The Masters was the scene for many incredible moments in golf this past Sunday. Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole hit an albatross or double eagle to push his name to the top of the leaderboard. On the fourth hole Phil Mickelson hit his ball into the woods and ended up with a triple bogey, losing his lead.
This past Sunday at Augusta Nationals was the back drop for Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen. At the start of the day these two were a combined eight shots back and had to start taking chances if they wanted to move up the leaderboard.
The first move and most memorable was by Louis on the second hole where he hit his second shot in the cup. Flashy and exciting Louis moves up the leaderboard and captures first place.
But then Bubba started moving on the back nine. Nothing flashy came Bubba’s way. No hole in one, no incredible albatross to rocket him up the leaderboard just smooth playing and timely birdies.
These two players were paired in the same group and were battling for a green jacket, setting up an exciting day of final action that culminated with a two-hole playoff.
They saw each other’s every move; they knew when the other made a jump on the leaderboard or when they did the exact opposite.
This alone was enough pressure, not to mention that it was at the largest and most well-known tournament in the world. The Masters was about to come to an end with one of these two names, Louis Oosthuizen or Bubba Watson, taking home the Green Jacket.
Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson started off Sunday with the lead but poor shots and untimely bogeys saw them fall back into the chase. This Sunday was a different Sunday.
Watson and Oosthuizen set the scene for one of the most memorable Masters in the last twenty years. Impressive shots mixed with emotions mixed with Augusta National made for an exciting ride.
This year’s Masters was taken away by low rounds and won over with lucky shots. This year a long hitter with extreme touch with his iron and good putter was able to place his name in Masters history. Bubba Watson played the most consistent golf at the Masters.
He had timely birdies mixed with only a few bogeys. He knew when to hit the long ball and shaped his shots on almost every hole. He hit the shots when it counted and proved that he was more than a long driver that his whole game was something to reckon with.
The Masters this year was won by a Georgia native and University of Georgia alumni. The Masters is only one out of four majors played but many players don’t even win one major in their lifetime, and even the great players only when a few majors.
Bubba now has his name on the list of major winners and most importantly his name on the list of winners for the Masters.
What better way for a Georgia native to win his first major than at the Masters.
Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Barrow High School graduate and mass communications major at the University of West Georgia. You can e-mail comments about this column to
tyrollason@yahoo.com.
