Masters Classic Choke

Indulge me with another GOLF blog, OK?

After watching Kenny Perry self-destruct yesterday, I can at least now appreciate those golfers of great skill who manage to control their nerves enough to get through the final holes without becoming unglued.

It was sad to see Kenny Perry follow a near ace on the 16th hole—with a pair of bogeys on the last two holes-forcing a playoff with Chad Campbell-and the eventual winner, the Argentinean Angel Cabrera. Perry was rock solid throughout the tournament-making his way across Augusta National with solid play. Not a birdie machine, he grew his below par score of –12 by generally not giving up bogeys or worse. That is..until the final two holes. He would have been the oldest player to EVER win a major tournament of any kind-and at 48, he may never get another chance. Like all of us weekend golfers, he will spend much time pondering the “what ifs” of those last two holes. A par on either would have garnered the coveted (albeit ugly) green jacket.

But it was not to be.

Chad Campbell could have had it too, but he squandered his second shot on the first playoff hole and then failed to save par. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, for all of the hype and early round heroics-also failed down the stretch. Phil choked with mis-hits at Hole #12 and a missed eagle putt at 15, I believe. It is notable that as poorly as Tiger played (for Tiger anyway), he was still only 4 shots short of making the playoff.

Angel Cabrera, whose unathletic frame used to be accompanied by multiple packs of cigarettes chain-smoked in a round—managed to fool everyone and steal the tournament crown from those who the pundits said were a lock. Every weekend golfer should learn from one thing from his performance: YOU ARE NEVER OUT OF IT UNTIL EVERYONE IS DONE!

Rewind to the first playoff hole, 18, re-played. Angel hits his tee shot into the woods, then proceeds to ricochet his second off a few trees. Meanwhile, both Perry and Campbell are sitting pretty in the fairway with their tee shots. Who, at THAT moment, wouldn’t have bet a million dollars that Cabrera would be out?

Well, he wasn’t….and the perseverance to have NOT given up at that point makes his eventual victory even more deserved!.

So, Kenny Perry wasn’t the oldest Masters winner ever---but the youngest winner ever-Tiger Woods---did it on this date 12 years ago! His record 270 still stands, as does the 12 stroke margin of victory. Below is a “Masters Moment” that recounts that achievement:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75h5QEeKL7Q


If you’s like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com

Next up-The Players Championship!! I’ll be rooting for Kenny Perry!