I Am Right
4/7/2011, 06:48 PM
Augusta's Rising Sun
By Quin Hillyer on 4.7.11 @ 6:08AM
(Page 2 of 2)
That's why Woods will win. Greatness won't be written off. Greatness sees columns posted on refrigerators, saying the great one is washed up, and it responds by shooting seven-under on the final ten holes -- just as Nicklaus did in 1986. Don't think Woods doesn't know that this is the 25th anniversary of the Bear's famous charge. And the 50th anniversary of Gary Player's first Augusta crown. For that matter, it is 75 years since the historically underrated Horton Smith became The Masters' first two-time champion. Woods has a sense of timing. Woods is hardly an old man. Woods loves this course like no other. For all those reasons, Woods seems likely to defy the smart money, to answer the critics, to re-invigorate his march towards Nicklaus's majors record. Even if some of us won't be thrilled to see it.
But…but…but… But here is where I return to the guy in the airport. I asked him if anybody in the practice round grabbed his attention, if anybody somehow looked particularly well dialed in. Airport Guy said yes. He said it was a guy he had never heard of. A slender, wiry guy whose drives left even the big hits of his playing partners 20 yards behind, again and again, all day. A guy whose every shot seemed perfect, and whose visage seemed particularly focused. Airport Guy said he didn't know where the player's power came from, but the power clearly was there.
Nineteen-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan was the phenom who so impressed Airport Guy. Then, on Wednesday morning, the newspaper reported that Ishikawa has dedicated every penny of his earnings, not just at The Masters but for the entire year, to earthquake/tsunami relief for his native land.
The Masters often isn't a golf tournament but a movie script that strains credulity. Unlike any other tournament, it often produces a Hollywood-like plot. Nicklaus's charge in 1986. Crenshaw missing every cut leading into 1995's tourney, then serving as pallbearer for Harvey Penick early in the week, then weeping in victory on Sunday. Woods blowing away the field in his first professional Masters in 1997. Woods holing that impossible chip on 16. Mickelson embracing cancer-victimized Amy last year. Hometown boy Larry Mize chipping in from 140 feet to beat Norman in a playoff. The jaunty Player getting his last glory with his own charge in 1978. Couples being interviewed in the Butler Cabin by college roommate Jim Nantz. Arnie's charges. Sarazen's double-eagle.
Ishikawa's victory story would be this year's best tear-jerker. A well-motivated young prince playing for a proud old nation desperate for solace. Could somebody under 20 years old actually win at Augusta National? No more than an Olden Bear could wake from hibernation or a Gentle Ben could make a Little Red Dream-Book Come True. No more likely than the great Bobby Jones looking at a nursery and visualizing a perfect golf course. This is The Masters, and The Masters is magic.
In a 99-man field, it's not unreasonable to allow a joint entry at the starting gate. Horses 1 and 1A are Woods and Ishikawa. There's your final pairing, and one of them will be our winner.
By Quin Hillyer on 4.7.11 @ 6:08AM
(Page 2 of 2)
That's why Woods will win. Greatness won't be written off. Greatness sees columns posted on refrigerators, saying the great one is washed up, and it responds by shooting seven-under on the final ten holes -- just as Nicklaus did in 1986. Don't think Woods doesn't know that this is the 25th anniversary of the Bear's famous charge. And the 50th anniversary of Gary Player's first Augusta crown. For that matter, it is 75 years since the historically underrated Horton Smith became The Masters' first two-time champion. Woods has a sense of timing. Woods is hardly an old man. Woods loves this course like no other. For all those reasons, Woods seems likely to defy the smart money, to answer the critics, to re-invigorate his march towards Nicklaus's majors record. Even if some of us won't be thrilled to see it.
But…but…but… But here is where I return to the guy in the airport. I asked him if anybody in the practice round grabbed his attention, if anybody somehow looked particularly well dialed in. Airport Guy said yes. He said it was a guy he had never heard of. A slender, wiry guy whose drives left even the big hits of his playing partners 20 yards behind, again and again, all day. A guy whose every shot seemed perfect, and whose visage seemed particularly focused. Airport Guy said he didn't know where the player's power came from, but the power clearly was there.
Nineteen-year-old Ryo Ishikawa of Japan was the phenom who so impressed Airport Guy. Then, on Wednesday morning, the newspaper reported that Ishikawa has dedicated every penny of his earnings, not just at The Masters but for the entire year, to earthquake/tsunami relief for his native land.
The Masters often isn't a golf tournament but a movie script that strains credulity. Unlike any other tournament, it often produces a Hollywood-like plot. Nicklaus's charge in 1986. Crenshaw missing every cut leading into 1995's tourney, then serving as pallbearer for Harvey Penick early in the week, then weeping in victory on Sunday. Woods blowing away the field in his first professional Masters in 1997. Woods holing that impossible chip on 16. Mickelson embracing cancer-victimized Amy last year. Hometown boy Larry Mize chipping in from 140 feet to beat Norman in a playoff. The jaunty Player getting his last glory with his own charge in 1978. Couples being interviewed in the Butler Cabin by college roommate Jim Nantz. Arnie's charges. Sarazen's double-eagle.
Ishikawa's victory story would be this year's best tear-jerker. A well-motivated young prince playing for a proud old nation desperate for solace. Could somebody under 20 years old actually win at Augusta National? No more than an Olden Bear could wake from hibernation or a Gentle Ben could make a Little Red Dream-Book Come True. No more likely than the great Bobby Jones looking at a nursery and visualizing a perfect golf course. This is The Masters, and The Masters is magic.
In a 99-man field, it's not unreasonable to allow a joint entry at the starting gate. Horses 1 and 1A are Woods and Ishikawa. There's your final pairing, and one of them will be our winner.