An Angel on Easter

Richland, WA.

It's great to be home. I'm back in my comfort zone for the final round of the 73rd Masters, the couch. The big question on everyone's mind is who will it be? Who has the nerves to withstand the pressure that goes with being in position to win a green jacket. Will it be 48-year old Kenny Perry, who has been close to flawless thus far in his quest for his first green jacket. Or, will it be an Easter Sunday to remember for 2007 US Open Champion Angel Cabrera. Traditionally, the winner usually comes out of the final two-some which includes both of these guys. You know the producers for CBS Sports will be focusing on the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, both at four under and in need of a low number to post early, hopefully putting pressure on the leaders coming in. You kind of get the sense that this tournament is being set up for something special on this Easter Sunday. Will someone come out of the pack and shoot a blistering 29 on the back nine on Sunday? Or, will the leaders plod along and make it too difficult for the earlier groups to make up such a wide margin.
As I walked the grounds of the entire golf course on Tuesday, I tried to get some pictures of players I thought would be there in the thick of things come Sunday. I did the same thing at the 1998 PGA at Sahalee, the course I grew up on. Angel Cabrera is going to be tough to beat. So is Jim Furyk. Yes, it's Sunday at the Masters and I'm making predictions, and back in my comfort zone.

A Player's Dream

Augusta, Georgia

I saw history today. I saw a 73-year old shoot 78 at Augusta National in the Masters. I saw Gary Player make his first birdie in his last Masters. It gave me the shivers. I know, it doesn't take much for me to have the hair on my arms stand up but this was something special. Sporting his Masters green instead of the traditional all black, Player stiffed a wedge from 75 yards to six feet on number two and then proceeded to roll in a down hill curler. It was fitting for a guy playing in his last Masters. Gary Player is playing in his 52nd Masters, hard for anyone to believe. He wasn't the only story today, former Masters champion Sandy Lyle can still flat out move it. The 51-year old bombed drives and showed us a sleek short game on his way to a ho-hum even par 72. We also can't forget about the big story of this year's Masters. Greg Norman fired a two under par 70 today, after earning a trip to Augusta as of result of his impressive performance in last year's British Open. It was shades of the 90's. " I've always been connected to the gallery", he said. "I played my way back into the golf tourney".

I will hit a milestone this month when I turn 50. This trip was a great prelude. I haven't played in 52 Masters. I don't bomb drives. I'm not connected to the gallery. This week I got a good glimpse of what heaven is like, and I think I like it.

Tuesday at Augusta

The azaleas are in full bloom. Amen Corner is as pretty as it's ever been. This is Augusta National. A lot of people don't know this, but Augusta, Georgia is the second biggest city in the state. Some of the biggest names in golf are here for another edition of the Masters. I am normally planted on my couch for this weekend tradition, but not this week. Today's practice round enabled me to see some of the game's best, including Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Adam Scott, and Nick Whatney. Big surprise that I would follow Freddy but I wanted to see his mindset after taking the gas last week in Houston. Couples and Norman packed it in after four holes, I don't blame them. It was a cool, windy day, not typical this time of year. Freddy was doing his normal stretching trying to loosen things up, including his ailing back. Vijay was on the range, Boo was working the crowd, and I was enjoying a beer for only $2.75. I knew there was something special about this place.

Day One

Augusta, GA.

It started off with a bang. Electrical problem on our flight out of Pasco. We missed our connection flight out of Salt Lake but managed to find our way to Atlanta just after five o'clock eastern time. We arrived in Aiken just before the national championship game...b-o-r-i-n-g. I have one thing to say, it is a much different world in the deep south. Practice round tomorrow and golf on Wednesday at the legendary Palmetto Golf Club. We ran into a bunch of players today but because of contractual obligations I'm not able to share what happened. More tomorrow.

A Special Place

As a tiny little 11-year old I had dreams of winning this tournament some day. They say dreams do come true. We all know this one won't. But for me, heading to The Masters in Augusta, Georgia on Monday will be like a dream come true. I have been watching this tournament religiously since 1970, but it will change this year when I have the distinct pleasure of setting foot on the grounds of Augusta for the first time. Magnolia Lane, and Amen Corner, which consists of holes 11, 12, and 13, and one of the most exciting stretches in all of golf. The true meaning of Augusta has nothing to do with golf. It has nothing to do with Tiger chasing down Jack's 18 major wins. It has nothing to do with Freddy starting a new streak of consecutive Masters Tournaments without missing a cut, after missing the cut line in 2008. It has nothing to do with one of the new, younger players picking up their first major win. It has to do with one thing, tradition. The tradition called spring.

Bring it on.

Important Things In Life

A friend of mine told me the other day, "he's definitely not as cute as he was last week". She couldn't have said it any better. She was referring to the ever popular former Cougar Coach Tony Bennett. Some of us guys think we know everything about sports but I managed to listen to some of my female friends regarding Bennett's departure and I learned a lot. My wife: "I want to know what Sterk said to Tony after he said he was staying and giving up $100,000 of his salary. Something went terribly wrong. I really want to know what Sterk said to him." My friend Jody: "He's coached Division 1 for three years and they are paying him that much money? Something is wrong with this picture". And the topper from my friend Traci: "I heard you are going to the Masters!! Wear a bright shirt!!!"

Sometimes we need to be reminded about the important things in life.

How do you title this one?

It happened when us fellow Cougars least expected it. After a mediocre season Tony Bennett decided it was time to pull the plug at WSU. Tomorrow he is expected to be named the new Head Coach at the University of Virginia. Ralph Sampson's old school. Why do these coaches have to lie so much? Tony assured everyone he had no intentions of leaving Pullman. Great school system, he could go home for lunch, he could build a winning program in the Palouse. His wife loves it there, or does she? Something has happened that has prompted Bennett to move elsewhere. Is it Athletic Director Jim Sterk, or new President Elston Floyd? Is it lack of support? We probably will never know. It would be nice to thank him but for what? This is almost as bad as when Dennis Erickson denied he was going to the University of Miami. Bennett is going to the A-C-C. His eyes are really on one job, in that same conference. When Coach "K' retires at Duke you know Tony Bennett will be the first in line. Based on his coaching down the stretch this year, don't cross your fingers. Holy St. Mary's.