tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347482.post-41013297539094949802007-04-09T23:42:00.000-07:002008-04-10T22:25:52.437-07:002008-04-10T22:25:52.437-07:00This seems to be the consensus opinion on the 2007 Masters:<br /><ol><li>“<a href="http://www.grouchygolf.com/2005/08/pavin-proofing-golf-courses.html" rel="tag">Tiger-proofing</a>” has made Augusta National too difficult</li><li>As a result, birdies and eagles were rare, taking the excitement out of the event</li><li>Bottom Line: It was a borefest</li></ol><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_wjEekl3OGhM/Rhsycwvkw2I/AAAAAAAAABY/6Tn8JqPsH7g/s1600-h/Masters01.jpg" rel="no follow"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_wjEekl3OGhM/Rhsycwvkw2I/AAAAAAAAABY/6Tn8JqPsH7g/s320/Masters01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051686876728312674" /></a>I must be in the minority, but I thoroughly enjoyed the 71st Masters. Maybe the setup was too difficult for a traditional Masters, but when it comes to tournament golf, I prefer attrition warfare over shootouts. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that a course can be too difficult. The 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock was a prime example of the silliness that can arise from a sadist greenskeeper gone wild. But as long as a golf course is fair, I think that it’s fine. After all, everyone plays on the same course.<br /><br />The difficult conditions left a wide-open Masters for the final round. On Sunday, Stuart Appleby, Rory Sabbatini, Retief Goosen, Zach Johnson and Tiger Woods all owned a piece of the lead at some point. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Call me crazy, but I find such a “neck and neck” competition much more interesting than someone trouncing the field by 5 strokes the entire day.<br /></span><br />Unfortunately, there was one key ingredient missing from this year’s Masters that would have made it magical: a classic Tiger charge. We all expected it, but it never came. Uncharacteristically, Tiger lost a final-round lead! However, don’t blame the course for that, Tiger clearly didn’t have his A, B or even C game. But take nothing away from Zach Johnson. He did not fold under the pressure and instead played brilliant golf. Unlike many winners this year, <span style="font-style:italic;">Zach won this tournament</span>.<br /><br />But imagine if Tiger was his usual self and forced Zach Johnson into a playoff ala Bob May in the PGA Championship circa 2000. Wouldn’t that have been exciting? All of a sudden, this Masters goes down in the history books as one of the best ever. Oh well, I guess Tiger is indeed human. It's either that or the Masters has truly been "Tiger-Proofed." Regardless, I'm just glad that I watched it all unfold on CBS in 100% high def, unlike that <a href="http://www.grouchygolf.com/2007/03/nbc-hd-and-nbcee-it-is-not-must-see-tv.html" rel="tag">NBC "HD-lite"</a> treatment.Golf Grouchnoreply@blogger.com9