UNLIKE ANY OTHER — The Weekly Opine

Amen Corner’s incomparable 12th hole, where momentum swung to Tiger Woods at the Masters. (Photo credit: CBS screenshot)

On cue, the Masters delivered.

Having never been to Augusta National, my impression of the hallowed site of the Masters is based on seeing it on TV and through media reporting.

The closest I have been to Augusta was a business trip to Atlanta, and a long-ago college spring break trip that included a couple nights partying in Myrtle Beach. (Saw country music band Alabama play a venue about the size of Bob’s Country Bunker, from The Blues Brothers movie. A year later, Alabama blew up and won Billboard’s New Group of the Year honor in 1981, and then a Grammy in 1983.)

On a map, Augusta is nestled along the border Georgia shares with South Carolina. Augusta is not near Atlanta or Myrtle Beach but is situated approximately half way between the two.

Thus, I have never been close enough to even sniff whatever it is that makes Augusta National special. However, thanks to the power of a 50-inch high def TV and great storytelling by CBS Sports, it is possible to feel some of the magic that is golf’s greatest tournament, from the comfort of my mancave.

The promo

This year marked the 83rd edition of the Masters. And in part thanks to stellar TV coverage over the years, primarily courtesy of CBS and outstanding announcer Jim Nance, the Masters holds special lore in the game of golf. And in the world of sports.

Horse racing has the Kentucky Derby. Motorsports has the Indianapolis 500. Tennis has Wimbledon. The Masters is golf’s defining element.

Nance’s iconic phrase, “The Masters, a tradition unlike any other,” signals spring’s arrival every bit as much as adjusting clocks to Daylight Savings Time.

In March, when CBS runs TV promos during the NCAA basketball tournament announcing the Masters is near, images of the magnificent golf course, along with gentle music and Nance’s calm voice delivering his classic line, denote warmer days are ahead.

Venerable vs. young blood

This year’s Masters promised to be one for the ages.

The anticipation began building last September, when Tiger Woods finally won again, at the TOUR Championship. Woods’ 80th career victory made golf fans wish for a speedy fall and winter, the sooner to get to the 2019 Masters.

Last Thursday, when golf greats Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player launched their traditional drives off the first tee to start the proceedings, fans did not need caffeine to get wired.

Nicklaus is golf’s greatest ambassador. He holds the record for major titles, winning 18 during his career. My only quibble with Nicklaus, same as I have with Tiger, is he inexplicably occasionally plays a round of golf with America’s Commander in Creep president.

What made the Masters extra intriguing was the opportunity to see 48-year old Phil Mickelson and 43-year old Tiger take on the now-in-their-prime young studs, led by 28-year old Brooks Koepka. Some of the other Millennials trying to wrest the torch from Tiger and Phil include Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Rory McElroy, and Jordan Spieth.

Koepka, winner of a mind-blowing three of the prior six majors leading up to the Masters, for some reason is not fully appreciated by some fans and some media. He is a no nonsense, unflappable competitor who appears to be nearly as much of a threat to Nicklaus’ major title record as is Tiger.

No kidding. With three majors at age 28, and just now entering his prime, if Koepka averages one major title per year for 15 years, he would tie Nicklaus by the time he celebrates his 44th birthday. Of course, who would have thunk Tiger would go more than a decade without winning a major?

Nonetheless, same as Zion Williamson is basketball’s most physically dominant player since LeBron James, Koepka is the most physically dominant golfer to come along since Tiger.

Appointment viewing

At one point during Friday’s second round, eight of the top ten on the leaderboard were major champs. The shot making was terrific, the galleries packed (and loud) and CBS’s production was – pun intended – masterful.

I usually do not sit indoors on nice days watching sports. Not the NBA, not Major League Baseball, not the NFL. But I did for the Masters, both Friday and Saturday, perfectly content as the drama unfolded. Sunday in Chicago was miserable but no matter. If it was 75-degrees I would have been inside watching the Masters.

In fact, in recent years golf has ascended to be among my favorite sports to watch on TV.

A key reason is golf’s nearly constant action. Viewers receive a continuous look at a variety of contenders taking shots – drives, fairway shots, bunker shots, putts. Another golf advantage is that play is not delayed by momentum-killing replay reviews that have infected the NFL, NBA and MLB. Over-coaching and over-managing, as sometimes happens in basketball and baseball, is non-existent in golf.

And the Professional Golf Association does the best job of utilizing data analytics, without overdoing it. The PGA recognizes sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy the show.

On Sunday, the competitor’s pressurized, adrenaline-rush nerves were compounded by a weather forecast that forced the PGA to re-format the final round.

Threesomes instead of twosomes. A quasi shotgun-start with some players teeing off on the first hole while others started on the tenth tee box. The final pairing started around 9:10 a.m. instead of 2:20 p.m.

Breakfast at Wimbledon? How about grits and biscuits and gravy at the Masters?

A moment to savor

Tiger Woods exults after winning the Masters. (Photo credit: CBS screenshot)

At the end, the last man standing was Tiger Woods.

Tiger, who in the opinion of The Weekly Opine is the greatest golfer of all-time, came from behind for the first time on a Sunday to win a major championship. Before last Sunday, Tiger won majors when he held the 54-hole lead after the third round concluded on Saturday. In his previous major wins, he was a classic frontrunner come Sunday.

This time was different. Woods started Sunday two strokes behind leader Molinari. He made an early move to close within one stroke, then fell back by three strokes approaching mid-round. Then came Amen Corner and the par-three 12th hole. Molinari found the water, double-bogeyed, and struggled over the next several holes. Tiger was suddenly atop the leaderboard, in a 5-way tie with four of the young horses.

Patiently “plodding” along, Tiger finally took sole possession of the lead. And then he executed the important shots coming down the stretch, including a big-time birdie at the 16th.

Two years ago, he could barely walk. Golf was out of the question. After a fourth back surgery, Tiger was able to resume physical activity and, by the sheer force of his will, is back on top. It is arguably the greatest comeback in sports history. Only Muhammed Ali’s comeback in the 1960s is comparable.

Sports fans should relish this rare, second chance opportunity to witness Tiger playing at a championship level.

When Michael Jordan came out of retirement in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards, he barely approached his former greatness. Jordan looked spent when he clanged a breakaway dunk attempt off the back of the rim, in the NBA All-Star game. And the Wizards never challenged for a championship.

If Tiger wins two more PGA tournaments, he will overtake Sam Snead’s record of 82 career wins. If his back holds up and he plays five more years, he could win two, maybe three, maybe who-knows-how-many more major championships.

While savoring this, it must be noted Tiger’s comeback has two sides. Yes, he overcame injuries. But he also is overcoming self-inflicted humiliation.

It’s understandable why some fans have a conflicted or tepid response to Tiger’s athletic success. His philandering was, well, Trump-like. A decade ago, reports surfaced of trysts with sex workers, an adult film star and a restaurant server, which destroyed his marriage and resulted in a rehab stay to deal with sex addiction.

So, enjoy Tiger while he’s in this groove.

Enjoy Jim Nance, too. Big props go out to Nance, who happens to be the top sports announcer around. During the recent NCAA tournament, Nance admirably carried analysts Bill Rafftery, who unprofessionally, blatantly cheered for Duke, and Grant “Captain Obvious” Hill.

Nance is the best NFL play-by-play announcer, the best college hoops announcer and the best golf announcer, which makes him, in golf fans parlance, “You da man!”

Watching last weekend’s golf tournament was the perfect tonic for putting Old Man Winter in the rearview mirror and to motivate hackers like me to get out to the driving range.

The Masters put on a brilliant display. Unlike any other.