What a day at Augusta National. Louis Oosthuizen made the first double eagle on the second hole in Masters history and just the fourth every on any hole at the Masters. It vaulted him into the lead and held him there for the rest of the day. However, Bubba Watson spoiled his Easter afternoon with a stunning back nine. The playing partners finished off the 18th hole with pars sending them into a playoff at ten under par. After the final pairing of Mickelson and Hanson finished up on eighteen, Oosthuizen and Watson went back to eighteen to continue their battle for the 2012 green jacket. They each played eighteen beautifully, both burning the edge on their birdie attempts.
They played the tenth hole next where Watson teed off first. Bubba is arguably one of the longest players on tour, but he let the ball get away from him on the tenth tee. His ball never cut and it went soaring into the trees onto the pine straw to the right of the fairway. Oosthuizen then switched from driver to three wood knowing all he needed to do was put one down the middle, something he had been consistently doing all afternoon. However, he too left his out to the right and they both nervously left the tee box just praying they would have some shot at the green. Oosthuizen’s ball kicked out into the rough, will a clear line to the green. With Bubba deep in the woods he was just aiming for an easy par, but he caught his ball thin and landed short of the green leaving a tough up-and-down for par.
This shot opened the door for Bubba to punch out into the fairway and have to force anything. However, Bubba did what he does best. He hit the shot of his life. I was watching him survey his options and to me there only appeared to be one. Hit a punch shot leaving an easy wedge into the green. Instead Bubba attempted to play a 40 yard hook high in the air with his gap wedge. A shot no one, but him thought possible. He executed the magical shot perfectly leaving it just ten feet away for birdie. Oosthuizen, who thought the green jacket was all but his, was now forced to get up-and-down to have any chance at all. The pitch shot rolled out too far and he was still away. He narrowly missed his par attempt, so all Bubba had to do was two-putt for the win and that is exactly what he did.
The two men who had been battling each other all day long, provided one of the most memorable Masters in history. For Bubba, it was his first major title of his career, and hopefully not his last. He is a breed of new golfers and he is exactly what the game needs. He said he has never taken a golf lesson in his life and it shows with his swing, but it works for him. Bubba is one of the most creative players on tour and he his long drives makes him a thrill to watch. When his putter is on he is one of the most dangerous golfers out there and it wouldn’t surprise me if this isn’t the last Major Championship that he wins.
I was pulling for Watson all afternoon. He is a great guy and he was playing better golf than anyone else at the top of the leader board. It is his no fear mentality that makes him such a fan favorite. His style is very similar to another lefty, Phil Mickelson, who can hit every shot you can think of with a wedge. Many feared that golf would lose its support with Woods at the top, but the young guys have been providing quite the show lately. Guys like Rory Mcilroy, Dustin Johnson, Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson have emerged to provide the excitement. Many people consider golf one of the most boring sports, but it would be tough to argue that statement after what happened on the course yesterday. The Masters truly is a tradition unlike any other.
How bout them Celtics. The old guys are making a statement. The Celtics, who have been struck hard by the injury bug this season, have played their way into a three game lead on the four seed in the Easter Conference. Coach Doc Rivers made a statement by starting Avery Bradley over future hall-of-famer Ray Allen. Allen missed a couple of weeks due to an ankle injury and Bradley performed extraordinary during his absence and has earned the start. Avery Bradley is exactly what Doc wants in his players. He is tenacious on the defensive end and is smart on offense. Are the Celtics a threat to the Heat or Bulls in the playoffs? I would have to say yes. While I think it will be tough for the Celtics to beat either of them in a seven game series I do expect them to have a chance. The Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the league and they are filled with experience. That is a recipe for success in sports.
This could very well be the last year for the Big Three so you know they will be giving everything they have left in the playoffs. I get the feeling that in a lot of the regular season games, especially on back-to-backs we probably aren’t seeing 110% effort. These guys realize that while home court would be nice they are better off staying strong and healthy and locking up a four seed. These Celtics have been very pesky in the playoffs in recent years and I expect nothing less out of them this year. They play the Heat on Tuesday and that could be a big statement game. I expect a great game on Tuesday and don’t be surprised if the Celts edge out the Heat.
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