Golf adopts rule to ban anchored putting stroke

John Boyette — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:27:00 +0000

Golf's governing bodies approved a rule Tuesday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, a move opposed by two major golf organizations that contend long putters are not hurting the game.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and U.S. Golf Association said Rule 14-1b will take effect in 2016.

"We recognize this has been a divisive issue, but after thorough consideration, we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf," R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said.

The new rule does not ban the long putters, only the way they commonly are used. Golfers no longer will be able to anchor the club against their bodies to create the effect of a hinge. Masters champion Adam Scott used a long putter he pressed against his chest. British Open champion Ernie Els and U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson used a belly putter, as did Keegan Bradley in the 2011 PGA Championship.

"We strongly believe that this rule is for the betterment of the game," USGA President Glen Nager said. "Rule 14-1b protects one of the important challenges in the game — the free swing of the entire club."

The announcement followed six months of contentious debate, and it might not be over.

The next step is for the PGA Tour to follow the new rule or decide to establish its own condition of competition that would allow players to anchor the long putters. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said in February the USGA and R&A would be "making a mistake" to adopt the rule, though he also has stressed the importance of golf playing under one set of rules.

"I think it's really important that the PGA Tour — and all the professional tours — continue to follow one set of rules," USGA executive director Mike Davis said. "We have gotten very positive feedback from the tours around the world saying that they like one set of rules, they like the R&A and USGA governing those. So if there was some type of schism, we don't think that would be good for golf.

"And we are doing what we think is right for the long-term benefit of the game for all golfers, and we just can't write them for one group of elite players."

The tour said in a statement it would consult with its Player Advisory Council and policy board to determine "whether various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions, and if so, examine the process for implementation."

PGA of America President Ted Bishop, who had some of the sharpest comments over the last few months, also said his group would discuss the new rule — and confer with the PGA Tour — before deciding how to proceed.

"We are disappointed with this outcome," Bishop said. "As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14-1b is in the best interest of recreational golfers and we are concerned about the negative impact it may have on both the enjoyment and growth of the game."

Some forms of anchoring have been around at least 40 years, and old photographs suggest it has been used even longer. It wasn't until after Bradley became the first major champion to use a belly putter that the USGA and R&A said it would take a new look at the putting style.

"It can never be too late to do the right thing," Nager said.

Those in favor of anchored putting argued that none of the top 20 players in the PGA Tour's most reliable putting statistic used a long putter, and if it was such an advantage, why wasn't everyone using it?

"Intentionally securing one end of the club against the body, and creating a point of physical attachment around which the club is swung, is a substantial departure from that traditional free swing," Nager said. "Anchoring creates potential advantages, such as making the stroke simpler and more repeatable, restricting the movement and rotation of the hands, arms and clubface, creating a fixed pivot point, and creating extra support and stability that may diminish the effects of nerves and pressure."

The governing bodies announced the proposed rule on Nov. 28, even though they had no data to show an advantage. What concerned them more was a spike in usage on the PGA Tour, more junior golfers using the long putters and comments from instructors that it was a better way to putt. There was concern the conventional putter would become obsolete over time.

The purpose of the new rule was simply to define what a putting stroke should be.

"The playing rules are not based on statistical studies," Nager said. "They are based on judgments that define the game and its intended challenge. One of those challenges is to control the entire club, and anchoring alters that challenge."

The topic was so sensitive that the USGA and R&A allowed for a 90-day comment period, an unprecedented move for the groups that set the rules of golf. The USGA said about 2,200 people offered feedback through its website, while the R&A said it had about 450 people from 17 countries go through its website.

Among those who spoke in favor of the ban were Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker.

"I've always felt that in golf you should have to swing the club, control your nerves and swing all 14 clubs, not just 13," Woods said Monday.

Tim Clark and Carl Pettersson have used the long putter as long as they have been on the PGA Tour. Scott switched to the broom-handle putter only in 2011, and he began contending in majors for the first time — tied for third in 2011 Masters, runner-up at the 2012 British Open, his first major victory in the Masters last month.

"It was inevitable that big tournaments would be won with this equipment because these are the best players in the world, and they practice thousands of hours," Scott said after winning the Masters. "They are going to get good with whatever they are using."

It was Clark's dignified speech to a players-only meeting — with Davis from the USGA in the room — that helped sway the tour's opinion to oppose the ban.

Davis and Dawson said their research indicated the opposition to the new rule was mainly in America. The European Tour and other tours around the world all backed the ban.

Players can still use the putter, but it would have to be held away from the body to allow free swing. Mark Newell, head of the USGA's rules committee, said the rule would be enforced like so many others in golf — players would have to call the penalty on themselves.

Bae wins first PGA Tour event at Byron Nelson

John Boyette — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:50:19 +0000

IRVING, Texas — Sang-Moon Bae led by four strokes in the final round of the Byron Nelson Championship when his tee shot at the ninth hole went way left.

After getting to his ball, Bae hit a high-arcing shot over the trees in front of him, clearing the green and apparently going into the water — nobody seemed to know for sure where it went. He took a drop in deep grass after conferring with a rules official.

"I don't know, where is it?" Bae was able to joke Sunday after his first PGA Tour victory. The victory qualifies him for the 2014 Masters Tournament.

Bae shot a closing 1-under 69, even after that double bogey and another bogey on the next hole while squandering all of his early lead. He finished at 13-under 267, two strokes ahead of Keegan Bradley.

The 26-year-old South Korean now has a win in the United States to go with his 11 international victories on the Korea, Japan and Asian tours. After a par at the 18th hole, Bae got a congratulatory hug from the widow of the tournament's namesake.

"It's something I've always dreamed of, winning on the PGA Tour," Bae said. "It was surreal to have Mrs. (Peggy) Nelson there and with all the history. ... I was in awe, actually, so almost I didn't know how to react. "

Bradley was trying to become the Nelson's first wire-to-wire winner since Tom Watson in 1980. Bradley set the TPC Four Seasons course record with an opening 60, a round in which he had two bogeys. He shot a 2-over 72 in Sunday's windy conditions.

"I'm pretty disappointed, but Moon played very well," Bradley said. "I just didn't play great today, but I hung in there. I chipped away. ... When I made that putt on 15, I was pretty confident that I was going to win."

Four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the front nine gave Bae a four-stroke advantage in the final group. Bradley made some nice par saves, but was hurt by a three-putt from 17 feet at the 305-yard 11th hole. He finally got even at No. 15 with his only birdie of the day. He made a 17-footer that had just enough to get into the cup, while Bae missed a par from inside 6 feet.

After Bae sank a 5-foot birdie at the par-5 16th, Bradley had a shorter putt on the same line, but it horseshoed around the hole and didn't fall. He then hit his tee shot over the green at the 171-yard 17th.

Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champ, shot a 68 to finish third at 10 under. Justin Bolli shot a bogey-free 65 for the best round of the day and matched his career-best finish of fourth. Morgan Hoffmann (66), Martin Kaymer (68) and Scott Piercy (72) were a stroke back at 272.

Players wore red ribbons during the final round in memory of Ken Venturi, the 1964 U.S. Open champion and longtime CBS golf analyst who died Friday.

With winds gusting at times to about 40 mph and dried-out greens, the scoring average was 71.8 on Sunday. That was two strokes higher than Thursday's first round, which was played after 1½ inches of rain. Players were able to lift, clean and place their balls the first two days.

"Feels a little like the British Open without rain," Kaymer said of the conditions Sunday.

