I said in an earlier Blog that regardless of the storyline, I always thoroughly enjoy watching The Masters and yesterday was definitely no exception. Even though I was hoping for Tiger to make a final day run to truly amp up the drama quotient, Trevor Immelman’s first Major win on a very tough Augusta Sunday didn’t disappoint.

This is a guy who, like Tiger, was a young prodigy who was destined for greatness and had a family that did everything they could to give him the opportunities needed to fulfill his destiny. By the time he was 10 years old, he had already proclaimed that his goal was to be the best in the world and at the age of 12 he was a scratch handicap. Recognizing the gifts and determination to succeed that their child had, Immelman’s parents sent him packing from South Africa to Florida where he could truly have the chance to be the golfer that he dreamed of being.

The Masters, having been played on the same course for so long, is always full of those “Historical Moments” and what some would consider a little bit over-the-top in the sappiness department, but Immelman’s hero worship of fellow South African and 3-time Masters winner Gary Player is truly one of the better ones.

From their first meeting when Immelman was 5 (how could you not love the picture of Player holding the gap-toothed Immelman in his arms?); to Player making him a controversial Captain’s Pick for the 2005 President’s Cup team; to playing countless practice rounds together; to Player comparing his ball-striking abilities to Ben Hogan; to the inspirational message Player left on Immelman’s voicemail Saturday night telling him that he would win; and finally to yesterday’s win coming on the 30^th Anniversary of Player’s 3^rd win at Augusta and during the week that he set the record for consecutive Master’s appearances at 51, well, let’s just say that this story was made for the Masters.

Add in the fact that a year ago Immelman had a virus that caused him to lose some 20 pounds which was followed by a tumor discovered in December last year and you have quite a story about the 28-year old winning such a universally regarded tournament four months removed form surgery.

Tiger’s Grand Slam story may be dead, but there’s always a story to be had at Augusta and Immelman’s certainly makes the grade.

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Immelman’s win was the first in 30 years, but amazingly, in 6 of the 8 previous years the runner-up at Augusta was from South Africa with Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and Tim Clark combining to place 2^nd since the year 2000.

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Since renovations started almost immediately after Tiger’s run-away 12 shot victory in 1997, Augusta National has gradually become more and more difficult to the point that now it has truly become one of the most difficult tests in all of golf. Many pundits rue the changes, saying the “Augusta Roars” have disappeared as a result, but I think it’s all relative. Everyone has to play the same course and the challenges that this Augusta track offers up still make it the most compelling tournament in my opinion.

The risk/reward factor is like nothing else we see in golf. That term is often over used when describing golf, but no where is it a finer line between the two opposites than at Augusta.

The number one factor is, and always has been the greens, with their severe undulations and lightning quick pace. Throw in the added length (more than 500 yards since Tiger’s first win) and the swirling winds that we saw yesterday and you have people hanging on the edge of their seats watching things unfold, at least I was. Ya, birdies and eagles are exciting, as are the roars that accompany them, but I’ll take watching the best players facing serious challenges on every shot that could literally make or break their chances at immortality every time over obliteration of a golf course..

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How good is Tiger? By all indications he was no where near his best yet he still comes second, his 5^th runner up finish in a Major to go along with his 13 wins at the age of 32.

The guy couldn’t buy a putt all week and with as little as 6 holes to go he was still right there. His missed birdie putt at 13, followed by a bogey at 14 which was playing as the 2^nd easiest hole on the day, closed the doors on a potentially dramatic comeback. After his huge putt for birdie on 11 it looked as though it might happen, but Immelman hung tough making some huge saves on 11 for par and 12 for bogey and it was all but done.

Tiger’s chase to Jack’s record 18 majors just took a little bit of bad bounce this past week, but there’s no doubt that it’ll happen, and my guess is that it will be within the next 3 or 4 years.

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As for the Canadian content in Mike Weir and Stephen Ames, it’s safe to say that both underperformed on the weekend. Weir shot 75-74 on Saturday and Sunday to end up in a tie for 17th, while Ames was 77-75, which left him tied for 25^th. Both looked to be in very good position after Friday’s round and I thought for sure that one of them would continue to grind it out and be a factor on the back nine yesterday, but they just couldn’t make it work.

Ames capped off his Master’s week with an oh-so-rare eagle on the Par 4 505 yard 11^th hole, which is without question, the hardest hole on the course. Ames said that he was already to give it a go with his 5-wood when “one of the green jackets” told him that he had to wait while blowers were used to clear pine debris from the green that had been accumulating due to the heavy winds.

“I asked him: You’re going to wait till they hit the tee ball on 12, and then you’re going to blow the green and ask me to wait? There’s no way. Move. I want the pin in the hole, and I’m hitting it. So I’m bitching at him, I get up and hit it in the hole.”

He continued his post-round quips after being told that he now was going to a get the customary piece of Crystal that Augusta awards all players who get an eagle …

“Do I really? Honey, I get a crystal,” he yelled to his wife Jodi. “Like we’re ever going to use it.”

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Now that the first Major of the year is in the books, the next big tournament to look forward to is the Player’s Championship as it makes its debut in the new spot on the PGA Tour calendar in May … until then, maybe the New Big Break will keep your golf appetite under control. The newest edition of the reality show starts tomorrow on The Golf Channel and the “talent” on board will definitely keep me interested.

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Pool results will be out soon as I’ll tabulate everything in the next day or two and forward it on to the bossman.

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