The Masters That Got In The Way

Too bad the 2009 Masters got in the way of The Phil and Tiger show. It would have been fun to have forgotten all about Kenny Perry and send those two back on the course for Sudden Death. Talk about what the fans really want to see.

It was heartening to see Angel Cabrera pull it off, a little sad to watch Chad Campbell bow out of the playoff by missing a relatively easy par putt and more than a little gratifying to know that Kenny Perry is still without a major. Anyone who passes on playing in majors (the 2007 British Open), or even worse who won't even attempt to qualify for the US Open, really doesn't deserve the kind of career capper that a win at Augusta would create. Since we're both the same age, Perry will get no sympathy from me when he says that this was likely his last chance to win a major. There's just a bit too much quit in that sentiment...

Angel Cabrera is much easier to like. He has that kind of old fashioned, home made looking but monstrously powerful swing that almost makes you feel sorry for the ball. His game is delightfully loose, but not as prone to outright disaster as Mickelson's. He now seems to have the majors figured out and it would not surprise me at all to see him win more of them, maybe even this year. Best of all, his win must have been an especially soothing one for his countryman, Roberto De Vincenzo.

I am convinced that the Phil Mickelson we saw on the front nine Sunday was the very best of him that we'll see for quite some time. I am equally convinced that the weaknesses that created his tee shot on 12, and those short missed putts, will remain all too common. Phil, it seems, will always be Phil.

Tiger Woods was obviously fighting his swing and his amazing capacity to adjust on the fly and play with what he called his band-aid swing is an ability known only to him. His failings flow only from a lack of competitive play and I am sure that by the time the US Open rolls around he'll be very different player.

The kinder gentler Augusta National didn't quite do its job this year. There were more roars but fewer of the groans caused by tragic and watery misses at 13, 15 and 16. The roars only mean something if there is just as much ignominy as glory. Still, 12 under seems like a reasonable winning score though all those red numbers just have me looking forward to the blood-letting that will be the US Open.

Now that's a major championship.