Masters

[EastStandBlue]

This is shaping up to be a phenomenal evening's golf.

McIlroy has started to shake, Schwartzel has put himself into the co-lead with an eagle and Woods has started to fire again.

 

[Pubey]

incredible start to the evening, although Mrs Pubey isn't happy. She's having to watch Larkrise or some ***** on the laptop

 

[EastStandBlue]

That shot from Tiger?

Just awesome.

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

This one is going right to the wire, great sunday night viewing!

 

[EastStandBlue]

McIlroy has completely mangled this...

 

[Stats]

This one is going right to the wire, great sunday night viewing!

Shouldn't you be in bed as its a school night?

 

[Pubey]

Shouldn't you be in bed as its a school night?

Easter holidays stats

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Rory isn't the first (and certainly won't be the last) player to blow up completely holding a seemingly tournament winning hand but watching him fall apart last night was simply car crash viewing, when he missed a fairly simple putt on the 1st i just put it down to butterflies and presumed he'd be soon back on it but i don't think he really recovered from it, obviously the 10th meltdown will get the headlines, and fair enough as he looked no better than a club pro zig-zagging from hazard to hazard but the 3 putt 1st (after not 3 putting all week) and the almost calamitous bunker shot on the 2nd was where the seeds of doubt were sown. Final word on him though was he deserves massive credit for coming out and speaking to the reporters straight after, that must've been one of the hardest interviews he's ever had to give but the fact he did it shows enormous maturity and will set him in good stead for the future

Back to the action though and what an incredibly thrilling night of golf, if i heard correctly the lead changed hands 15 times during the round, and 7 different players had a share at one time or another .. even with 5 or 6 to play there were as many as 10 players still in with a shout, i've never known a tournament like it, certainly not a Major and i spose again thanks must go to McIlroy as if he'd gone round in 68 it would've been done and dusted early doors

I dont particularly like Tiger Woods as i'm of the opinion he has acted deplorably these past few years and watching his game unravel somewhat was almost enjoyable, however he is one of the all time greats of the game and his opening 9 last night was almost vintage Tiger, at halfway i could see no other winner and it was almost a surprise when his charge petered out. I was looking forward to a 3 or 4 way play off though before Schwartzel closed with his 4 successive birdies to sweep off with the title, talk about winning in style :thumbsup:

 

[canveyshrimper]

Good post Lee, and pretty much spot on. Greg Norman choked on many occasions before finally winning at Turnberry IIRC, but he only won The Open, and I'll never forget Faldo reeling him in at Augusta in 1996.

I think McIlroy will be strong enough to come back from this, he seems a bright lad and the Ryder Cup didn't faze him. So hopefully his collapse at The Masters won't. Well done Schwartzel I had a feeling it was his day when he produced the eagle at the 4th?. I've never been a fan of Woods and am glad that he didn't win, and I wouldn't object if he never won another major. IMO Nicklaus is the best golfer of the last 50 years, a fine champion and sportsman.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Truly gutted for McIlroy, I really was, but I got the impression that it could've been averted. It looked to me like the roars around the course, particularly for Tiger, got to him and he felt the need to go on the attack after an average front nine. He picked the driver up at 10 instead of a 3 wood and went for it, which was foolhardy to say the least. If he'd plundered through, picking up the pars and waiting for an opportunity then he might've found himself within touching distance.

Anyway, it's an old adage that to win a title you have to lose one first and this experience will do McIlroy more good than harm. He needs to build on this, learn from the experience of leading a major and work on his play under pressure.

Forgetting McIlroy, I was delighted for Adam Scott. He's had a rough few years and has endured some horrible form, so it was fantastic to see him there or thereabouts at Augusta. With any luck, he can piece this with a tournament win and enter the US Open in good form, as he's another golfer who's too talented not to win a major. Woods was just excellent on the front nine, true Tiger of Old material, but again I think he went looking for shots and came up wanting. Donald's chip on the 18th was sublime.

Congratulations to Schwartzel, though. Proved he can do it outside of South Africa and I've a feeling himself, Day, McIlroy and Fowler will be trooping around the courses on the final day for years to come.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Donald's chip on the 18th was sublime.

Yeah well reminded there ESB, and justice after hitting the pin with his 2nd and bouncing off the green