When Tiger Woods made the turn at even par, 5-under for the tournament, I wondered if 8-under would be enough to challenge the seemingly unshakable Trevor Immelman, 11-under at the time.
Turns out, 8-under would've put Eldrick in a playoff with Immelman, who had all four wheels come off at the par-3 16th. Looking a lot like Greg Norman in 1996, Immelman dumped his tee shot into the pond fronting the green and made double-bogey. What looked like an insurmountable six-shot lead was suddenly reduced to three when Woods, after missing just about every putt he looked at all week, drained an eight-footer on the18th.
Immelman limped through 17, saving par on a nice up-and-down from the bunker. He then striped his tee shot on the 18th -- and let out a visible sigh, as if to say, "I think I've endured the worst of it" -- only to reach his ball and find it sitting in divot. No worries, however; Immelman mustered the focus for one more shot, stiffing his approach to some 10 feet. Two putts later, you got your 2008 Masters champion.
An hour ago, I was all set to write that the old sports saying about winning everywhere but on the scoreboard didn't apply this week given Immelman's dominant performance. I suppose it still applies, even if the 72nd Masters champ was only dominant through 69 holes. It turned out to be more than enough.
The South African led or was tied for the lead from the start, and he broke 70 the first rounds days before carding a 3-over 75 in gusty conditions today.
When Immelman walked off the 18th green yesterday, he had a two-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker. When he walked off the 18th green minutes ago, he was three shots better than Tiger Woods.
Woods showed signs of life on the 11th, rolling in an 80-footer to get back to 5-under, but he got the Johnny Miller-yips on three makable birdie putts on the way in, and bogeyed the easiest hole on the course (No. 14) for good measure.
Despite all of that, Tiger finishes second. As CBS' David Feherty pointed out when the result was all but determined, it's amazing that Woods can appear to play some of his worst golf and still find a way to finish second in a major. Funny how that works.
For Immelman, his life is forever changed. And it starts with slipping on that sweet green jacket.
Oh, by the way, I'd say this is the shot that'll define his career. For now, anyway.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-13-2008 @ 9:11PM
PJG said...
If Tiger would only accept the fact that he is indeed human it might take enough self-imposed pressure off so that he could engineer a grand slam.
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4-13-2008 @ 9:11PM
seatownsports said...
Honestly, who wasn't cheering for Tiger Woods? He almost completed an amazing comeback, that putt on 11 was unbelievable...
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4-14-2008 @ 1:12AM
houchens said...
Somebody other than Tiger Woods winning a major is good for golf, if not for the mainstream media bloggers and TV announcers, who fawn over Tiger like he was the coming messiah. The TV media didnt quite know what to talk about for much of the weekend with Tiger 6-8 strokes behind.
Not knocking Tiger ... he is the best. But the media pundits are obnoxious in their behavior regarding the tournaments in which he plays.
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4-14-2008 @ 6:31AM
mpreimers said...
I was pulling for Immelman. One Michael Wilbon, who I normally like, has sort of turned me off to Tiger. Wilbon defends him like he's the geek in class and literally hates Sabatini and Sergio for saying they could beat Tiger. I'm interested to see what he'll have to say Monday. . . oh wait, I already know "Immelman didn't win it so much as Tiger lost it".
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4-14-2008 @ 7:37AM
bigflyer said...
mpreiners: if you examine the leaderboard carefully you will discover that Tiger, did indeed finish second; higher than the spoiled Spanish brat Sergio and the obnoxious, puffed up Sabitini.
The media know and the rest of the tour does recognize deep down, that Tiger is pro golf today amd without him, guys would be comfortable but not mega rich. They would not live out of their car trunks as pros once did, but Tiger has added immeasurably to their income and status.
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4-14-2008 @ 8:57AM
mpreimers said...
I agree Tiger has helped the tour exponentially. He is in a league of his vis-a-vis the other golfers in terms of talent, will to win, etc. Which supports what I was saying that he does not need people like Wilbon to knee-jerk defend him when his numbers speak for themselves. If someone speaks his mind and doesn't participate in the consistent worshiping of Tiger then he should be ripped at all chances from here to eternity? I disagree with how Wilbon rips these two all the time.
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4-14-2008 @ 9:52PM
houchens said...
Bigflyer;
The media (and you) may think that Tiger is pro golf today, but I am not sure Tiger's effects on the game have all been positive. For instance, the crowd that he attracts include the jerks that like to yell "you da man" on every shot. These loudmouths ruin the experience for everyone around them. Pro golfers were not living out of their car trunks before Tiger and they won't when his career is done. Pro golf is bigger than one man ... even if the media doesnt know it.
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