A Win for the Ages (Ups and downs at Augusta)

National Review ^ | April 12, 2004 | Adam Daifallah

[TheBigB]

Fantastic duel on the back nine Sunday. I thought Ernie would lock it up with that eagle, but Phil wouldn't quit.

[chimera]

Unbelievable. Two holes-in-one within minutes of each other (Harrington and Triplett). Els posting that 67 and waiting for Mickelson to take his shot at it. Garcia shooting that 66. And the amateur Wittenberg hitting even par, besting many of the pros at the premier event of golf.

I was happy for Phil Mickelson. The guy is a great player. Shooting nine-under and a back-nine 31 at Augusta in the Masters is the kind of thing us weekend hackers can only dream of. Mickelson showed that persistence and the never-say-die, will-to-win pays off. Just keep trying and put yourself in a position to win. Eventually you'll be rewarded.

His post-round interplay with the family was very touching. I liked how he brought his one little girl into the scorer's tent and had to gently take the pacifier out of her mouth for her to look at the camera and flash an endearing smile. But then right back to the pacifier. Very cute indeed.

[elbucko]

A golf course is a waste of good horse pasture.

[presidio9]

Agreed. This was the most exciting Masters in 20 years.

[vrwinger]

How could you not be rooting for Lefty to win yesterday??... How many times have you seen Mickelson putts lip out (like the bogey on #3) instead of drop in like the birdie on #18? Good for him, and great for golf... Martha Burke might have even been cheering.... (Though I doubt it)

[presidio9]

FWIW, if it means no commercials at the Masters forever, I might even send Martha's goofy cause a check next year.

[reegs]

I was so looking forward to this year's event. On the front nine, I was convinced that Lefty was going to blow it again - but he was NOT to be denied this year. You could see it in his demeanor. That green jacket was his to win this year.

[ImpBill]

It was a joy to watch the entire tournament, especially Sunday.

[Rummyfan]

Great post. Thanks! I was glad to see Mickelson win. Everyone in contention played very well Sunday; as someone said on the live thread yesterday, there were no goats, only heroes.

[chimera]

Go ahead, spoil our fun...

Geez, what a curmudgeon.

[vrwinger]

Agreed... How much would the Masters bring in via PPV? I hope they never go there, but it would do well, no doubt...

[chimera]

Hey, I think he's great. To heck with all that crap about "the best player never to win a major". To win as much as he has on the tour speaks for itself. I know the players themselves consider winning a major championship to be the mark of a truly great player, and now Mickelson has that on the list as well.

Yes, the thought of a lip-out was on my mind when I saw him stroke that putt. The line seemed a little left and when it did that 180 around the cup, man, what a heart stopper. But it dove in there and gave him the win.

I felt bad for Ernie Els firing those eagles in there and coming up just a bit short. He's such a gentleman and class act. But he has his three major wins and probably will have some more, and he was happy for Phil.

That's what's fun about golf. Most of the players are gentlemen and genuinely nice people, the kind of folks you'd like to be your friend or hang out with. Not like some of these other sports that seem to have more than their share of self-important a-holes (e.g., basketball, baseball, football, etc.). Watching Mickelson at the end there with his wife and children makes you think he's got his head on straight when it comes to knowing what's important.

[kevkrom]

Have left-handed golfers ever won the Masters back-to-back before?

And who now inherits the title of "best (active) player never to win a major"?

[presidio9]

And who now inherits the title of "best (active) player never to win a major"?

[vrwinger]

Agreed... BTW, I wonder who the "Best player never to win a major" is this morning?? I think now that Mickelson's won the first, #2, #3 etc. will start to flow...

Phil seems like a regular guy... Family man, appreciative of place in life ("I do for a living what other people do on vacation.")... He just happens to have a cool job that pays him $1.17 million for a week at Augusta...

[TheBigB]

Have left-handed golfers ever won the Masters back-to-back before?

Mike Weir (last year) was the first lefty to ever win.

And who now inherits the title of "best (active) player never to win a major"?

My vote goes to Sergio Garcia.

[elbucko]

Go ahead, spoil our fun...

I half-heartedly apologize. It's a hangover from one of your own kind ruining Easter dinner by going on and on about golf. He doesn't play well, either.

[chimera]

I think now that Mickelson's won the first, #2, #3 etc. will start to flow...

I hope so. I hope he doesn't do a David Duval and disappear from contention.

But I don't think he will. Phil's done a couple of things to his game that will keep him right up there. The first is mechanical. He seems to have much better control of his ball-striking, hitting fairways, stoning the approach shots, and having a good touch with that blade putter. The other is attitudinal. He manages his game and the course well. He's aggressive where he thinks he can get an advantage, but plays conservative when he feels there is more risk than justifies the reward. Hitting shots that take hazards out of play (a three-wood on no. 18, for example, taking the bunkers out of play), hitting into good positions on the greens, taking advantage of breaks (like reading DiMarco's line on the putt at 18). A few strokes here and there saved and/or gained makes all the difference in majors competition. I think he's learned the value of that, and won't waste shots taking chances when there is no reason to do so.

Then again, I'm just a hacker, so what do I know...?

[chimera]

Ah. Okay, understood. No fun having someone bend your ear on a subject you have no interest in.

I make no claim to being any kind of a player. My goal is to break 80 on one of our local city courses this year. Came close last year (81) but dunking a shot on the last hole did me in. Choke...