Archive for April, 2011

A recap of Sunday’s final round of the Masters:

Who won?

Charl Schwartzel birdied the final four holes — the first time that has been done in Masters history — to become the third South African to win the green jacket. It came 50 years after fellow South African Gary Player’s historic breakthrough in the event. He finished 14 under, two strokes better than a pair of Australians, Adam Scott and Jason Day.

What does it mean?

For the the second time since the Masters started in 1934, all four of golf’s majors are in the hands of an international player.

Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal (Masters), South Africa’s Ernie Els (U.S. Open) and Zimbabwe’s Nick Price (British Open and PGA Championship) were the winners in 1994.

The current holders are now South Africa’s Schwartzel (Masters), Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open), South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (PGA Championship).

Best score(s) of the day

Schwartzel shot a 66. Can’t do much better than …

Continue reading Recapping the Masters »

Charl Schwartzel birdied Nos. 15, 16, 17 and 18 to reach 14 under and win the Masters on Sunday. His win comes on the 50th anniversary of Gary Player’s historic victory.

Adam Scott and Jason Day, who birdied 18, tied for second at 12 under. Scott saved par on 17 after putting his drive into a bunker on 7 to stay atop the leader board.

Tiger Woods, Luke Donald and Geoff Ogilvy finished 10 under.

But this tournament may be remembered for what happened to third-round leader Rory McIlroy, who had a meltdown that will be remembered for ages.

He surrendered his third-round lead with a triple-bogey 7 on No. 10. He followed with a bogey on 11 and a four-putt double-bogey on 12. He also bogeyed No. 16.

McIlroy’s errant tee shot on No. 10 landed between two of the cabins that line the left side of the fairway, dozens of yards away from the fairway. Furman Bisher said he’s only seen other golfer end up other there: Bobby Jones. McIlroy punched out and his third shot missed badly left. …

Continue reading Charl Schwartzel wins Masters »

Continue reading Video: Can McIlroy hold on at Masters? »

Here’s what to expect on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club for the last round of the Masters:

TV: CBS coverage will begin at 2:00 p.m and ends at 7 p.m. ESPN 3D will provide coverage from 5-7 p.m.

Weather: The high is expected to be 90 degrees with a low of 64. Winds are predicted to be from south-southwest, from 6-12 mph. Wear your sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids.

Open and close: Gates will open at 8 a.m. and close 30 minutes after play.

What happened last year? The average fourth-round score was 71.941.

What’s going on? Everyone’s chasing Rory McIlroy (12 under), who leads the field by four strokes. He shot a 70 on Saturday. He is going for his first major. If he wins, all of the majors will be held by international players for the first time since 1994.

Tee times to watch:

2:40 p.m.: Rory McIlroy and Angel Cabrera

2:30 p.m.: Charl Schwartzel and K.J. Choi

2:20 p.m.: Jason Day and Adam Scott

2:10 p.m.: Luke Donald and Bo Van Pelt

2:00 p.m.: Bubba Watson and Ross …

Continue reading Looking ahead to Sunday at the Masters »

A recap of Saturday’s third round of the Masters:

Who’s winning?

Rory McIlroy leads at 12 under after shooting a 70. Four players trail him by four strokes.

Best score(s) of the day

Bubba Watson, Angel Cabrera and Adam Scott each posted 5-under par 67s.

Worst score of the day

Kyung-Tae Kim posted a 78.

Hardest hole of the day

No. 1 was the hardest hole of the day. The golfers navigated the 445-yard par 4 in an average of 4.327 strokes. It surrendered two birdies, 16 bogeys and one double. The wind was blowing into the golfers most of the day.

Easiest hole of the day

No. 13 was the easiest for the second consecutive day. The golfers navigated the 510-yard par 5 in an average of 4.531 strokes on Saturday after averaging 4.576 strokes on Friday. It surrendered three eagles and 25 birdies.

Where’s the champ?

Phil Mickelson gained just one stroke on the field. He’s 3 under, nine strokes behind the leader, Rory McIlroy, who leads at 12 under.

– Doug Roberson, …

Continue reading Looking back at day 3 of the Masters »

There are two Americans on the Masters leader board. Bo Van Pelt is the closest to leader Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, and Van Pelt is six strokes behind.

If an international player wins the Masters on Sunday, it would mark the second time since the Masters started in 1934 that all four of golf’s majors — the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship — would be in the hands of a non-American.

Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal (Masters), South Africa’s Ernie Els (U.S. Open) and Zimbabwe’s Nick Price (British Open and PGA Championship) were the winners in 1994.

The current holders are Phil Mickelson (Masters), Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (U.S. Open), South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (PGA Championship).

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Rare international Grand Slam a possibility »

A look at the leader board heading into Sunday’s final round at the Masters:

Score/Name/Majors won (Masters)

-12/Rory McIlroy/0

-8/Angel Cabrera/2 (2009)

-8/Charl Schwartzel/0

-8/K.J. Choi/0

-8/Jason Day/0

-7/Adam Scott/0

-7/Luke Donald/0

-6/Bo Van Pelt/0

-5/Bubba Watson/0

-5/Ross Fisher/0

-5/Tiger Woods/14 (1997, 2001, ‘02, ‘05)

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Is there a leader on the Masters leader board? »

Bubba Watson, a Georgia grad, has the round of the day going at the Masters in Saturday’s third round at Augusta National.

Watson is 5 under through 16 holes, and 5 under for the tournament.

Kuchar, a Georgia Tech grad,  is 4 under on the day, 5 under for the tournament.

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar seeing red »

Sergio Garcia is flying up the leader board in Saturday’s third round of the Masters.

Garcia is 3 under on the day, 7 under for the tournament, through nine holes.

Some of you may remember Garcia as the petulant Spaniard who used to be The Best Player Never To Have Won A Major, but is now just known as Serge.

He had a chance to win the British Open in 2007 but choked and blamed his defeat on everything but himself. After losing his chance at the Claret Jug to Padraig Harrington, Garcia uttered this Mike Krzyzewski-like quote:

“You know what’s the saddest thing about it? It’s not the first time. It’s not the first time, unfortunately,” Garcia said. “I don’t know. I’m playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field.”

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Watch out for Sergio »

Phil Mickelson had an interesting start to the third round of the Masters.

He pushed his drive so far left on No. 1 his ball landed in the ninth fairway. It missed all the trees and actually gave the defending champ a decent shot at the green.

As he walked through the gallery, Mickelson said “It’s all about the angles,” to the approving patrons.

He stuck his iron shot to within a make-able birdie putt, but missed the roll. He’s still 2 under.

Trailing the leader by eight, he needs to fire something close to the course record if he wants to get back into contention.

He carded birdies at Nos. 2 and 3, but gave one back with a bogey on par-3 No. 4.

– Doug Roberson, AJC

Continue reading Mickelson with interesting start at Masters »