Bae won $1.2 million, nearly matching his PGA Tour career earnings of $1.6 million in his 42 previous starts. He tied for second last year in the Transitions Championship after getting into a four-man playoff. He is the fourth South Korean-born player to win on the PGA Tour, joining K.J. Choi, Y.E. Yang and Kevin Na.

At No. 14, Bradley drove into the left rough between some trees and missed the green before chipping to 5 feet to save par. On the par 3 just before that, his tee shot settled behind the green, but he hit from there to 8 feet and made that putt as well.

Bradley scrambled for pars on the first two holes, and gave up the lead at the 502-yard third hole when his drive went left into the water. He bogeyed and Bae rolled in a 27-foot birdie putt.

Bae was 16 under and four strokes ahead after birdies on Nos. 5-7.

After the differing results on the short putts at No. 16, Bae watched anxiously after hitting his tee shot at the par-3 17th. When the ball landed on the front edge of the green fronted by water, he bent his knees and leaned backward in obvious relief.

"When my iron play came back in the latter part of the round, I had confidence," Bae said. "On that shot on 17, I knew it was short, and the wind pushed it over to the right, and I was happy and relieved that it turned out OK."

Venturi a familiar figure at Masters

DispatchDaemon — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:17:42 +0000

Ken Venturi was a familiar face at the Masters Tournament for nearly 50 years.

He played in 14 Masters between 1954 and 1969, and he twice finished as runner-up.

After his playing career ended, he served as an honorary starter in 1983 but became familiar to millions as the lead golf analyst for CBS for 35 years. He called his final Masters in 2002.

Venturi had two close calls at slipping into the green jacket, and both ended in heartbreaking fashion.

In 1956, Venturi was poised to become the first amateur to win the Masters. He led after 54 holes but shot 80 in the windswept final round. Jack Burke Jr. edged him by one shot.

“I hit 15 greens, but I three-putted six times,” Venturi told The Augusta Chronicle in 2002.

In 1960, Venturi held the clubhouse lead but lost when Arnold Palmer birdied the final two holes.

“I’m in the clubhouse, and he finishes 3-3-3 to win,” Venturi said. “The next year, Gary Player was in the clubhouse in the lead, and Palmer went 3-4-6 and lost.

“I was thinking, ‘Why the hell me? What did I do?’ But I gave it my best.”

In 1958, Venturi and Palmer crossed paths for the first time as Palmer won the first of his four Masters titles.

The two were paired together in the final round, and Palmer’s tee shot on the par-3 12th flew the green and plugged into the bank behind it.

Palmer and the rules official on the 12th were unsure whether he was entitled to a free drop from the plugged lie, so Palmer played the muddy ball and wound up taking a double-bogey five.

Then, he went back and dropped a second ball and played a pitch that finished close to the hole. He made the short putt for par and turned his fate over to the Masters committee to decide which score would count.

Three holes later, the committee ruled in Palmer’s favor and he went on to win by one shot over Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins, and Venturi tied for fourth.

In his 2004 book Getting Up & Down: My 60 Years in Golf,
Venturi asserted that Palmer broke the rules in 1958.

Venturi said Palmer decided to play a second ball only after he made double bogey and should have declared his intentions before playing the first ball.

“I firmly believe that he did wrong and that he knows that I know he did wrong,” Venturi wrote.

Ken Venturi, US Open champion and CBS analyst, dies

DispatchDaemon — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:16:12 +0000

Ken Venturi, who overcame dehydration to win the 1964 U.S. Open and spent 35 years in the booth for CBS Sports, died Friday afternoon. He was 82.

His son, Matt Venturi, said he died in a hospital in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Venturi had been hospitalized the last two months for a spinal infection, pneumonia, and then an intestinal infection that he could no longer fight.

Venturi died 12 days after he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

He couldn’t make it to the induction. His sons, Matt and Tim, accepted on his behalf after an emotional tribute by Jim Nantz, who worked alongside Venturi at CBS.

“When dad did receive the election into the Hall of Fame, he had a twinkle in his eye, and that twinkle is there every day,” Tim Venturi said that night.

Venturi was all about overcoming the odds.

A prominent amateur who grew up in San Francisco, he captured his only major in the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional, the last year the final round was 36 holes. In oppressive heat, Venturi showed signs of dehydration and a doctor recommended he stop playing because it could be fatal. Venturi pressed on to the finish, closed with a 70 and was heard to say, “My God, I’ve won the U.S. Open.”

He had a severe stuttering problem as a child, yet went on to become one of the familiar voices in golf broadcasting. He began working for CBS in 1968 and lasted 35 years.

“Doctors told his mother he will never speak,” Nantz said at the Hall of Fame induction. “He will never be able to say his own name. That’s what drove him to golf, to sit on a range, beating balls, hearing himself in total clarity in his head, ‘This is to win the U.S. Open.’ And he overcame that with great will and determination, and became the longest-running lead analyst in the history of sports television.”

Venturi played on one Ryder Cup team and was U.S. captain in the 2000 Presidents Cup team.

As an amateur, he was the 54-hole leader in the 1956 Masters until closing with an 80, and he was runner-up at Augusta National in 1960 to Arnold Palmer, who birdied the last two holes.

Adam Scott isn't settling after Masters win

DispatchDaemon — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:29:23 +0000

Adam Scott doesn’t deny that there has been an unprecedented degree of basking in his three weeks of “floating around on the clouds” since his dramatic Masters Tournament triumph.

“I don’t wake up and think I’ve won the Masters,” he said, “but when I walk in the closet and I put the green jacket on every morning, I do. I’ve enjoyed that. … That’s been a lot of fun just wearing it around the house.”

It is perfectly understandable and acceptable for a 32-year-old man who finally fulfilled not only his own, but his native Australia’s, long-awaited expectations to enjoy a little extra relish. Scott was “blown away” by the reaction he’s received from all over the world – especially Australia – since his Augusta moment.

But basking is the last thing that Scott intends to do. Starting this morning in the first round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Scott is back to work on what he still considers unfinished business.

“Hopefully come (Thursday) morning I’ll be able to plant my feet on the ground and keep this going because it could be the start of a great year for me out here on the tour,” Scott said Wednesday in his first news conference since his “life-changing” victory at Augusta.

“Maybe in the history books it is (life-changing) because you’re written into that history book of winning a major and it will never be taken out of there. But I don’t believe so other than that. For me, it’s probably going to be the pinnacle of my career because of also the whole of Australia as first Australian to win the Masters, but it’s also not the end for me. Hopefully it’s the start of me achieving my goals and trying to become the player that I’ve always dreamed of being.”

During his three-week break, Scott specifically avoided the temptation of making the long trip home to Queensland, Australia, to partake in any homecoming celebrations. The three weeks off was already planned, but any side trips might only sidetrack his post-Masters plan.

“I was very tempted to go home,” he admitted. “I wanted to see my mom and my sister and my friends and also share in the celebrations with all the golf fans in Australia. It was an incredible response to winning. The Prime Minister of Australia called me. Like I said, I was overwhelmed.

“It’s cause for celebration but we have a plan in place, and it’s hopefully not going to stop with the Masters at the moment. I want to keep focused while I can and try to make this my biggest year yet, and I think we can rustle up some celebration when I get home at the end of the year.”

Scott’s goals remain even more ambitious than ever. He’s been one of those gifted players predicted to exceed all others on the major stages since he won the Players in 2004 as a bright 23-year-old. That it took nine more years to join the major champion fraternity seemed excruciating at times – especially after runner-up bids at Augusta in 2011 and in last year’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes where he lost a four-shot lead with four to play.

