Do You Believe In Miracles?

                                                (My 2012 Halloween Costume....)

I’ve never considered myself very religious, but after spending an Easter Sunday watching some of the world’s best work their magic at the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, I may in fact just have to convert. And how fitting it is that a man who indeed puts his faith before anything else won on a course that has an historic three-hole stretch appropriately named “Amen Corner”.

Bubba Watson, not necessarily considered ‘the’ favourite coming into this weekend put together an unbelievable finish on Sunday capped off with one of the all-time greatest recovery shots from the right hand rough on the 2^nd playoff hole. A consistent -1 front nine and a stellar back nine that included 4 straight birdies from 13 to 16 were all just part of what was a week of consistency from Bubba, a week that never saw him out of red numbers. 

While players like Tiger and Rory; the pre-tournament favourites, were struggling to find any rhythm in their game, Bubba was never out of it. An opening round 69 had him tied for 4^th going into Friday, and a solid 1 under 71 left him one stroke back of leaders Fred Couples and Jason Dufner. A third round 75 by crowd-favourite Couples, and yet another even-keeled round by Watson found some interesting pairings left for Sunday.

Peter Hanson, who entered the final day leading at -9 and looking to become the first Swede to win the Masters, was partnered in the final group with Phil Mickelson at -8 and looking to tie Tiger Woods for 2^nd all time with 4 Green Jackets. Bubba, the Georgia favourite, and 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen were the second to last tee time both sitting at -8 and 1 stroke back of Hanson.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy never seemed to really have a shot, as they both finished tied for 40^th at 5 over par. Woods, who played his worst Masters ever, never broke par for a round, and for the first time in his career, played all 4 rounds at Augusta National in the 70s.

But the adage “The Masters doesn’t start until the back 9 on Sunday” seemed to be true as the real action heated up in the Georgia sun on Sunday afternoon. Louis Oosthuizen became part of Masters lore on the par 5-second hole as he managed to find the cup from 252 yards out and record only the 4^th albatross in Masters history, instantly vaulting himself into the lead at 10 under, a spot he wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the day. However, Watson wasn’t to be denied as he used his length and shot shaping abilities to tame Augusta’s tricky lay out as players like Mickelson – who made a brutal triple bogey on the par 3 forth – exploded around him. Lee Westwood and Adam Scott both made back 9 pushes but the play of Oosthuizen and Watson was just too much and although both started the day 1 shot out of the lead, their consistency and ability to attack the course when they needed to set up one of the most exciting and heart pounding playoffs in Masters history.

Both players played the 18^th in exactly the same manner during the playoff as they did in regulation, and solid pars found the pairing travelling to the 10^th hole for what would be a hole to remember for both.

The 495 yard par four 10^th saw Watson step up first and block his drive right into the gallery, opening up a massive opportunity for Oosthuizen to capture his 2^nd Major Championship and become the 2^nd straight South African to win the Green Jacket. However, in what seemed like a moment of divine intervention on this Easter Sunday, Louis hit a push that found him right and in the rough 40 or so yards behind Bubba, but not in as much danger. Louis’ 2^nd shot however came up well short of the green and gave Bubba hope that maybe a punch out from the gallery and into the fairway would help him get up and down and send the pair to a 3^rd playoff hole.

At least that’s what any normal thinking person would have done. This is Bubba Watson though. The never-hit-a-shot-straight-if-my-life-depended-on-it Bubba Watson. And as he said in his interview in the famed Butler Cabin “I’m pretty good at hooking the ball”. And that’s exactly what he did. A 40 yard hook to about 15 feet opened the door for the Florida native to capture his first ever major title, and a 2 putt par later saw an emotional Watson breaking down while hugging his mother and caddy in celebration of one of the greatest wins in Master’s history.

Everything seemed to go right for the newly anointed Masters Champion on this most religious of holidays. And what could have been more fitting? A devout Christian, playing inspired golf to win the holiest of tournaments on Easter Sunday in an extremely poised and consistent fashion. Forget Tebow-Mania folks; it’s Bubba-Time.