84th Masters final scoreboard here
There were many moments this week watching this 84th Masters from my humble abode, many good, some bad, and finally some ugly.
For a complete wrap click on my link above for every shot, every score and every story at masters.com.
The Good
* When Dustin Johnson is on form, nobody can beat him now, unlike a few years ago when he didn't always get all four rounds together (eg.see 2015 US Open). His game was on full display driving it miles and under control, perhaps the current game's best long iron player ( eg. see his 245yd 3 iron around the corner over the bunker to 3 feet 2nd hole par 5), vastly improved short game, and an excellent putter from any range. Result,? record breaking 20 under par, and his spot at the Masters dinner table for the rest of his life.
* Most fans have never been to Augusta, and the ONLY good thing about no crowds this time around, we all got the full picture of how hilly it is, we really saw the entire complex, got a terrific view of all the chips and pitches around the greens, and a better appreciation of what a legendary test of the game it is with those gorgeous, treacherous carpets they putt on.
* Canadians were much of my focus. Pity that Adam Hadwin missed out by a shot on making the eventual cut and while Mike Weir, Nick Taylor and Corey Connors were never going to win, it was a huge week for all of them.
Weirsy with his renewed confidence from a stint on the Senior circuit had his short game on full display all week, particularly on Saturday morning with 4 holes left over to make the cut. He was playing his hybrids to the 6 irons of the bombers to several of the par 4's, and just ran out of gas a little in his closing 76.
Nick Taylor played -3 better than par for 4 rounds in his first Masters which will send him forward full of confidence at the RSM Classic this week.
Corey Connors finished T10 -9, $287,500 and a place back at the Masters in the spring. He struggles at times with the putter but this week he was firing on all cylinders especially round two, -7 65, a Canadian record.
* Cameron Smith the young Aussie had the week of his life T2 with South Korean Sungjae Im who both had their respective countries up late watching. Im is a superstar in the making, and Smith provided the two shots of the tournament on Sunday. By the way he hits it left handed almost as well as right..
* Bernhard Langer at 63 beating Bryson DeChambeau by a shot over four rounds
The Bad
* The wet weather Tues/ Wed/Thurs softened up the course until it dried out Saturday afternoon and Sunday which lessened the stern test we've come to expect, and in fact was a big part of DJ's record score.
* We don't get the best TV commentators on CBS, they are working for BBC or Sky Sports these days with Peter Alliss and Ken Brown among others. While Trevor Immelman was very articulate for CBS, informative and entertaining from his perch, four days of Jim Nantz and his syrup are tough, and while Nick Faldo had a hard working well earned Hall of Fame career, we simply can't continue to listen to him prattle away while watching TV. Get him out of his suit, into his golf shoes back out on the course where he belongs. Ken Brown owns that job on Sky Sports and brings us face to face insight on every shot he covers that is priceless.
* No patrons. While I mentioned earlier it gave us all a great insight and views of the course. there were no roars on Sunday afternoon, just DJ quietly going about winning the tournament, especially once he got past #12.
* Butler Cabin. I know it's sacrilegious to say, but it has served it's time, is painfully out of touch with the rest of the world watching
The Ugly
* The ugly, is the reason there are no spectators at Augusta, or anywhere else.
The USA is supposed to be a world leader. The cavalier self serving handling of COVID by some of their so called leaders, not to mention the former President has been shameless and the virus is simply running amok as a result.
* Paulina Gretzky. I wrote yesterday about the tremendous effect Wayne, and Janet Gretzky have had in influencing the growing up of Dustin Johnson, and their daughter, both of whom had been living the spoiled life of the rich and famous, before becoming a couple in 2013.
Why Paulina, who I'm sure loves her husband and their two boys to death spent her week walking around Augusta with it's strictest of strict guidelines, dressed like she was in an adult spin class is beyond me. Surely Janet who has bared it all in her early years as a playboy pin up, but grew up to be the respected partner her husband deserves, could have helped her daughter with something appropriate to wear to match her husbands stunning achievement.
Bryan Angus
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