MASTERS NOTES
AUGUSTA – In the end, Tiger Woods was a non-factor in this 63rd Masters, though he never really played himself out of the tournament in the early rounds and lurked for a possible charge at a second Masters title.
Woods, as he did all week, offered little in the way of anything spectacular in yesterday’s final round, never challenging with a quiet 75. After beginning the day at 2-under and insisting that six shots wasn’t a lot to make up on the final day at Augusta, Woods finished the tournament 1-over.
“I made too many mistakes to go for everything,” Woods said. “It wasn’t playing easy. I hit a lot of great shots and a lot of ugly ones. I just didn’t make the putts or give myself a lot of opportunities.”
*
As the tension mounted in the final round, the leaderboard was filled with star names – except for two unlikely players: Steve Pate and Bob Estes.
Pate, who had the lead for awhile yesterday, got it to 6-under on the back side (a stroke off the lead) but bogeyed 16 and 17. He finished tied for fourth with Estes, who also finished 4-under.
“It was fun being in the hunt,” said Estes, who’s still seeking his first major.
“I played well and expected to play well, because I was playing well coming in,” Pate said. “This is the third time I’ve played well at Augusta [he has a tie for 3rd and 6th]. Maybe one of these times I’ll do it.”
*
It was a magical day for Spain. While Jose Maria Olazabalwas winning his second green jacket, fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia shot a 73 and became the first-ever foreign low amateur with a total of 7-over.
Fellow Amateur Tom McKnight (9-over), who defeated Garcia in the semifinals of last year’s U.S. Amateur, said, “He has a lot of savvy. He has instinct you don’t teach.”
*
One of the many stories lost in the drama of the final round was Brandel Chamblee. Playing in his first Masters, Chamblee missed a five-foot par putt on the last hole to put him 1-over for the tourney and in a tie for 18th. That miss cost him nearly $18,000 in prize money and an automatic invite to next year’s Masters … Worst collapse: Scott McCarron, who was one shot behind at 7-under entering the weekend, finished with consecutive rounds of 76 and finished tied for 18th.