“I think it definitely put the expectations up,” Scott said of becoming the youngest player to win the Players nearly a decade ago. “But at that age and where I was at, it just all happened kind of easily, and you just expect it to keep happening.”

Now that he broke through at Augusta, he hopes it can lead to the kind of career explosion that followed 34-year-old Phil Mickelson’s breakout major win on the same Masters stage in 2004.

“I don’t know how you put a number on how many majors you want to win,” he said. “To win more than five would be a dream career, obviously. There aren’t too many guys lately that have been able to do that. It’s a good goal to have. I should set my goals high like I always have. If I can find the balance of using this as a motivator and take the confidence out of what I was able to do at Augusta, then hopefully the floodgates can open. It happened a little bit for Phil Mickelson – well, a lot for him when he finally won his first major.”

No reason the same can’t happen for Scott, whose major success and failures the past few years have been “balancing on a knife’s edge, really.”

“I felt last year like I could have won three of the majors with pivotal moments going my way or not, and I didn’t win any of them,” he said.

But at Augusta, Scott flourished under the most intense pressure applied by an unrelenting Angel Cabrera.

The victory has him once again being compared to his idol and countryman Greg Norman, whose famous heartbreaks at the Masters only made Scott’s victory that much sweeter for all Australians. Scott has already had a private celebration with Norman in his three-week break, but he doesn’t think owning a green jacket automatically puts him anywhere near the Great White Shark in the all-time conversation.

“Greg was revered around the world,” Scott said. “He was the best in the world. He wasn’t just the best Aussie golfer at the time, he was No. 1 in the world for the better part of 10 years as I grew up. That’s a different level than where I’m at. But you don’t know. If I go on to win more tournaments and hopefully get to No. 1 someday, then maybe. I hope that will be as positive an impact as he had on the game.”

Now he just has to resume that focus, leaving the jacket in the closest as he picks up his clubs instead.

“There is so much elation with winning the Masters that I couldn’t really get focused on golf, and that’s why I kept waking up and thinking I shouldn’t play yet because I felt like I don’t want to go out there and mess around and not be focused and achieving something if I’m going to go out and practice,” he said.

The time for basking is over. Now Scott’s goal shifts from becoming a major winner to a major icon.

Applications open for practice round and daily tournament tickets

John Boyette — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:20:53 +0000

Augusta National Golf Club has opened the application process for the 2014 Masters Tournament.

Individuals can apply for practice round tickets and/or daily tournament tickets.

The deadline for applying for daily tickets is May 31, and the deadline for practice rounds is June 30.

For more information, visit:

http://www.masters.com/en_US/tickets/index.html

Couples, Montgomerie head Class of 2013

kim luciani — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:51:28 +0000

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — About the only thing Fred Couples and Colin Montgomerie had in common was a golf swing good enough to trust for a lifetime.

Couples became the first American to reach No. 1 in the world and won the Masters Tournament by a blade of grass that kept his ball from trickling into Rae’s Creek. Montgomerie found fame on the European Tour, where he won the Order of Merit a record seven times in a row, though he never won a major.

Couples sauntered down the fairways, the essence of cool. Montgomerie walked with his head down, so intense he never looked like he was having much fun.

They shared the stage Monday night when both were inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, along with three others in the Class of 2013. The others were former U.S. Open champion and broadcaster Ken Venturi, former European Tour executive director Ken Schofield and two-time British Open champion and architect Willie Park Jr.

That brings the Hall of Fame to 146 members.

Couples talked about his childhood in Seattle, when his mother gave him $5 a day in the summer to play at Jefferson Park. He couldn’t afford to buy a glove, and Couples still plays without one. He got choked up when he mentioned watching a PGA Tour player to put on a clinic in town when Couples was 14.

“I wasn’t really the person who said, ‘That’s what I want to do, I’m going to be a PGA Tour player.’ But I knew I wanted to really, really get involved in golf,” Couples said. “And the gentleman’s name was Lee Trevino, who has been a mentor and someone I love.”

Couples didn’t look at his notes or used the teleprompter in the back of the room.

He was overcome with emotion at the end of the night, reading two sentences from a piece of paper.

“Thanks for taking a kid from Seattle and putting him in the Hall of Fame,” Couples said as his chin buckled. “This is the coolest night of my life.”

He walked off the stage in tears.

Montgomerie won 31 times on the European Tour, the most of any British player, and he was a stalwart in the Ryder Cup. The Scot played in eight of them and never lost in singles (6-0-2) while competing on six winning teams. He also was the winning captain in Wales in 2010.

Venturi has been hospitalized for the past two months and could not attend the ceremony. Nantz, his former CBS golf partner, accepted on his behalf.

Schofield, also selected through Lifetime Achievement, was head of the European Tour from 1975 to 2004. He rode the presence of Europe’s “Big Five” — Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam — to get the tour onto a global stage. The tour went from 17 events when he started to 45 events when he retired. He also paved the way for the tour to go beyond continental Europe, and to include the continent in the Ryder Cup.

Park joins his father in the Hall of Fame, and the son probably should have been enshrined already. He won the British Open in 1887 and 1889, and then broadened his influence on golf by building clubs, golf courses and writing. His book in 1896, “The Game of Golf,” was the first written by a golf professional. He later wrote “The Art of Putting” that was published in 1920.

Among the golf courses he built were the Old Course at Sunningdale outside London, Maidstone on Long Island in New York and Olympia Fields outside Chicago.

COUPLES, MONTGOMERIE TAKE PLACES

Fred Couples, left, was elected after a loophole that if no one gets 65 percent, one player is elected provided he receives at least 50 percent. Colin Montgomerie, right, is the fourth player to be inducted in the past four years that did not win a major.

45 Total victories 40

1 Major victories 0

7-9-4 Ryder Cup record 20-9-7

Won Best finish at the Masters T8

11 Top 10 finishes in the Masters 1

No. 1 Highest world ranking No. 2

Source: www.pgatour.com, europeantour.com

Mercedes-Benz, UPS take on supporting roles at Masters

John Boyette — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:39:22 +0000

Mercedes-Benz is in as one of the three primary sponsors of the Masters Tournament, and ExxonMobil is out.

Augusta National Golf Club and Masters chairman Billy Payne announced Tuesday that Mercedes-Benz, an international partner of the tournament since 2008, will join AT&T and IBM as a global sponsor beginning in 2014.

UPS will join Rolex as an international partner. The total number of sponsors and partners remains unchanged, Payne said.

“The relationships we form are important to our commitment of continuous improvement, and we sincerely appreciate the longtime assistance and enthusiasm of ExxonMobil for their support,” Payne said in a prepared statement. “We now look forward to growing our associations with Mercedes-Benz and UPS, two globally recognized brands that also share a passion for the Masters and the tournament’s sustained success.”

The 2014 Masters is scheduled for April 7-13.

Masters winner Adam Scott grateful for fans' cheers

DispatchDaemon — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:16:13 +0000

Adam Scott felt the support from the galleries all week during the 77th Masters Tournament, right through to the outdoor green jacket ceremony in the growing darkness Sunday night.

After Scott’s playoff victory over Angel Cabrera at rainy Augusta National Golf Club, fans stayed around to give the first Australian winner of the
Masters one more ovation.

As Scott was receiving the green jacket from 2012 champion Bubba Watson in Butler Cabin to close out the TV broadcast, fans started lining both sides of a sidewalk leading from the cabin to the
putting green, where the ceremony would be re-enacted.

There was a roar when Scott emerged and a louder one when Watson presented him with the jacket on the putting green.

