger is not as formidable as he once was and sparks a rivalry that could take us to 2010. In addition, many new faces emerged to fuel the competition going forward. As players like Singh and Els fade away, there are capable players waiting to take their place.
Finally, the changes at Augusta have proven to be a good thing. This is the 1st year since the major lenghthening projects that the course played hard and fast. The winner was a bomber but second place was occupied by one of the shortest hitters on tour. In addition, the changes have put more bite in Augusta and provide more opportunities for players to go backwards.
By hop
April 10, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this
as usual, the “ole master” furman bisher caught the tone and the spirit of the greatest sports event in the world.
golf has never been more exciting especially with so many great players competing now.
phil has entered the fray with adroit play the last few years.
he is now along with tiger the best players in the world.
he has finally learned how to play smart golf and good course managment.
it is going to be an exciting year in golf and the ratings show go through the roof.
By crs
April 10, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this
You could tell one thing in Butler cabin, no love lost between Tiger and Phil, that was painful to watch.
By War Eagle
April 10, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this
This is probably a silly question, but are those birds canned in for TV or is it really birds singing so beautiful? It makes it so much appealing as what the true south is all about.
By Dan Mayfield
April 11, 2006 07:04 AM | Link to this
Great job, I have been reading you since the 60’s and you capture the true feel of the sports, people. Thanks.
By By lc
April 11, 2006 08:57 AM | Link to this
Great job Furman on your coverage of The Masters. Your comments matched the great play of Phil and the cast of other players who provided such excitement. One question: Do people who receive badges each year have to turn them back in at the end of the tournament?
By Magnolia Lane
April 11, 2006 10:42 AM | Link to this
By IC: Holders of the 4 day badges do not turn them back in after the tournement is concluded. Some keep them as memories and others sell them for s few bucks on Ebay.
By Rhino
April 11, 2006 05:19 PM | Link to this
I think they should come up with a recording of the last round showing the comraderie of Mickelson and Couples. What other sport in a fierce competition would you see the players congratulating each other? Golf is great and enduring because of this. You can have the other pro sports with the cry babies. I’ll take a sport where you recieve what you earned.