The Duke of Hazards

I have to admit that I was completely engrossed in the final round of the 84th U.S. Masters golf tournament yesterday. Everything I did, and I admit it was not a tiring day, centered around that finish. Yes... golf! The sport often compared to watching concrete set or grass grow was mesmerizing!The day started with Swede Peter Hanson with a one-shot lead who then faltered from the git-go while Phil Mickelson made a charge.But Phil threw it all away with a nightmare on the 67th hole when he hit into the trees on a par 3 and then tried to get a reverse swat going to get him out of trouble. Mickelson took a triple-bogey and could never catch up, but at least was in contention, unlike Tiger Woods who never showed up.

Behind this carnage stalked two calm and collected young men, Gerry (Bubba) Watson and Lodewicus Theodorus (Louis) Oosthuisen. Slowly but surely these two drew away from the rest of the field and soon it was a two-horse race. The first hole of the playoff was a normal and almost subdued affair, both obtaining par and setting up for the next hole. The second, played on the 10th hole, was anything but ordinary. Both players hit tee shots into the trees with Oosthuizen blowing a chance to march up the fairway while his partner was looking for his wayward ball in the pine needles. Watson then uncorked an absolute gem of a shot, bending his ball around trees and onto the green, about 15 yards from the cup. Oosthuizen then two-putted while Watson needed only one to win his first major and the coveted Maters green jacket.

Bubba Watson apparently has the longest consistent drive on the PGA Tour, no doubt helped by a whiplash 6' 3" frame. He lost his father to cancer two years ago and the emotion of that lost coupled with the win his father could not be there to see was etched in his face and tears. Watson also drives his "dream car" the general Lee from the Dukes of Hazard fame, but this just seems to fit his personality. However, Bubba my final comment is, after winning the Masters you can now afford to get a decent haircut. May your luck and your obvious nerve hold.