Afterward, Scott said the gallery carried him along while shooting 69-72-69-69 and then beating Cabrera on the second hole of sudden death by making a 15-foot birdie putt.

“I felt there were a lot of Australians out there all week, but incredible support from everyone in the crowd,” said the 32-year-old, who won his first major. “I really felt they were on my side a little bit in regulation coming down the last couple holes. They wanted me to do something, and that’s a great feeling. I didn’t want to disappoint them, either.”

Scott didn’t disappoint. On the 18th hole, he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt to take a one-shot lead over Cabrera, who was one group behind, back in the fairway. Scott had seen Mark O’Meara in 1998 and Phil Mickelson in 2004 make the same putt to win Masters titles.

“You’ve seen the read,” Scott said. “You know it goes a bit right to left. I just told myself to go with instinct; just put it out there and hit it. Show everyone how much you want it. …

“This is the chance, put all the pressure on the guy back down the fairway.”

Cabrera answered with a birdie of his own to force the playoff. After both parred the first playoff hole, No. 18, they headed down No. 10. That’s where Scott felt the gallery’s support
again.

“I think going down the 10th fairway was almost deafening, and the crowd wasn’t close,” he said. “It was a great feeling, and again, I felt like they were
really, really pulling for me out there.”

Australians had won 15 majors before last week, but never the Masters. They had finished second in the Masters eight times, including three times by Greg Norman (1986, 1987 and 1996) and once by Scott, in 2011.

After the victory, Scott thanked Norman, who last played in the Masters in 2009, for giving him so much “time, inspiration and belief. Part of this belongs to him.”

“I have been a huge believer in Adam, and I am so proud of him,” Norman told the Australian Associated Press. “Everybody questioned whether he could do it. We all knew it. The players know it. I think he is a better driver of the golf ball than I ever was. Nobody gives him that recognition.”

Norman, who won two majors, thinks Scott will pass Peter Thomson, who had five, as the Australian with the most majors.

Scott said he tried not to think about what it would mean to be the first Aussie to win the Masters when he was on the course.

On the eve of the final round, when he was one shot off the lead, he did address the issue.

“There’s no better time to ever have to deal with that question again than if you go out and play good tomorrow,” he said.

Ironically, the first Australian winner at Augusta National came in a year when the number of participants from that country was down. Only four Aussies qualified, the fewest since the same number played in 2002.

It was a strong group, though. Scott won; Jason Day, who led after 36 holes, finished third; and first-round co-leader Marc Leishman tied for fourth. John Senden tied for 35th, but he was one shot out of the lead at one point during the second round.

Scott bounces back to win first major

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:04:33 +0000

An imperfect Masters Tournament had the perfect finish. Counter-punching with one clutch shot after another starting on the 18th hole in regulation, Adam Scott seized the green jacket from Angel Cabrera on the second playoff hole with a 15-foot birdie putt.

Nine months after the claret jug slipped through his clutches with four consecutive bogeys on the last four holes, Scott fulfilled the promise he made that summer day on a rainy spring evening in Augusta.

“I didn’t finish the tournament well today,” a dazed Scott said at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in July. “But next time – I’m sure there will be a next time – I can do a better job of it.”

He couldn’t possibly have played better down the stretch than he did Sunday, with birdies on three of his last six holes, including a brilliant 25-footer on the 72nd hole that followed the Mark O’Meara path and made the Phil Mickelson curl into the cup. Scott screamed “C’mon, Aussie!” at his Kiwi caddie, Steve Williams, as though he’d finally broken the Australian jinx at the Masters that plagued his idol and countryman, Greg Norman.

But Cabrera wasn’t letting Scott off that easily. The 2009 Masters champion countered with his own magic, sticking a 7-iron to four feet to force the playoff.

“It was a split second I thought I’d won,” he said. “You should never count your chickens, but that was the putt we’ve seen so many guys make it to win, and that’s what I thought is it’s time for me to step up and see how much I want this.”

Two years ago, Scott had to live with sharing second place with countryman Jason Day as Charl Schwartzel made four consecutive birdies at the end to keep the Australian dreams at bay again. When Cabrera nearly chipped in on the first playoff hole, images of Larry Mize destroying Norman’s hopes flashed through Scott’s mind.

“My heart was about to stop as I was standing at the side of the green thinking, ‘Is this it, really?’” he said.

It wasn’t, and Scott slammed the door to any other openings after Cabrera’s putt on the second playoff hole hung high on the lip. He called in Williams – who won three Masters with Tiger Woods – for the assist as darkness closed in.

“I said, ‘Do you think it’s just more than a cup?’” Scott said. “He said, ‘It’s at least two cups; it’s going to break more than you think.’ ... He was my eyes on that putt. An unbelievable read.”

When the putt fell, Scott high-fived Williams, accepted a warm embrace from Cabrera and then flung his arms to the heavens as the roars washed over him.

Cabrera – who gave a sporting thumbs-up in the 10th fairway to Scott as they delivered strikes to the green – was genuinely pleased for the one who robbed him of a third major title, whispering congratulations into the ear of the man he called “a truthful winner.”

“That I was happy for him, that I know that he deserved it, and that he was going to eventually win it like he did right now,” Cabrera said of his comments. “It was just a matter of time.”

Similar words have been said often about Scott through the years and by Ernie Els last summer as the dashing 32-year-old kept knocking on the door at majors.

“It seems a long way away from a couple of years ago here and even last July when I was trying to win another major,” Scott said. “I felt my way today. There was some luck there somewhere. I don’t know how to digest it all at the moment, but it was incredible.”

Scott drew from three career lessons to fulfill his destiny. There was the influence of Norman – whose handling of repeated major heartbreaks and achievements proved the perfect model for Scott and fellow Australians Day and Marc Leishman to follow.

“It could have been any of us,” Scott said of the three Aussies in the top four. “But there was one guy who inspired a nation of golfers, and that’s Greg Norman. He’s been incredible to me and all the young golfers in Australia, and part of this definitely belongs to him.”

There was also Cabrera, who gave a pep talk to his Presidents Cup teammate in 2009 when Scott’s game was “in a bit of a rut to be fair, and I wasn’t enjoying it so much.”

“I was on a captain’s pick there and my form was struggling, but he pulled me aside and he said, ‘You’re a great, great player,’ ” Scott said. “Something I didn’t forget and really nice of him. ... I used that as a real motivator. And also a way to make myself believe that I’m a great player again.”

And there was his meltdown at Lytham, where his will to win a major was only reinforced instead of crushed by the loss to close friend Els.

“It did give me more belief that I could win a major,” Scott said. “It proved to me, in fact, that I could.”

The difference?

“I played 14 really good ones last time, but I played maybe 20 good ones today,” he said.

For a nation Down Under starving for a green jacket, those 20 holes brought elation at last.

“When I heard the roar down on 10, a second later I heard about 30 million people in Australia and New Zealand all cheering, as well,” said Augusta National member Craig Heatley, a New Zealander who presented Scott at his news conference.

It was a perfect finish to Australia’s Masters woes.

“I’ve said it in here before, but we are a proud sporting country, and like to think we are the best at everything, like any proud sporting country,” Scott said. “But you know, golf is a big sport at home. It may not be the biggest sport, but it’s been a sport that’s been followed with a long list of great players, and this was one thing in golf that we had not been able to achieve.

“So it’s amazing that it’s my destiny to be the first Aussie to win, just incredible.”

