Tiger Woods got off to the kind of start he had hoped, posting a 31 on the first nine of the Masters Sunday that included birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 7 with an eagle on No. 8, his only one in the tournament.
Golfers behind him heard the cheers going up as Woods threw up red number after red number on the leader board.
"What'd he shoot on the front? A 31?"second-place finisher Jason Day asked. "The guy's a freak."
However, he couldn't keep his momentum going, making just one more birdie on the back nine, on No. 15. He finished 10 under, tying for fourth as he tried to win his fifth green jacket.
"I should have shot an easy 3- or 4-under on the back nine and I only posted even," he said.
The problem, as it was most of the week, was his putting. He needed 33 putts on Saturday, but seemed to have the issued solved after a late practice session after his round.
He came out Sunday needing just 13 putts on the first nine. However, he hit 18 on the second nine, which sunk his chances of winning.
Defending champ
Phil Mickelson finished his reign as Masters champ with a 2-over 74 to finish 1 under in the tournament.
He started the day nine shots behind Rory McIlroy and didn't doubt that he could have played his way into contention.
"I felt like if I could shoot something in the low 60s, 63 or 64, you just never know what might happen," he said.
Putting was his issue. He tied for 39th, averaging 1.69 putts per hole. He said he will take a few weeks off before playing again.
Bad swing, good swing
Luke Donald had one of the worst swings on Sunday and one of the best. He dunked his tee shot on 12 into the water and had to take a double bogey. He said he pushed his 9-iron about 10 yards to the right.
However, he made up for it with a spectacular shot on 18. After his drive landed near the bunker on the left, he had to create a stance with one leg in the sand and the other out. He said the ball came out perfectly, "right at the pin." It smashed off the flag and rolled a few yards off the front of the green.
He followed that by chipping in to reach 10 under. He tied for fourth, finishing four shots behind Charl Schwartzel.
"When I made that chip I gained a bit of revenge," he said. He was trying to become the first par-3 contest winner to take the Masters in the same year.
Ishikawa relief
By virtue of his 20th-place finish, Ryo Ishikawa will be able to donate a significant amount of money toward efforts to assist his native country of Japan. He finished 3-under par after shooting 2 under on Sunday.
Ishikawa, born in Saitama, pledged last month to donate his winnings this year to aid the rebuilding efforts after the earthquakes and tsunami destroyed parts of the country.
Georgia guys
Georgia Tech grad Matt Kuchar finished at 1 under after a 3-over 75 on Sunday.
Georgia grad Bubba Watson posted a 78 that included a triple bogey on No. 8. He finished 1 over.
Hardest Hole of the Day
No. 4 was the hardest hole of the day. The golfers navigated the 240-yard par 3 in an average of 3.449 strokes. It surrendered one birdie, 21 bogeys and one double.
Easiest Hole of the Day
No. 15 was the easiest hole. The golfers navigated the 530-yard par 5 in an average of 4.490 strokes. It surrendered one eagle and 24 birdies.
Hardest Hole of the Week
No. 11 was the hardest hole of the tournament. The golfers navigated the 505-yard par 4 in an average of 4.331 strokes. It surrendered 19 birdies, 78 bogeys, 12 double bogeys and five others.
Easiest Hole of the Week
No. 13 was the easiest hole of the week. Golfers played the 510-yard par 5 in an average of 4.581 strokes. It gave up 13 eagles, 137 birdies, 24 bogeys, six doubles and one other.
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