Professional golf is the ultimate selfish pursuit. So while the other UGA alums playing in the Masters along with Bubba Watson are certainly happy for him, they were more concerned about replacing him than they were celebrating him.
Covet thy fellow Bulldog, you could say.
“Hopefully I can be competing with him in the rest of the majors this year,” said Russell Henley, class of 2011. “Hopefully I can get in the rest of the majors.”
Henley and Chris Kirk (2005-07) both made the cut in the 2014. But neither would play themselves into the championship mix.
Kirk, playing in his first Masters played solid through the weekend. His 71-72 to finish left him at in a tie for 20th. Henley, playing in his second, came into the third round just six shots out of the lead but shot back-to-back 75s to fall to 31st.
The top 12 players plus ties get automatic invites into next year’s Masters.
“I feel like I could have played so much better,” said Kirk, who bogeyed 18 for the fourth consecutive day. “That’s what makes me feel very hopeful for my future in this tournament. I played some pretty solid golf and made a few putts here and there. I still feel very optimistic because I think I can play so much better.”
Henley was feeling the same way.
“One or two things every day,” he said. “I feel like my game is getting closer and closer. I finished T7 last week with a 66 on Sunday. I made the cut at the Masters for the first time. I’m doing a lot of really good things and I’m close to playing some excellent golf.”
Harris English, the fourth Bulldog in the field, was 6-over in the first two rounds and missed the cut by two strokes. All three Bulldogs will be playing in the Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, S.C., later this week. Watson is expected to take the week off.
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