Scott bests Cabrera in playoff to win Australia's first green jacket

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:43:55 +0000

After decades of frustration and numerous close calls in the Masters Tournament, Australia’s dry spell ended when Adam Scott rolled in a playoff birdie on Sunday.

Scott birdied two of his final three holes he played and beat 2009 winner Angel Cabrera on the second hole of sudden death to become the first winner from Down Under.

“It’s amazing that it’s my destiny to be the first Aussie to win. It’s incredible,” Scott said.

Scott called himself a “proud Australian” after closing out a 6-under weekend with rounds of 69-69.

Using a controversial long putter that he anchors to his body, Scott rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole, No. 10, which is becoming the place to win the Masters. Three of the past five Masters titles have been won on that hole, which is the second hole under the sudden-death format.

Australia’s Jason Day bogeyed two of his final three holes and finished with 70 to take third place, two shots out of the playoff.

Tiger Woods (70 on Sunday) and first-round co-leader Marc Leishman (72), another Aussie, tied for fourth place.

Third-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker, who shot 75, tied for sixth place with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen (68). Spain’s Sergio Garcia (70), England’s Lee Westwood (71) and former Georgia Tech golfer Matt Kuchar (73) followed with a three-way tie for eighth place.

China’s 14-year-old Tianlang Guan, the youngest-ever Masters participant, finished 58th out of the 61 players to make the cut. Guan, the lone amateur to make the cut, shot 73-75-77-75, including a one-stroke slow-play penalty in the second round.

Helping to ease the pain of his collapse on the final holes of regulation that cost him the 2012 British Open, Scott won his ninth PGA Tour victory and first major championship. He has won eight times on the European Tour. He ran his playoff record to 2-0 while Cabrera is now 3-2.

“He’s a great person, a great player,” Cabrera said of Scott. “I get along with him. We’ve been together in Presidents Cups, and I’m happy for him. Unfortunately in playoffs, it’s one-on-one, head to head. And there’s got to be only one winner, and he was able to win.”

Scott also made it a clean sweep for majors won with anchored putting strokes, which might be outlawed starting in 2016 if the U.S Golf Association and Royal & Ancient Golf Club go through with their proposal to ban them. Keegan Bradley won with a long putter at the 2011 PGA Championship, followed by Webb Simpson in the 2012 U.S. Open and Ernie Els in the 2012 British Open.

Australians had won 15 major championships, but none at Augusta National until Sunday.

“We are a proud sporting country, and like to think we are the best at everything, like any proud sporting country,” Scott said. “Golf is a big sport at home. It may not be the biggest sport, but it’s been a sport that’s been followed with a long list of great players, and this was one thing in golf that we had not been able to achieve. … This is one notch in the belt we never got.”

Scott tipped his hat to fellow Aussie Greg Norman, a two-time major winner and four-time Masters runner-up for “inspiring a nation of golfers. He’s given me so much time, inspiration and belief. I drew on that a lot today. Part of this belongs to him.”

The winning score – 9-under 279 – was the highest since Trevor Immelman’s 280 in 2008. It was also the first since 2008 that wasn’t double digits under par, though Scott did finish 10-under if the two playoff holes were counted.

Scott had come close before in major championships, including the Masters, where he tied for second in 2011 when Charl Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to win. In the 2012 British Open, Scott bogeyed his final four holes to lose by a shot to Ernie Els.

“I know that he deserved it, and that he was going to eventually win it like he did right now,” Cabrera said of Scott’s winning a major. “It was just a matter of time.”

Four years after Cabrera won the Masters on the second hole of sudden-death over Kenny Perry, the big man was at it again, trying to top off a big spring for Argentina, which started in mid-March when Cardinal Jorge Marion Bergoglio was named Pope. The victory would have also been sweet, coming on the 90th birthday of fellow Argentine Roberto de Vicenzo, who signed an incorrect scorecard in the final round of the 1968 Masters, costing him a chance to take Bob Goalby into a playoff.

It wasn’t to be Sunday for Cabrera, but not because of any late mistakes. He birdied Nos. 16 and 18 in regulation, nearly holed out a chip on the first playoff hole, then just missed his birdie putt on the second playoff hole.

“Well, it was the type of round that I expected,” Cabrera said. “I expected to score under par today, and I did, and I was able to get into the playoff.”

After Cabrera followed Scott’s 25-foot birdie on No. 18 in regulation to force the playoff, it was back down the hill to the 18th tee for the start of the playoff. Both men’s second shots finished short of the green, leaving them chips to the traditional front-left pin position.

After Cabrera nearly chipped his shot in for birdie, Scott left his 3 feet short, made it for par and then Cabrera tapped his in.

It was on the par-4 10th hole, where Cabrera beat Kenny Perry in 2009 in their playoff.

Both hit the green on No. 10. After Cabrera barely missed his 15-footer for birdie, Scott rolled in his 12-footer for the win.

It was a disappointing day for third-round co-leader Snedeker, who had been so confident after the third round.

“It’s just a tough day,” Snedeker said. “I really actually played pretty well. The greens really messed me up. I was so used to how fast they were yesterday and I left every putt short out there today. I could not get a putt to the hole. I did not do a good job of making adjustments and I’m disappointed. I was there for one reason, to win, and I didn’t do it, and I watched Angel play great. It was very, very disappointing.”

Snedeker said he was both frustrated and upset with the outcome.

“Any time have you a chance to win the Masters and you don’t come through, my life-long dream, you’re going to be upset, you’re going to cry, you know, but I’ll get through it,” he said.

Day bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 and just missed a birdie on No. 18.

“Pressure got to me a little bit,” said Day, who was playing in his third Masters. “It’s a little disappointing, but there’s a lot of experience that I can take into next year and hopefully I can wear one of those green jackets soon.”

Woods, who was seeking his fourth victory of the season, shot his third 70 of the tournament (to go with a 73), running his Masters win drought to eight years.

“I played well, unfortunately I just didn’t make enough putts and also missed a few shots here and there,” said Woods, who had a two-shot penalty for an illegal drop in the second round. “I certainly had an opportunity today.”

Cabrera led by three shots over Scott and Day after a front-nine 34. After Cabrera bogeyed Nos. 10 and 13 and Day made birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15, Day was in the lead at 9-under.

Day bogeyed No. 16 to drop back into a tie at 8-under with Scott, who birdied No. 15. Cabrera was at 7-under after making par on No. 15.

Minutes later, Cabrera made it a three-way tie at 8-under with a birdie on No. 16, just as he did in the final round of his 2009 victory.

Day dropped back with a bogey on No. 17 and parred No. 18 while Scott and Cabrera both parred No. 17 and birdied No. 18. It was the first time in Masters history that two players went into a playoff after both birdied the final hole of regulation.

Tiger Woods comes up short again

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:37:29 +0000

The ubiquitous “What if?” quickly popped up after his round Sunday, but Tiger Woods doesn’t talk like that – at least not publicly.

Woods, still playing catchup after the two-stroke penalty from his illegal drop at No. 15 on Friday, needed to make a move at four back going into his fourth round. On slower greens, his early putts came up short, and although his final round 70 put him into the top five, he remains stuck at 14 majors.

“Well, we could do that ‘What if?’ in every tournament we lose,” Woods said. “We lose more tournaments than we win out here on tour, so that’s just part of the process and I’ll go back to it.”

Woods, who has never won a major without at least sharing the lead going into Sunday, didn’t get a birdie until No. 9.

“I really struggled with the green speeds starting out,” he said. “I couldn’t believe how much slower they were, even before it rained. … So finally on 9 I said, ‘I’m going to hit this putt past the hole,’ and it just snuck in on the front lip.”

