Your 2008 Masters Champion: Trevor Immelman

by Mulligan Stu on Apr 13, 2008 8:01 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

I think the 2008 Masters is going to be best-remembered as one of the least-remembered Masters.

How's that for a Yogi-ism?

The final round was one almost completely devoid of the pine-tree-rattling roars we've come to associate with Augusta National. There were scant spectacular shots. No scenes that will be replayed for years to come.

None of which is to take away from Trevor Immelman's victory. Immelman did what he had to do: He finished with fewer total strokes than anyone else. Three fewer, to be exact. And that means victory.

Immelman kept his head while all about him were losing theirs. Well, all who were about him at the start of the day, anyway:

Brandt Snedeker: Started the day two back of Immelman, shot 77
Steve Flesch: Started three back of Immelman, shot 78
Paul Casey: Started four back of Immelman, shot 79

Those players who managed to shoot par on Sunday moved up. Tiger Woods finished second by shooting par. Phil Mickelson shot par and moved up to fifth. Woods and Mickelson are surely disgusted with their 2008 Masters performances, yet they finished second and fifth, respectively.

Immelman didn't have a great final round, himself shooting 3-over. But in very tough conditions, that was good enough for a 3-stroke victory.

Top 10
Trevor Immelman, 280
Tiger Woods, 283
Stewart Cink, 284
Brandt Snedeker, 284
Phil Mickelson, 286
Padraig Harrington, 286
Steve Flesch, 286
Miguel Angel Jimenez, 287
Robert Karlsson, 287
Andres Romero, 287
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Least memorable

I agree. But only for the fact that the guy at the top didn't fade, really, until it was pretty much over with. Great playing by Immelman. Putt on 11 was big, AWESOME shot into 13, big up and down out of the sand on 17. He earned it.

Tiger's 5th runner-up in a major. How many did Nicklaus have? Something like 10 or 15 or so? I'm too lazy to look, but I think Tiger could approach Jack's runner-up total by the end of his career (as well as break his major wins total). In any case, Tiger's putting kind of left him today, to say the least.

You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it - Willie Nelson

by Shank You very much on Apr 13, 2008 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

19

Nicklaus had more runners-up than wins, 19 to 18. If he played in today's climate, he'd be called a choker. Seven seconds in the British Open alone.

by Mulligan Stu on Apr 13, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's scary to realize...

...that but for a handful of shots, Nicklaus could've won 37 majors.

by turnover on Apr 13, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Mullie

and my guess is that you knew that without even looking - thus why I can be a sloth and free ride!

19 seconds is obnoxious - no way Tiger gets close to that, so I'll retract my prediction (one of many this week I'd like to retract!)

You know why divorces are so expensive? They're worth it - Willie Nelson

by Shank You very much on Apr 13, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree to a point

Today's round was dictated by the weather. The wind around that golf course is brutal like very few in the world.

IMHO - I am tired of media coverage that bases excitement level on the play of one man. Yes, Tiger is the best golfer on the planet - but (1) he can go cold, and (2) other golfers are talented and capable of making great shots.

Listening to Faldo and Feherty, you could hear the respect they had for the shotmaking of Immelman and Snedeker - but because they played their great shots from 100 yards in, most of the Tiger-centric world concluded that their shots were not "roar-worthy".

Case in point - Tiger makes one monster putt in four days, and Vern Lundquist goes right into his hooey that Tiger was going to scare the rest of the field into submission and fresh underoos. Nevermind that he didn't back it up on the next few holes.

If the media would call shots for their own merit, this Masters would have a chance to be memorable - but because Tiger didn't win and the media didn't get an easy story and a couple of months of lazy speculation handed to them - it has been declared a disaster.

Everybody doesn't appreciate the subtleties of the short game, and the real difficulty of these greens can't be seen on a television - but Immelman played some amazing golf, especially under those windy conditions.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Apr 13, 2008 9:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs