Brilliant !!

Now that I have nearly recovered from my Masters hangover, I would like to take a minute to reflect on one more thing. Remember all of the talk about the changes made to the course? How it was going to ruin the tournament. How it would turn the Masters into an early spring flowered version of the US Open. How there would be no excitement and the tournament would be a dud. Hmm, let me think. What did we get?

All we got was an incredible tournament with the five best players in the world in position going into the final day. Turns out those ol' boys down in Georgia were smarter than we gave them credit for. THEY GOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED!

Thinks about it for a minute - what if the event was like any other Sunday on Tour? Let's say for example we ended up with Scott Verplank vs. Zach Johnson. Both are GREAT PLAYERS. One a Ryder Cup vet and the other in position to play in the next one. It would have probably been neat to watch, but let's face it. In NO WAY would it compare to Tiger and Phil and Vijay battling down the stretch. Let's be honest here - these are the guys we want to see do battle.

And not only did we get the "Big Five" in the mix, we got Freddie thrown in free of charge. How much better can it get? So whether or not we think they did the right thing, they sure got the right results. The best players in the world should be able to hit it a long way, and by lengthening the course they filled the leaderboard with the best in the world!

And one more thing - if I were to ask any of us what three things we would like in your game, most of us would say more distance, more accuracy, and better putting. Phil Mickelson drove the ball long, hit a lot of fairways, and made every putt he needed to make. Phil was the best player last week, and he won the event. He's one of the best players in the world because of these abilities, and it sure showed at Augusta.

Yup, it looks like Hootie and the boys really knew what they were doing in spite of everything that was being said. Once again they have turned their lemons into lemonade, just like it seems they have done from the beginning. If they keep making changes and we keep getting great tournaments, then I am all for it. The tradition of the Masters lies in its great champions and memorable finishes, and once again proved that it all comes down to the back-nine on Sunday. Just think, only 51 more weeks until the best week of the year. I can hardly wait!

What if .....

What if......

...Rocco hadn't slipped on #15?

...Or didn't hit the flagstick on #9?

...Ol' Ben had begun Saturday with a couple of pars?

...Freddie makes the putt on 2, or 3, or 4, or 8, or 11, or...

...14 - yes, that was definitely the biggest "what if" of the week. Fred makes and he is only one-back with ALL of the momentum on his side. For a fan of golf, watching him 3-putt simply hurt; kind of like a cheap shot in the gut. He played SO well, but the putter kept him from another jacket. It was Fred's putter that gave his second jacket and to Phil, or Phil's putter that took it from Fred. Phil was VERY solid tee-to-green, but Lefty's putting was his key to winning. These guys talk over and over about getting into position to win, and when you are in position it is the shortest shots that make the difference. Mickelson did it, none of the other pursuers did. That's now 2 majors in a row, three of the last nine majors, and two of the last three Masters. Not bad for a guy who couldn't win the big one.

Yes, once again, the greatest week of the year!

Breakfast at Augusta

How can it get any better? I've woken up for the US Open and the British Open, but this is a first today. Just look at the day here. Anyone want to tee it up at that course?

It looks like ol' Ben's run is over but the Freddie dream is still alive. But even more look at the leaderboard. This could be one of the greatest days of golf EVER!

Get your coffee on & enjoy the game!