Woods got another birdie on No. 10. But because of two bogeys on the front nine, he didn’t reach under par for his round until his birdie on the par-5 13th, where he left a lengthy eagle attempt short.

He failed to convert another eagle chance on No. 15, once again making birdie.

That put him three back, but he got no closer. With the gallery ready to roar on No. 18, Woods almost holed out his shot from the bunker for a birdie.

Afterward, much talk centered on Friday’s incident on No. 15 and the two-shot penalty for a bad drop.

Woods said that he saw the photos in The Augusta Chronicle that showed his two shots on No. 15 side by side and he might have been closer than he estimated he was.

“One, two yards, but it certainly was not as close as the rule says,” he said.

He said he thought 65 would win it for him, but his 33 on the back nine came after 1-over on the first nine.

“It’s just the way it goes,” Woods said. “As I said, I had my opportunities to finish with some good numbers this week and I felt like I really played well. I played this week the way I’ve been playing all year, and that’s a good sign.”

Angel Cabrera comes close in Masters playoff loss

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:09:15 +0000

The chip on No. 18 could have done it.

The just-missed putt on No. 10 might have, too.

But Angel Cabrera’s quest for a second Masters Tournament win would end at the second playoff hole, with a congratulatory hug for Adam Scott.

“Well, unfortunately in playoffs, it’s one-on-one, head-to-head,” Cabrera said. “And there’s got to be only one winner, and he was able to win.”

Cabrera and Scott seemingly matched each other with high-pressure shots.

Both men birdied No. 18 to close their rounds, with Cabrera’s second shot finishing about 4 feet from the hole. Both then opened the sudden-death playoff by parring No. 18.

For a chunk of Sunday, Cabrera thrived under tough circumstances. He was tied for the lead with Brandt Snedeker at 7-under entering Sunday’s final round and went to 9-under on the front nine before bogeys on Nos. 10 and 13 put him at even par for the day.

The bogey on the par-5 13th was especially costly. Playing aggressively, Cabrera went for the green in two after pushing his tee shot into pine straw on the right.

He instead found water.

“I had a very good angle, and I had a very good lie,” he said. “And I was thinking about making a birdie. I told my son that, you know, we could do an eagle, also.”

With the lead no longer his, Cabrera rallied, making birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to tie Scott at 9-under. Cabrera shot 2-under 70 Sunday.

Cabrera, 43, was attempting to become only the second player to win two Masters playoffs. In his 2009 win, he beat Kenny Perry on the second playoff hole after Chad Campbell was knocked out on the first. Three-time winner Nick Faldo won in playoffs in 1989 and 1990.

Cabrera, with 17 of his past 20 rounds at Augusta National Golf Club under par, almost joined Faldo. In the playoff, the Argentine’s chip on No. 18 skimmed the cup, and his putt at No. 10 just missed the edge of the hole.

“That’s golf,” Cabrera said about his near misses. “Golf gives and takes. So yeah, sometimes you make those putts, sometimes you just miss them. But that’s golf.”

Aussie fans celebrate nation's first Masters champ

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:11:40 +0000

Australian fans of 2013 Masters Tournament champion Adam Scott hailed Sunday as the greatest moment in the nation’s golf history.

Scott edged Argentina’s Angel Cabrera with a birdie on the second playoff hole to become the first Australian golfer to win the green jacket.

Patrons wearing green and gold, the colors of Australian sports, cheered “Aussies! Yeah, go Aussies!” at the 18th green as word spread that Scott sank a birdie putt on the 10th green.

“I reckon he’s won it. He’s done it,” exclaimed Campbell Rogers, of Sydney, who wore a gold hat with an emblem of the Australian map.

Australians lined up outside Butler Cabin waiting for Scott to walk to the putting green where 2012 Masters Champion Bubba Watson slipped the green jacket on the new champion.

“Oy! Oy! Oy,” Australian patrons cheered.

“The best golf day for Australians ever,” said Liam O’Hara, also of Sydney. “He’s been hanging in there for a long time. It’s a Masters breakthrough for Australian golf.”

Wearing a blazer and suit pants resembling the Australian flag, Dave Singer, of Sydney, said his home country will celebrate the long-awaited Aussie champion.

“It’s about 10 a.m. in the morning over there. People will be a bit slow to work in the morning and there will be a good excuse for it,” Singer said.

Australian patrons leaned in favor of Scott but also celebrated Aussie golfers Jason Day and Marc Leishman who finished the tournament third and tied for fourth, respectively.

“So many before him (Scott) have been so close,” said Tyrone Taylor, of Gold Coast, Australia. “For him to pull it off is an amazing thing.”

Fan Notes: Rain is liquid sunshine for patrons

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:07:51 +0000

Afternoon rain showers didn’t ruin Masters Sunday for Lea Gantt and John Roddey, of Chester, S.C.

“Liquid sunshine,” Roddey said.

The couple bought a green-and-white Masters umbrella in the merchandise shop and huddled beneath it at the ninth green.

“Every year on our day it rains,” Gantt said.

They had just seen Darla Moore, one of Augusta National Golf Club’s first female members, and were hoping to see the other female member, Condoleezza Rice.

WHILE MOST patrons watched the leaders play the final nine, Carson Kohler, of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Bryan Glace, of Abbeville, S.C., bought last-minute souvenirs.

“They had sold out of a lot of stuff,” Glace said.

Kohler found the medium-sized shirt that was on her shopping list.

They planned to get something to eat before switching badges with friends who wanted to watch the final hours of the 2013 Masters.

Bad back nine dooms Bernhard Langer's chances for 3rd title

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:58:45 +0000

Timing can be everything sometimes, and it certainly was for Bernhard Langer.

At the start of the week, Langer readily admitted he would have been satisfied with a tie for 25th at this week’s Masters Tournament. As the oldest player in the field at 55 and coming off six consecutive missed cuts at the tourney, that’s pretty much a given.

But once Langer made the cut and vaulted into contention, Sunday’s finish was somewhat of a downer for the two-time champion. Entering the final round tied for ninth at 2-under, Langer surged early and sputtered late.

His 4-over 76 dropped him all the way to 25th at 2-over 290, tied with nine others.

“What we all play for is to be in contention,” Langer said. “It’s no fun finishing 50th or 60th or whatever. We all want to be in the hunt, and I felt I was. All week, my goal was to be in contention atop the leaderboard and I was there for a while. Then it just went the other way.

“It was still a good week. … But the way things went, especially with my start, I was hoping for better.”

Langer couldn’t have scripted a better start Sunday. Figuring he needed to post “6- or 7-under to have a realistic chance” at his third Masters title, Langer was halfway there through three holes.

With birdies on the first three holes, Langer moved to 5-under to get within striking distance of the leaders, who were at 7-under and yet to tee off. But once a mid-afternoon rain set in for the day, Langer couldn’t recapture the early magic.

He made only one birdie the rest of the day, at No. 14, and by that time his round had already turned for the worse.

“The greens got really slow,” Langer said. “I totally lost the feel for the greens. I couldn’t get the ball near the hole anymore, couldn’t even get it close.”

After making bogey at Nos. 6, 7 and 10, Langer had lost the ground he’d built up early. The round completely got away with back-to-back double bogeys at Amen Corner.

On No. 12, Langer’s tee shot landed short on the bank and trickled back into Rae’s Creek. He bounced back with a solid drive on No. 13 and hit what he called “probably the best shot of the week” on his approach, but it clipped a tree branch and went straight left, leaving him with an unplayable lie.

