The Masters is a tradition like no other and it lived up to every expectation once again this year. Going into the weeks the headlines were all surrounding some of the biggest names in the game such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Rory Mcllroy and others. Although Woods or Mickelson were never in real contention it didn’t mean that the leaderboard wasn’t packed with stars which ultimately ended with first time major winner Patrick Reed. Going into the final round it was Reed at the top of the leaderboard with Mcllroy lurking right behind him in the final grouping. Mcllroy who went into Sunday in second was trying to complete the career grand slam, of the Masters, US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. The final round started off with Reed bogeying the first hole and then Mcllroy missing a short eagle putt on the second. That short putt Mcllroy missed set the tone for what he would do for most of the day, never really making a strong move to win. Mcllroy’s 74 wasn’t quite as bad as his 80 he shot a few years ago on Sunday at Augusta when he had the lead but it definitely wasn’t what he was looking for.
Jordan Spieth came into Sunday at five under and seven shots off the lead and said it was the first time he was going to get to play a “stress free round at Augusta.” Well that didn’t last long as Spieth had an amazing Sunday charge making birdie after birdie shooting a 64 with a bogey on the final hole where he hit a branch off the tee leaving himself blocked out and over 300 yards out to the hole. A birdie on that hole could have possibly forced a playoff, but it was not meant to be. In all of Spieth’s starts in the Masters he has finished 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 11th and 3rd.
Rickie Fowler also had another strong week at a major finishing second. Fowler is still seeking his first major championship but has had many great performances at majors, but unfortunately just not good enough. Fowler in his career has eight top-5 finishes in majors including finishing in the top-5 in all the majors in 2014. Fowler has however won The Players Championship in 2015 over the 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia in a playoff, which many consider to be the biggest non-major tournament. The player that made the first headline of the week was Tony Finau who during the par-3 contest made a hole in one and then sprained his ankle while celebrating. He played the whole week with a swelled up ankle and actually played really well finishing at seven under par. Ultimately however it was Patrick “Captain America” Reed that came away with the green jacket. Reed has his worst round of the tournament on Sunday but it did not matter as he put up strong enough rounds of 69, 66 and 67 in the first three rounds that his 71 in the final round was enough to hand on for the win. Reed is enjoying his time as Masters champion.
Source: The Masters.com