AUGUSTA – Tiger Woods will be going for an historic fourth straight victory in a major championship today when he takes a one-stroke lead into the final round of the 65th Masters.
He’ll be chased by a leaderboard that includes some of the finest golfers in the world, including Phil Mickelson, who joins him in the final group today, and players like Ernie Els, David Duval and Mark Calcavecchia.
And while there is heavy pressure on Woods, the pressure on the players trying to beat him is a heavier burden, which is why Woods will win his second Green Jacket by the time the sun sets on Augusta National.
It won’t be close either. Woods will win by three shots or more, leaving the world to decide whether holding all four majors at the same time is worthy of Grand Slam recognition.
Yes, the leaderboard is about as good as could be expected. Mickelson is the second-ranked player in the world; Calcavecchia won the 1989 British Open; Chris DiMarco is a lovable underdog, while Els and Duval are two of the game’s best known names. They are all within three strokes of Woods. All with a seemingly legitimate chance to win.
But it won’t happen because all the chasers know they will have to play perfect golf to win and no one can be perfect at Augusta National.
Mickelson, who shot 69 yesterday and remains one-shot back at 11-under par, has talked a good game all week, calling this his “best opportunity to break through,” and win a major tournament for the first time in his career. He has backed that up by being the only player to post three rounds in the 60s.
But Mickelson, by his own admission, is prone to making critical mistakes. His tee-shot at the par 3, 12th hole went into the Rae’s Creek on Friday. Yesterday he three-putted the 14th hole for double-bogey. Thus far he has survived both miscues, regaining momentum yesterday with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.
But the pressure today will be too great for Mickelson and the other chasers, especially on the back nine where every crucial shot is followed by an even more crucial shot.
We’ve seen some stumbling already. Mickelson’s double-bogey at 14. Bogeys on 15 and 17 by DiMarco, the first and second-round leader who played with Woods yesterday. And a double-bogey by Angel Cabrera at 15 when his ball went into the water.
It’s Woods who will be relaxed today. He may be going for an historic fourth straight win in a major, but this likely isn’t his last opportunity to win a major. Win or lose, he will set more records. There will be other Masters Sundays.
Perhaps that why he was smiling after posting a 68 yesterday to take the lead for the first time in the tournament. It also helps his confidence that he has won 22 of 26 tournaments world wide where he has lead after 54 holes.
“We’re going to go out there and compete and enjoy doing it,” Woods said yesterday. “There are a lot of good players at the top of the board with a chance of winning with a good solid round. I’m going out there to hopefully put the ball on the green to where I can have some uphill putts.”
For Mickelson and Duval, this could be the chance of a lifetime. Despite all their success on the PGA Tour, winning a major has proven elusive. They know their legacy rests with winning golf’s biggest tournaments. Mickelson said he “desperately” wants to win and Duval is just as hungry, even to the point of blocking out Woods.
For DiMarco and Cabrera, who are making their first appearances at the Masters, this is something they’ve never experienced in their lives. For Els and Calcavecchia, this is a chance to beat a player they’ve already conceded is the best of their era. Their burden is wondering is if they’ll ever get this chance again.
“Anybody can win this thing,” Els said. “But Tiger is Tiger and he’s not going to back down.”
The separation will likely take place on the back nine where nerves begin to affect swings. Duval hasn’t had much success on the back nine of a Masters Sunday. Last year, he knocked his ball into the water on the 13th hole ruining his chance to beat Vijay Singh. In 1998, he couldn’t chase down Mark O’Meara, despite leading on the 16th hole.
“There’s a few shots on the golf course, you know you’re going to have to hit and sometimes I haven’t hit them,” Duval said.
Listen to the chasers talk yesterday and you got the feeling that they know they’ll have to leave their comfort zone in order to win. DiMarco was talking about being more aggressive on the par 5s, while Mickelson hinted he had to play the round of his life.
“For me to win I have to strive to reach a different level of play and I have to be able to attain it,” he said. “That means not worrying or thinking about other players. That means bringing my best game out, and that’s something that’s not always easy to do.”
Especially on a Masters Sunday with Woods in the final group.
Yes, the leaderboard is impressive. “It’s goes to show the golf course has been set up well and people on top of their games have risen to the top,” Duval said.
Woods is at the top now and he’ll will be after the 72nd hole today.
