Mitch Cyrus

Argentinean Angel Cabrera overcame two shots into the woods on the first playoff hole at the Masters, winning with a par on the second hole with a tap in to defeat hard luck sentimental favorite Kenny Perry as he strove to become the oldest winner of a major championship.

Cabrera put his first shot on the initial playoff hole into the right woods, with a large pine tree blocking his sight to the green.  On his second shot, he hit another tree, but the ball luckily bounced back into the fairway.  He then hit an unlikely approach shot to within six feet, and the dropped the putt to extend the match after Perry had parred.  Chad Campbell, the third member of the playoff group at twelve under, missed his four foot par attempt to end his bid for his first major.

Perry tugged his approach shot far left on the second playoff hole, number 10, and then airmailed his chip shot 25 feet past the hole.  Which left a simple two-putt for Cabrera to claim the first Masters ever won by someone from South America, and his second Major, following his 2007 U.S. Open victory.

Padraig Harrington shot his second straight 66 on Sunday to take his second straight major, winning the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in suburban Detroit by two strokes over Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis. 

Perhaps it was pre-ordained, given the fact that the conditions were more reminiscent of a British Open.  Rain washed out the entire third round for most of the leaders, forcing them to play 36 holes on Sunday, in weather that would have made the most stoic Scotsman smile; heavy clouds, high wind, sporadic rain, and temperatures in the mid 60s.  It was a complete turnabout from last year at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when the year’s final major was held in blistering 100 plus degree heat. 

This year, the only heat was on the final groups, as “The Monster” at Oakland Hills had been living up to its name, making this tournament look more like a U.S. Open, with only three players, J.B. Holmes, Henrik Stenson and the 54 hole leader, Ohio’s Ben Curtis, entering the last round under par. 

Emerald Woods golf course in Columbia Station has something for everyone.  It is a 45 hole course with each nine being slightly different.  The Pine Valley and St. Andrews sections play together to provide a tough challenge for the lower handicap golfers, while the Audrey’s and Heatherstone sections provides an easier time for higher handicappers if they play from the White tees, but can still test the better golfers due to its length from the Blues.  There is also a short nine hole section called, appropriately, “A Walk In the Park”, a par 34 walking course that is great for beginners, casual players, or that perfect chance to show your young son or daughter the joys of golf. 

Emerald Woods was designed by Ray McClain, and first opened in 1963.  Dave Harley operates the course, which still has that old time country course styling.  The local patrons enjoy the low rates, the excellent clubhouse and grill, and the overall feeling that this is a great place to come out with friends and family, play as much golf as possible, and then enjoy some food or drinks afterwards.

Padraig Harrington successfully defended his Open title at Royal Birkdale north of Liverpool, England, becoming the first person not named Tiger Woods to win consecutive times at the same major since Nick Faldo at the Masters in 1989 - 90. 

Yes, it does seem important to mention the recuperating #1 player in the world, as his absence was definitely noticed, but that is not to say that Tiger would have won had he been present;  after all, he couldn't beat Harrington last year at Carnoustie.  

The entire tournament reminded one more of Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S. Open, where it was looking as if the winner would be the man who melted down the least.  That pattern led to the unfortunate event where the leader from each day faded the next. 

Robert Allenby, Scottish Open winner Graeme McDowell and Rocco Mediate all followed top Thursday rounds of 69 by shooting 73 on Friday.  36 hole leader K.J. Choi's two stroke lead vanished on the front nine on Saturday, putting him in the second to last group on Sunday, tied with Harrington, trailing Greg Norman by two. 

Norman was the feel good story of the tournament, making a most improbable comeback at age 53. 

Was this the greatest golf tournament ever? 

That is such an arbitrary question, and one that can not be honestly answered…it cannot even be honestly stated that this was the undisputed greatest U.S. Open ever. Not when you have etched in history such memorable (or legendary) tournaments such as former caddy Francis Ouimet winning the US Open as an amateur in 1913 (and if you are a fan of golf, go rent the movie “The Greatest Game Ever Played” with Shia LaBeouf playing Oiumet), or Ben Hogan’s miraculous 1950 victory at Marion 16 months after a near fatal car crash, or Jack Nicklaus’ classic 1962 playoff win against Arnold Palmer. 

But this was certainly the greatest golf tournament that we’ve seen over the past 20 years…the most dramatic, against-all-odds, gripping story since Sir Jack turned back time at the 1986 Masters. 

After dropping out of a Saturday morning tie for the lead by shooting a 3 over 74 in the third round, Kenny Perry bounced back magnificently on Sunday, quickly taking advantage of the fading of the 54 hole eader Mathew Googin to charge back to the front on the early in the round, and then holding on to win by two over Goggin, Mike Weir, Jerry Kelly, Justin Rose.   

The win was Perry’s third in Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, tying him with Tiger Woods for the most wins at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.  Perry has often expressed his desire to secure a spot on the Ryder Cup team and play in his home state of Kentucky at Valhalla, but he was stung by Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger’s comments that he “wanted winners” for his Captain’s Picks.  Perry took it to heart, and inspired by Azinger’s statement, he saw the Memorial as a ticket for the September match against the Europeans.

33 year old Australian Mathew Goggin will attempt on Sunday to become the first man to ever win Jack Nicklaus’s prestigious Memorial Tournament on the very first time playing the event.  Goggin has led since the first round and kept his composure through the tough conditions and a nearly two hour rain delay on Saturday, shooting a one-under 71.

Goggin started the day tied with Kenny Perry, but the 47 year old Kentuckian struggled repeatedly throughout the round, shooting a 74 to end up at five under for the tournament.  Perry is still tied for second, joining Justin Rose, Jerry Kelly, Matt Kuchar and Mike Weir in the chase.  Weir made the biggest charge on Moving Day, having the day’s only bogey free round in shooting 68, positioning the former Masters champion to make a run for the title should the pressure get to Goggin, who has never won on tour.

Trevor Immelman withstood the brutal wind and course conditions at Augusta that derailed his three closest competitors to win the 72^nd Masters.  Immelman went wire to wire for his first Major, tied for the lead after 18 holes, and alone in first after 36 and 54. 

It was a final day that reminded people more of a U.S. Open than a Masters.  No one made a serious run at Immelman after Brandt Snedeker eagled the second hole to pull into a tie for the lead at 10 under.  But from that point, the wheels fell off for the 2007 Rookie of the Year Snedeker, who finished up in a tie for third with Stewart Cink 

Second place?  One Tiger Woods.  But it wasn’t really close.  Time and time again, from Saturday evening on, we heard how Tiger had never came back to win a major when he was not in the lead after 54 holes.  On this day, Tiger shot three strokes better than Immelman…but that was of no help when he entered the day six strokes behind.  Uncharacteristically, Woods’ putter betrayed him time and time again, as he missed putts that were less than 10 feet in length several times throughout the day.