Barbara Ross adds another Masters to her sizable collection. Sunday, she watched the action at the second green.
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The television cameras and crowds focus on the leaders in the final round of The Masters. But there's plenty of action in the middle of the pack, thanks to the fact that the top-16 finishers get a invitation back for the following year.
That's why Chris Perry's 69 was so important. It's why John Huston's birdie on No. 18 to get into a tie for 14th was huge. Even Greg Norman finished 11th and will be back in 2001.
There are other ways to get into Augusta, but Norman has fallen to 55th in the World Rankings and 105th on the money list, neither good enough for an invitation.
Also coming back in 2001 will be first-round leader Dennis Paulson, who tied for 14th. He was 18th after two rounds.
So much for the old guys. Tommy Aaron finished last at 313. He was 2-over for his first 42 holes; 21-over for his last 30. And Jack Nicklaus, who was on the leaderboard after the second round, finished at 303 -- and was 15-over on his last 24 holes.
Vijay Singh had three three-putts. The previous seven Masters champions combined for two.
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The Masters doesn't begin until...
The sizzle was absent from the back nine at Augusta National this week. Or so it seemed.
Sure, the final nine holes had their edge. The par-3 12th was a disaster waiting to happen, especially in the wind. The 11th was the toughest hole on the golf course. No. 10 was the third-hardest and No. 12 was the fifth-hardest. And 17 and 18 still gave people fits.
But the usual flurry of eagles, especially at the par-5 13th and 15th holes, never came. There were only eight eagles on those two holes all week -- six of them on No. 13 -- and only two among the leaders (Singh eagled No. 13 in the first round; Duval eagled the 15th in the second).
On the weekend, there were just two eagles -- Bernhard Langer in the third round; Colin Montgomerie in the fourth. Neither figured in the outcome.
Last year, there were 19 eagles on those two holes (17 of them on No. 13). Two years ago, there were 12. In 1997, the year Tiger Woods finished at a record-setting 17-under, there were 23, including eight at the 15th.
Masters officials have grown the rough -- or second cut, as they like to call it -- in on the right side of both fairways, keeping the big hitters in check. Some called it Tiger-proofing, especially after '97.
"It's a lot harder to eagle now because you can't hit the ball to the right and have a shot at the green," Woods said. "Unless you hit a shot like Seve (Ballesteros), then you can have a shot at the green. If you get it around the corner you still have a shot at going for it."
But still, as The Masters folks like to say, did the tournament not start until the back nine Sunday?
"Any time you're playing the back nine here and have the chance to win a golf tournament, it's fun," Duval said.
"No, still just as fun," Woods added.
Just not as exciting.
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It's not easy being green: Jesper Parnevik won't be wearing a green jacket, but he did play the final 18 holes in lime-green pants. "Look at those pants," said Justin Leonard. "I can't wait until he's a Ryder Cup captain."
And what about the green jacket? The coat began in 1937 as a way for members of Augusta National to be recognized. In 1949, Sam Snead became the first Masters winner to be awarded the jacket. The winner each year gets to take the jacket home for a year, then returns it and it is stored at the club for past champions to wear. And there is only one green jacket no matter how many titles, unless, as The Masters puts it, "his size drastically changes."
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OVERHEARD
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DUVAL
On being winless in majors, and if it's wearing on him: "Next year I won't be concerned with how I played this year. This year I'm not concerned with how I played last year. I'm not really keeping track of that." |
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LOVE
On a disappointing final round: "I came in playing too good and with too many expectations, but I didn't get the job done. It's disappointing. You come in trying to win and if you don't, it doesn't feel very good." |
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ELS
On finishing second: "I really felt I was going to win the tournament when I stepped on the first tee. I knew from watching this tournament through the years, the back nine everything happens. And I had my chances." |
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Nicklaus
On playing at The Masters: "It's possible that was my last walk at 18. I'm not saying it was; I'm not saying it wasn't. I know I can play here. ... Physically, it's the best I've been in a while. Physically, I'm fine. Mentally, I'm beat." |
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