The wind is howling
2:00: The players on the first page or two of the leaderboard will be teeing off soon. Phil Mickelson is at -2 still on the 3rd hole. He’s using a different putter today. Ian Poulter just went to -4 after making a birdie on #2. Retief Goosen just missed about a four foot birdie putt on #2. He’ll stay at -2.
2:40: Shaky start for Immelman and Snedeker. Immelman missed the fairway on #1 and Snedeker missed the green. They’re both looking at bogey and yes, two bogies. Tiger has picked up a shot on the 1st hole having pared it.
3:05: Tiger is in the greenside bunker on the par-3 #4. Meanwhile Brand Snedeker just EAGLED #2 with an improbable putt through the fringe and is tied for the lead. Immelman made par. Paul Casey just stiffed one on #3 and should have birdie to go to -8. Yup, -8 now for Casey and he’s two back. OH NO Tiger just power-lipped his par putt and now he’s got a four footer for bogey. Bogey.
3:25-3:35: Paul Casey failed to exit the bunker on #4 and ended up with a double. Immelman pulled the hell out of his hybrid on #4 and is way long and left. Tiger was 1″ from making about a 40 foot birdie but pared #5. Snedeker makes par on #4 while Tiger hit a great shot into the par-3 6th hole. He made about a six footer for birdie and is back to -5, five back.
3:45: Paul Casey is about done. He addressed his ball and it moved. Trevor Immelman hit a spectacular shot to a few feet on #5. He made his birdie and now is back to -11, a two shot lead.
4:05-4:15: Immelman’s lead goes up to three shots on #6 after Snedeker bogeys. Wow Immelman just mis-hit a shot but got a good bounce on #7. He’s got a short birdie putt which I expect him to make. That would move him to a four shot lead. Snedeker is in the greenside bunker and… bogeys to -7. OHH NO. Immelman just gagged on that tiny birdie putt and missed. Even with that miss he’s got a four shot lead.
4:20-4:40: Ian Poulter is in the middle of a nuclear meltdown. He’s +7 on the day. Both Immelman and Snedeker missed the fairway on the par-5 #8. Immelman pays for a bad approach on #8 and three-putts for a bogey. He’s at -10, two shots ahead of Steve Flesch.
4:50: Tiger bogeys #10. 10 has kicked Tiger’s butt all week. The field is backing up. Snedeker bogeyed #9. Immelman got up and down on #9 from the greenside bunker to retain his two shot lead.
5:15: Tiger makes birdie on #11 with an 80 foot putt, back to -5. He then blew his tee shot over the green right on #12. He saved par.
5:30: Immelman is having some indecision on his approach on #11. Snedeker is short right. Immelman’s shot flared right, near a sprinkler hole. During Immelman’s indecision, Tiger hit his drive on #13 into the trees on the right. No way he can go for the green in two now. Phil Mickelson just finished his 2008 Masters at -2. Steve Flesch found a watery grave on #12 and seriously hurt his cause with a double bogey.
5:45: It’s getting almost too intense for me to write anymore. Immelman made a great putt on #11 from the fringe to save par. Tiger hit a terrific shot into #13 and missed a very make-able birdie putt. You’d NEVER expect Tiger to miss that putt. Immelman is long-left over #12 and would have a hard time making par. Tiger could have potentially made up two shots.
Immelman is going to make bogey at least on #12 and Snedeker made a very long birdie there. He’ll make up two shots minimum. Immelman makes bogey.
6:00-6:10: Tiger Woods hit a very poor approach on #14. He hit a poor approach shot and missed a nine foot par putt. He’s not feeling it. He’s got a knee-knocker for bogey now on the 2nd easiest hole on the course. Bogey.
On #13 Immelman layed up, while for the 2nd day in a row, Brand Snedeker goes in the hazard in front of the green. BIG mistake. Immelman’s 3rd shot is stiff. He should extend his lead by a shot. Tiger meanwhile, is losing it. We can put a fork in him. He flared his shot way right on #15.
6:15: Trevor Immelman has a FIVE shot lead with five holes to go. Tiger’s chip goes into gag range, especially the way he’s putted this week. I give Tiger 50/50 at best on this birdie putt. Yup he could only muster a par. Par-par on 13 & 15. Those holes should be babycakes for him.
6:30: Immelman’s lead is now six shots. The entire field is gagging away. I’m considering bagging watching the rest and going golfing!
6:45: Tiger is limping his way up the final hole. WOA. Wait a second. Immelman just knocked his tee shot in the water hazard on #16. WTF?
6:55: Newsflash: Tiger made a putt at #18 for birdie. Too little too late. He’s behind by three and Immelman is in good shape on #17. It “should” be over but you never know…
7:15: Following a sand save on #17, Trevor goes into 18 with a three shot lead. Tiger is in 2nd. He found the fairway so it is pretty much a done deal. There’s no way he’s getting a triple bogey from the fairway. Oh, he’s in a divot! Bad luck. He should be ok though. He hit a GREAT shot out of that divot.
5:26 PM ET, April 12 2008: Tears in his eyes, Trevor Immelman IS Masters champion.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
I thought Trevor Immelman played within himself for the most part on Sunday. He never really looked befuddled. He seemd focused…even after hitting into the water on 16. The other guys, including Tiger Woods, seemed at a loss to find the key to winning this year. The best example of this is Tiger coming in second while driving and putting poorly, for him, Sunday’s entire round. It was a puzzling Masters in many ways.
Dan