MASTERS BULLDOGS
- Russell Henley — -3
- Chris Kirk — Even
- Bubba Watson — +1
- Erik Compton — +5
- Brian Harman — MC
- Brendon Todd — MC
Chris Kirk made a beautiful eagle on the par-5 15th on Sunday, which means he left Augusta National Golf Club with a pair of crystal goblets, as is the Masters tradition. He also left hoping for more meaningful mementos in his future.
“I think that I could (win the Masters),” said Kirk, who made $4.85 million last year and finished second in the FedEx Cup standings. “I think there are some things in my game for that. I’d have to play really well, obviously, which is true for anyone. But I think I could.”
Kirk has comported himself well in his first two attempts. The University of Georgia graduate and Atlanta resident shot 1-under-par on Sunday to finish at even-par 288 in his second Masters tournament. It was a two-stroke improvement over his debut last year.
Kirk ended up second-lowest Bulldog among the four that made it to the weekend. Three-time participant Russell Henley shot a 71 Sunday to finish at 3-under. Two-time champion Bubba Watson, well out of it before teeing up in the fourth round, played loose and unconcerned on the way to a 74 and a 38th-place finish at 1-over. Erik Compton carded a 74 for a four-day total of 5-over 293.
A record six UGA alums played in this year’s Masters. Brian Harman (76-72—148) and Brendon Todd (80-71—151) failed to make the cut.
Harris English, who missed the cut in his first Masters last year, was unable to earn an invitation this year. But based on the glut of UGA players on the PGA Tour at the moment, it figures that somebody other than Watson will eventually be in contention to win.
“They’ve all showed they’re good enough because they’ve played on the PGA Tour,” Watson said Sunday. “If you’re good enough to play on the PGA Tour — and they’ve all backed it up with wins — you’re good enough to win here. The key is getting your breaks and making your putts.”
Said Kirk: “I think Harris is probably somebody whose game suits this place pretty good. He’s a long hitter and can hit those high, spinning iron shots that this course really requires. I could see him doing well here, too.”
Henley certainly looked capable of winning here, especially on his back nine Sunday. He had a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on Holes 14 to 16 to finish in 34.
“It takes some people longer than others sometimes to figure things out,” said Henley, who finished in a tie for 16th as an amateur at the 2010 U.S. Open. “I definitely feel good going around this course and I definitely feel like I can compete. It give me confidence, you know. It’s just a matter of cleaning up some holes here and there, and I think that’s just going to take some time.”
Kirk felt the same way. He has enjoyed some sustained success on the regular tour, but competing in the Masters — or any major, for that matter — is a different matter.
“I had some flashes of good play,” he said. “I just made too many mistakes this week. I still feel like it’s been a learning experience. I hit some really nice shots out there today and I hit some really bad shots. So I wouldn’t say I’m overly pleased with my play this week. But it was respectable, I guess.”
About the Author
