The 2009 Masters reaches its conclusion today and which of the stellar cast of characters is going to have the leading role?
Pre-tournament, the buzz surrounded the young maestros, Danny Lee and Rory McIlroy but at the climax the senior statesmen, Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera lead the way. The sub-plot features Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson paired together on the final day of a major for the first time.
Tiger Keeps Swinging
Phil Mickelson incredibly birdies six of his first eight holes to move to ten under, just one behind the leaders. On the seventh he swerves it from out of the pines to within inches. Tiger keeps swinging on Mickelson’s coat-tails by eagling the eighth to reach seven under.
The big two match up is setting the day alight. Incredibly Woods and Mickelson have given themselves a chance as we go into the back nine on Sunday at Augusta. It must be odd for Cabrera and Perry to hear roars around the course and realise they are for the big two. As if they weren’t nervous enough, all they need do is glance at the scoreboard.
Cabrera Shanks
Cabrera shanks his second on eight but recovers to make par. Jim Furyk’s chances nosedive south after a horror show on nine as he chips into the bunker and then out of it, off the green, to eventually drop two shots.
On fifteen, Woods hits a great shot onto the green to give himself a birdie chance and Mickelson betters this to get to within four feet. A case of anything you can do, I can do better. Sensational stuff, until they both miss eagle chances and have to settle for birdies.
Perry posts his eleventh straight Par, whilst Campbell birdies twelve to reach ten under, one off the lead. Perry putts from off the green and holes it for birdie. Cabrera gains his birdie at thirteen and moves to ten under, still in with a shout.
Woods scores bogey on eighteen and his immense challenge has run its course. Mickelson also drops a shot and finishes his brave challenge on nine under.
The two superstars have excited the crowds and come close but the leaders have not bowed and now it is down to them, Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell for the 2009 Masters.
Shot of the Championship
Perry birdies fifteen to go to thirteen under, then hits the shot of the championship on sixteen, curling it into the pin like radar to finish a foot away. Cabrera birdies the same hole to get to twelve under and Chad Campbell holes out on eighteen to post a twelve under par tournament total.
Cabrera cracks off a lovely drive on seventeen and Perry follows him. On the green Perry putts too hard and rolls off the green. Cabrera learns from this and his chip and run is close as he makes par and Perry Bogey, his first in 23 holes, and only his fifth all week.
On the eighteenth, Cabrera fires a Wood down the centre of the fairway, whilst Perry hits the bunker. Perry’s second goes long over the green and then chips his third shot to twelve feet. Cabrera makes Par to leave Perry a shot for the championship, which he just misses. There will be a three way play-off.
Campbell misses a par putt from four feet leaving Cabrera and Perry to par and head off to the tenth for the second play-off hole. Perry misses the green and fails to get up and down leaving Cabrera with a putt from a foot or so which he sinks to become the first ever South American to win the Masters and don the green jacket.
See Also:
The US Masters 2009 - Day Three
 |