“Those two holes cost me five shots right there,” Langer said. “I hit that ball (on No. 13) perfect and it was going left of the flag. If it hadn’t been for that twig, I’d been putting for eagle or birdie.”

Langer’s finish was his best since 2005, when he tied for 20th.

Final-round putting woes do in Snedeker

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:58:29 +0000

Brandt Snedeker said one club was the reason he didn’t win the 2013 Masters Tournament. And it wasn’t the one he appeared to try to break.

“I’m frustrated and disappointed,” Snedeker said. “I putted terrible. Period.”

Snedeker entered Sunday sharing the lead with Angel Cabrera. He departed the 18th green owning a sixth-place tie after shooting 3-over 75, finishing at 4-under.

His major gaffes putting – normally a strength of his game – came at holes No. 10 and No. 11. He lipped out a three-foot downhiller for par at No. 10, then missed another par putt from about seven feet on No. 11.

“That was pretty tough at 10,” Snedeker said. “I fought my way back there and hit a great pitch shot, three feet above the hole. That was just me being tentative. If the greens were the same speed as Saturday that putt goes in and doesn’t lip out.”

Those two bogeys dropped Snedeker three strokes off the lead and he never recovered, failing to make up ground with pars on the par-5 Nos. 13 and 15.

At No. 13, he was in-between a 4-iron and hybrid and decided to try and cut a hybrid into the green. The ball found Rae’s Creek.

Snedeker stood and bent the club a bit in frustration.

“No. I didn’t try to break it,” Snedeker said, offering up a smile. “I needed that club on No. 15.”

Snedeker said he didn’t put too much pressure on himself Sunday to win his first major, and took the blame for not making a change with his approach to putting.

“I didn’t want it too much at all,” Snedeker said. “If I had wanted it too much I would have played horrible. I would have got off to a horrible start and done a bunch of stupid stuff. I didn’t do that.”

Snedeker opened his day with a birdie at No. 1. He said the drizzling rain throughout the back nine didn’t phase him, but the slow greens sure confounded him.

“I didn’t make the adjustments when the greens got slow,” Snedeker said. “I was surprised how slow the greens were especially after the putting green. The first green was really fast, The second green started to slow down a little bit and after that they were really slow. I didn’t make the adjustments you had to make.”

This marked the second top 10 for Snedeker in six Masters Tournaments. In 2008 he entered Sunday in second place and shot 77 to finish tied for third.

“This year is different,” Snedeker said. “I’m not as crushed as I was in 2008 because I know I’m going to be there again. Now, it’s going to be more difficult (later tonight) because I knew I had a really good chance to win it today.”

When Snedeker looks back on 2013 it will be at one club in his bag.

“I’m pretty excited the way I played,” Snedeker said. “I know if I do the exact same thing and putt the way I normally do, I have a chance.”

Ranking of Masters holes by difficulty

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:53:52 +0000

2012 HISTORY

Day's late bogeys prove costly

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:52:45 +0000

Jason Day was right where he wanted to be.

Then later, he was right where he’d been before.

With three consecutive birdies on the back nine, the 25-year-old Australian was at 9-under Sunday and in the lead at the Masters Tournament with three holes to play.

All Day had to do was finish par-par to possibly win his first major. He didn’t.

Bogeys at 16 and 17 dropped him to 7-under, two shots out of a playoff between 2009 champion Angel Cabrera and countryman Adam Scott. He could only watch as Scott became Australia’s first Masters champion with a birdie putt on the second playoff hole for the victory.

“Obviously, I think the pressure got to me a little bit,” Day said. “I haven’t had the lead too many times in majors. If you can have a shot in most majors, sooner or later you’re going to get one. I can’t look at the week as a disappointment.

‘‘Obviously, I’d love to wear the green jacket. I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a kid. I think I just have to take the experience and keep going on.”

The tournament was seemingly Day’s to lose after he got on his birdie run.

The flurry helped him overtake third-round co-leaders Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker, and No. 16 was a hole he had parred twice and birdied in the second round en route to the 36-hole lead.

On Sunday, it was the start of his downfall. Day hit his tee shot long and left and couldn’t get up and down. He followed by putting his approach in the bunker on 17 and again, couldn’t save par.

After finishing bogey-bogey in Saturday’s third round to fall out of a share for the lead, the late collapse this time cost him the title.

Day made an early charge to the top of the leaderboard with a birdie on No. 1 and then
an eagle on No. 2 when he holed his third shot from the bunker in front of the green. He dropped two shots with bogeys on 6 and 9, making the turn three behind Cabrera.

Day gave himself a chance for birdie on 18, but he missed a 15-footer, and Scott and Cabrera birdied 18.

Day shot 2-under 70 on Sunday to finish third in the tournament at 281.

“It was just a few little mental errors here and there,” Day said. “Overall, I’m very, very happy with the way I played and how things went this week.”

Photos: Green Jacket Ceremony

kim luciani — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:41:55 +0000

Scott on winning with a long putter: "It's inevitable big tournaments would be won with this equipment. I don't know if this going to have any impact on any decision upcoming."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:34:15 +0000

Scott: "Although Greg was an inspiration to me and a hero, my dad was always there."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:31:03 +0000

Marc Leishman satisfied with showing in Masters

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:29:37 +0000

On a banner day for Australians at the Masters Tournament, Marc Leishman kind of got lost in the crowd.

But the 29-year-old earned an invitation to next year’s Masters with his best finish in a major, shooting even-par 72 on Sunday to tie for fourth with Tiger Woods at 5-under 283 for the tournament.

“I take a lot of confidence out of this week,” Leishman said. “I don’t have any negatives from not winning. The first four months of the year haven’t been great for me, golfwise. But this turns what’s been an average year into a decent one.

“I felt really comfortable out there for the first time being in a position like this,” he said. “I’m really excited for the rest of the year now.”

After the round, Leishman was all smiles as he held his 8-month-old son, Harvey, while taking questions from the media as his wife, Audrey, stood by his side.

After bogeying the par-3 fourth hole, Leishman birdied the ninth to make the turn in 36. He made birdie on No. 11 with what he said was his best putt of the day.

A turning point came at the par-5 15th. Leishman was in contention but needed an eagle to put the heat on the leaders. After a solid drive, he chose a 5-iron for his second shot and ended up in the water fronting the green, leading to a bogey.

“If it had landed another 2 feet, it would have skipped up on the green, but I hit it a little bit fat,” said Leishman, who lives in Virginia Beach, Va. “I really needed a three there. I had to go all in to get in a position to win. I went for it and didn’t pull it off, but that’s golf.”

Though things didn’t work out as well as Leishman hoped, he was satisfied with his performance and excited for fellow Australian Adam Scott, who was getting ready for the playoff he went on to win against Angel Cabrera.

“I would love to have a couple of beers with him,” Leishman said of Scott. “It would probably turn into quite a few beers tonight if he pulls it off.”

Scott on Cabrera: "His chip on the first playoff hole was just beautiful. Unlucky not to go in."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:27:09 +0000

Scott: "18, I was pumped. It was a huge moment. I thought I had to seize it right there."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:23:51 +0000

Scott: "I think he's a gentleman. With limited ability to converse, we consider each other friends."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:22:20 +0000

Scott: "I could barely see the cup with the darkness." Steve Williams told him the putt broke two cups. "He was my eyes for that putt."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:20:14 +0000

Scott on birdie putt at 18: "That's the putt you've seen guys hole. O'Meara comes to mind. I told myself to go with instinct." #masters

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:18:50 +0000

Scott: "I played solid today, but I was very shaky on my putts with the speed."

