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"Golf is a game whose aim it is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose." |
-Winston Churchill |
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 When the dust had settled, the leaderboard reflected the truly international state of the game, with players from Spain, South Africa, Fiji and Argentina among the top 10. But our Big Three shared three of the top seven positions: Mickelson won it and Couples and Woods were in a five-man tie for third. It wasn’t just the fact that their roots or families are here that made the Southern California contingent’s showing special. It’s the story behind all three of them. Mickelson solidified, for all time, that he is a true champion. It was his third major, so he’d already shaken that pernicious primate from his shoulders. But even with a Masters and a PGA title in his pocket, he’d still never completely separated himself from the riverboat gambler image of his youth: a daring, often reckless player, capable of both incredible moments of brilliance as well as the occasional bullet in his foot. But there was no faltering down the stretch in 2006, no cracks in his armor or moments of doubt. He was steady in the opening holes of the final round, sharing the lead at four-under par through six holes. But when it counted most — the back nine — he had that steel-eyed look of determination that we’ve come to associate with Tiger. He birdied four of the next eight holes, played mistake-free golf and coasted to victory. This was no longer “subcutaneous fat” Phil — this was a man who justifiably ranks among the best players of his generation, if not all-time. Couples missed a couple of makeable putts down the stretch to undermine his tournament, but his performance showed the world that, at age 46, he can still compete with the best. The comparison to Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won his last Masters 20 years before, was obvious to everyone. It seems ludicrous that only five years ago, many — including himself — were questioning whether chronic back pain would force Couples to hang up his clubs. His showing at Augusta this year forcefully proved that not only can he compete week-to-week on the tour, he may be fitted for another green jacket one more time. Woods’ performance merely reinforced his status as the best player on the planet. He began three strokes off the lead but two bogeys through the first 11 holes seemed to ruin any hopes of defending his Masters crown. But after birdies on 13, 15 and 16, he was well within striking distance of Mickelson, who was a few groups behind. A bogey on 17 killed Woods, but the simple fact that he mounted a charge after a shaky beginning displayed that remarkable mental acuity that makes him so dominant. A special tournament for many reasons, but one even more special for Southern California. While the emerald greens and rolling fairways of Augusta National are a continent away, we can’t help but be proud of our Southland trio. And we can’t help but boast that they learned the game, or continue to hone it, on our courses, from Heartwell and Dad Miller to Torrey Pines and Balboa Park. (Couples didn’t grow up here, but his game’s rebirth coincides with his living here; the fact he plays regularly at clubs like Riviera and Lost Canyons certainly doesn’t hurt). They say that home is where the heart is and the heart that all three of these world-class players showed at this year’s Masters was conditioned — and continues to be worked on — at Southern California golf courses. That’s reason enough to be proud. |
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