Watson bids adieu to Augusta National
MASTERS NOTEBOOK
played his last round at
AUGUSTA, Ga. — the Masters on Friday.
The two-time champion shot a 6-over 78 to finish at 8 under after two days — two shots away from his goal of playing the weekend in his last tournament at Augusta National. “It was a special walk up the 18th hole,” he said. The 66-year-old was only 2 over after the first day and, with another round like that, he would’ve become the oldest player to make the cut at the year’s first major.
But he made three bogeys over the first five holes, then only one birdie after that. Watson’s final round was his 134th in his 43rd Masters. “I’m glad I don’t have to hit 5-woods and 3-woods into 18 anymore,” the 66-year-old said, laughing. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s the reason I’m not playing here anymore.”
WOOSNAM, 1991 CHAMP, SAYS HE’S DONE AT AUGUSTA
After he won the Masters 25 years ago, one tiny question followed wherever he went: How could such a small man hit the ball that far?
Nobody asks that question much anymore, and after failing to break 80 for the second straight round Friday, the 5-foot-4 former champion, known by many as “The Wee Welshman,” decided he’s had enough of competitive golf at Augusta National.
Woosnam, 58, said he suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a painful inflammatory disease that can cause vertebrae to fuse together and cause people to hunch forward. He said there’s not much doctors can do, other than to treat the pain. Walking the steep hills of Augusta National, where all but four holes have been lengthened since his victory in 1991, only makes things worse.
“It just seizes me up and I just can’t swing as good as I properly can,” Woosnam said. “I’m in pain all the way around, so it’s time to say ‘bye-bye,’ really.”
SCOREBOARD MICKELSON MISSES CUT
Phil Mickelson
rolled a 22-foot birdie putt just below the hole at No. 18, his last miss on a day packed end to end with wasted opportunities.
When it was finally over, Lefty signed for a 7-over 79 — his worst round ever at the Masters in 24 appearances, giving Mickelson as many missed cuts as green jackets. The cut was at 6 over par.
Mickelson shot even-par in his opening round and looked like a lock to make it into the weekend. But Friday began with a strong breeze and gusts up to 30 mph and that touched off a series of what he called “just stupid things” beginning at No. 7. The miscues began piling up — a ball left in a bunker, several missed short putts, and two approach shots dumped into the drink at Nos. 15 and 16 — which produced back-to-back double bogeys. That set up a frantic scramble on the last two holes.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Mickelson, 45, said afterward. “I just threw away a lot of shots. I just made a lot of poor shots in the wrong spot. This is worst I’ve managed myself around this golf course.”
TEE TIMES