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:17:22 +0000

Scott: I'm a proud Australian and I hope this sits real well back home

Chris Gay — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:12:30 +0000

No. 16 site of many holes-in-one

DispatchDaemon — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:06:41 +0000

The 16th hole at Augusta National Golf Club has witnessed its share of exciting moments over the years.

No. 16 plays 170 yards on the scorecard, but the yardage varies by tee and pin placement. The tees were extended in 1961, allowing greater changes in distance. Hole-in-one yardages have varied from 140 to 202 yards.

The story from No. 16 on Sunday is often pin placement. The Masters Tournament has traditionally put the pin in the back right of the green, sitting at the bottom of a slope. It invites golfers to land their tee shot on the slope and let the ball feed toward the hole.

“It’s fun,” said Michael Thompson, who hit to within 3 feet of the hole and made birdie Sunday. “You’re able to throw it up to the right. I landed it probably 2 or 3 yards short of the pin, and it kicked up to the right and came back down. I was kind of hoping it might go in, but it was a little short. There’s some exciting shots there, because you can play that shot. There’s a little bit of room for error and still give yourself a good birdie putt.”

The hole has witnessed 15 holes-in-one in Masters history, almost twice as many as the other three par-3s combined. There have been three instances of multiple holes-in-one at No. 16 in one tournament. The inviting pin placement led to two in 2004 when Padraig Harrington and Kirk Triplett aced the hole in consecutive pairings on Sunday, both with a 6-iron from 177 yards.

Nathan Green and Ryan Moore made holes-in-one in 2010, and Bo Van Pelt and Adam Scott aced it in 2012.

After 1968, no one aced the hole again until 1992, when Corey Pavin ended the drought with an 8-iron from 140 yards.

No. 16, known as Redbud, has averaged 3.16 in Masters history, ranking ninth in difficulty. It ranked 11th in 2012 at 3.11, showing the hole has remained the same in terms of difficulty for much of the tournament’s history.

This year, the hole’s difficulty was 13th at 3.055.

Despite the greater chance of birdie on Sunday, only one player has birdied No. 16 in all four rounds of one Masters: Bert Yancey in 1968.

“If you go long there, it’s actually a tough two-putt, because it’s very quick down there,” Richard Sterne said. “I played it pretty well all week. For me, 7-iron, but it varies between 7, 8, 6. The pin does help, but it’s also tough to sometimes play it, because you push it just a touch and it stays up there. You aim just right of it and see what happens.”

The pond that runs the length of the tee shot was originally a stream, which was transformed in 1947. The green was moved to the right to accommodate the increased amount of water.

The pond is home to the practice-round tradition of skipping balls across the water. Players hit their normal tee shots and, when they reach the front edge of the water, patrons in the grandstand next to the tee box clamor for ball-skipping.

Golfers oblige by trying to hit shots that skip across the pond onto the green.

The Record Fountain is for those thirsting to know about Masters records

DispatchDaemon — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:57:12 +0000

Where to go: Record fountain

The Record Fountain, located left of the 17th green, is one place on the course where you can find the names and scores of all Masters Tournament champions.

It was dedicated in 1959 on the 25th anniversary of the first Masters and is easy to spot: It is hexagonal and includes several drinking fountains. From Horton Smith to Bubba Watson, soon to be joined by Adam Scott, all winners are represented. Patrons will be able to see it when they return for practice rounds in 2014.

A progression of course records at Augusta National, from Ed Dudley’s 69 in 1934 to Greg Norman’s 63 in 1996, is also included.

Under the oak tree: Dustin Johnson

Johnson, 28, shot 2-under 70 to finish tied for 13th. It was the best finish in four Masters appearances for the Columbia native. Johnson held the lead Friday but struggled on the last five holes. Off the course, he has made news for dating Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

Q: Does this give you hope to do better at Augusta National going forward?

A: This golf course, it suits me very well. Obviously this year it is my best finish I’ve had here, but it could have been really good.

Q: What was the biggest lesson for you this year?

A: Oh, there’s just a few spots you can’t hit it. It seems like late on Friday, I hit it in all the spots I can’t hit it. And I know where I can’t hit it, I just hit poor golf shots.

Q: You are playing with Gretzky in the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters event in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Did you recruit him?

A: Yes, I did. He’s going to come with us and we’re heading over there right now.

History lesson: Green jacket

The green coat is the most visible reward given to a Masters champion, but with it comes great responsibility. The reigning champion gets to keep his jacket for one year and then he returns it to the club.

Champions are asked to wear appropriate attire with the jacket.

Custom also calls for the defending champion to help the new winner into his jacket. In the case of a repeat champion, the club chairman or the golfer himself can perform the honor.

Adam Scott becomes first Australian champion

DispatchDaemon — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:49:43 +0000

Adam Scott made history today, becoming the first Australian to win the Masters Tournament. Scott, who also became the first player to use a long putter to win a green jacket, drained a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Angel Cabrera.

Scott rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt for a one-shot lead on the final hole of regulation. Cabrera matched him one group later with a four-foot birdie putt to force the playoff. On the first playoff hole, No. 18, they each made par.

At No. 10, Cabrera just missed his 18-foot uphill birdie attempt. The 32-year-old Scott followed with his birdie putt.

Scott avenged his meltdown at the 2012 British Open when he led by four with four holes to play only to bogey all four and lose by a shot to Ernie Els.

Cabrera, the 2009 green jacket winner, led by three after nine holes of the final round, but the 43-year-old Argentinian then missed the green at No. 10 and made bogey. Cabrera held a one-shot lead over Jason Day when he made a crucial mistake at 13, hitting his second shot into the water. With the bogey, Cabrera fell to 7-under. At No. 16, Cabrera rolled in a long birdie putt to tie for the lead. Cabrera just missed a long birdie try at No. 17 for the lead. He converted a three-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to force the playoff.

Scott birdied both par-5 holes on the back nine, Nos. 13 and 15, to climb into a tie for the lead with Day. Scott made pars at Nos. 16 and 17 and entered the final hole tied with Cabrera.

Day birdied No. 14 to take the lead. Day added another birdie at the par-5 15th to take a two-shot lead over Scott and Cabrera. Then, the 25-year-old Day stumbled at No. 16, missing the green and making bogey. Day followed with another bogey at No. 17. He just missed a 25-foot birdie putt at the last, finishing at 7-under.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods posted 70 and tied for fourth place.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy closed with 69 and finished tied for 25th place.

Phil Mickelson posted 73 to finish with one of his worst Masters showings at 9-over.

Defending Masters champion Bubba Watson posted a 10 on the par-3 12th hole en route to 77. Watson finished tied for 50th place at 7-over.

Tianlang Guan, the 14-year-old amateur, who received a slow-play penalty at No. 17 in the second round, closed with 75. Guan finished as the low amateur in 58th place.

Scott drains a 15-foot birdie putt, first Australian to win the Masters

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:38:45 +0000

Cabrera just misses birdie putt at 10

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:37:05 +0000

Cabrera, Scott each have about 20 feet for birdie at No. 10

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:33:50 +0000

#Masters fact: No sudden death playoff in tournament history has ever gone past two holes.

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:32:10 +0000

#Masters fact: No sudden death playoff in tournament history has ever gone past two holes.

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:32:09 +0000

Scott finds middle of fairway at No. 10, Cabrera hits into left fairway

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:29:16 +0000

Playoff headed to second hole, will move to No. 10

Chris Gay — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:25:42 +0000