Thumbs Up: Cabrera's Masters win salvaged by a tree.
Random Monday Masters thoughts:
- I don’t think CBS was too interested in Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell or Angel Cabrera. Nope. They were more intrigued by the Tiger Woods/Phil Mickelson pairing that started well back of the leaders. Realistically, Woods and Phil were too far back starting the round, and nothing short of a 64 would change that. And then Phil went out and shot 30 on the front nine, generally regarded as more difficult than the back nine, especially when you consider there are two very reachable par-5s on the back. Of course, with Phil being Phil, he hit some incredible shots on the front and some incredibly bad shots on the back, including the horrible tee shot on 12 and lousy putts on 15 and 17. Woods made bogey on 17 and that was the end of his charge. Leonard Shapiro has a pretty good assessment of the whole Woods/Mickelson saga.
- Okay, I get the interest in Woods and Mickelson. But they were never leading the damned tournament on the final day. So why did CBS show them like they were five shots ahead? And what was with all this Ali/Fraser BS? I mean they were largely battling for fourth or fifth place — not well clear of the field. Mike Bailey at Worldgolf.com agrees.
- I was a bit shocked by the number of times CBS showed Woods and Mickelson live, only to cut to the leaders in tape delay.
- What was the most important shot of the Masters? That amazing iron Mickelson hit on 7 to set up a birdie? The one he dunked on 12? Neither. It was Cabrera hitting an ill-conceived shot on the first playoff hole that hammered a tree and went back into the fairway. Could have gone anywhere — including behind another tree — and Cabrera would have been finished. Instead he made par while Perry and Campbell threw up on themselves. Proof positive that golf tournaments are won by skill — and a little luck.
- One reader today sent me a note complaining that Augusta was too easy. I disagree. I’m not looking to watch another U.S. Open. I thought the ability for those a few shots back to make a charge made the tournament more enjoyable. The softer greens still meant the players needed to hit great shots to get close. But those great shots didn’t get repelled like they had hit concrete. And I believe great shots should get rewarded.
- Disappointments? Mike Weir, who shot a ghastly 78 on Saturday. Jim Furyk, who never got it going on Sunday. All that hype about Danny Lee, Ryo Ishikawa and Rory McIlroy. Only McIlroy played on the weekend and he was nearly DQd. In fact, one has to wonder whether he would have been given the boot had this been any other tournament other than the Masters. So much for Johnny Miller’s take that Lee might be the tournament’s “dark horse.” If by dark Miller meant watching on television in his living room, then yes.
- Surprises? Cabrera, who didn’t appear poised to hold it together on Saturday or Sunday. Remember he was over par for much of the round. John Merrick, who shot 66 on Sunday. Todd Hamilton finishes 15th. Who knew he still played golf?
A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in 
And the first question from Jim Nantz in the Butler Cabin is “How did the Tiger-Phil duel affect you?” Brown-nosing does not begin to describe Nantz’s butt-kissing, nor does ring around the collar. It’s more like ring around the ankles.
at last for me, and probably most of the viewers, i much preferred to see Tiger/Phil light it up… instead of Perry making 11 consecutive pars… i get your point, but Phil shooting 30 and both of them getting to -10 was far more interesting than Perry/Campbell/Cabrera
I think Mike Chaput said it well.
What we may be starting to learn is that the personalities make a difference and that may just be human nature. CBS and the television audience were not alone, the grounds of Augusta National started clearing out when Tiger and Phil finished their round.
McIlroy will be fun to watch over the next few years. Sure he made some rookie mistakes in The Masters, but he is also amazingly consistent from round to round and held his own in a field that averaged twice his age. And 31 on the back yesterday. Hello….!
Did anyone else notice that Cabrera was wearing the exact same shirt that he wore on Sunday at Oakmont? As fo Phil and Tiger they drive ratings bottom line and CBS is in the ratings business.
Tiger and Phil would be more interesting even if Perry and Campbell were golfing naked and left-handed. It pains me to say it, because yes, they were leading the tournament and I’m the first one to complain when the U.S. networks ignore Weir in similar situations. But Perry and Campbell are both truly that dull.
But Cabrera isn’t dull and he won the tunamint. I think Cabrera is much more exciting then Phil – the best thing about Phil is watching him blow short putts – like happened twice on the back nine on Sunday.
CBS has turned the Masters broadcast into your average PGA tour broadcast. It’s hard to tell the difference — Tiger all the time — a little Phil …. some more Tiger … a dash of a few no names … a spot of Phil followed by Tiger all the time. Boringgggg ….