2008 Masters Sunday Live Blog
We kick it off with another awesome re-broadcast, this time of Gary Player's 1978 win. So great to hear Jack Whitaker and Vin Scully. Though I really only paid slight attention because Bobby Clampett was telling us on Amen Corner Live that Bubba Watson is a former U.S. Amateur Public Champ (2000 for those of you unaware that he supposedly won) and that Colt Knost captured last year's U.S. Mid Am, not the Pub Links. The things you learn!
Alright, hello friends, here we go...all times Pacific because you better deal with it. I just found out the U.S. Open will be finishing at 7 p.m. Pacific time this year. Chew on that Great Britain!
11:30 - Immelman drives it right off No. 1 where the tee is WAY up. Blasts out of trees into left second cut.
11:35 - Wow, they took this father-son theme up about six notches on the schmaltze meter today, with shots of Tiger and Zach holding baby pictures and a photo of Immelman's dad next to a pine tree.
11:37 - Snedeker and Immelman leave themselves long par putts on 1. Tiger meanwhile has 219 into No. 2 but leaves it in middle of the front right bunker. Yikes.
11:39 - Padraig birdies 2 and 3, gets to -4. Cink to -5. Immelman lips out for par and makes a 5-footer for bogey. He and Snedeker both bogey 1. Imm -10, Snedeker -8, Flesch -8, Casey -7.
11:45 - Tiger's birdie putt not close after backing off, backs off par putt now. Faldo speculates it's bunker sandy flying out. Nantz says pollen factor. Cink meanwhile birdies to get to -6.
11:48 - Tiger hitting driver on No. 3, appears Cink outdrove him. Snedeker and Immelman make very confident swings off No. 2 tee and drive it down the center.
11:53 - "No doubt it'll be a riveting day" - Nantz, but no mention of roars today. The fireplace is not cleaned, but we've lost the little table with the roses between the left and right seats. It was a bit too feminine even for Butler Cabin.
11:57 - Immelman 253 to hole, 230 to front on 2, hits it in front bunker.
12:01 - CBS graphic on Tiger's larges 54 hole comebacks includes 1996 Frys.com Open where he came back from 4 down. Uh, was Frys.com even in existence in 1996? Sheesh.
12:05 - Cink hits awesome shot about 12 feet left of No. 4 hole's tough location, Tiger in front bunker.
12:06 - Snedeker eagles 2. Roar! Co-leader with Immelman. Most of all, he looks like he's have a blast. Meanwhile Immelman's putt isn't close. Oosterhuis notes the gallery murmuring.
12:09 - Snedeker hits driver on No. 3 into last left bunker. Tiger misses par putt on No. 4. Feherty reads our minds: Tiger looks worn out by the lack of results from the week. Dipped his head before lining up the bogey putt. Feherty also says Snedeker's eagle putt on No. 2 "was going off the green." Not sure about that!
12:14 - Snedeker buried in fairway bunker! Immelman "woefully short" on his approach according to Baker Finch.
12:16 - Tiger with a one-handed stinger off of No. 5, Flesch short of the bunker on No. 4. Yikes. Tiger leaves approach to No. 5 in worst possible spot.
12:17 - Snedeker's third on 3 earns another "leave it" call from either he or his caddy. What does that mean?
12:18 - Feherty declares the course is going to win today after Casey leaves first shot in bunker on No. 4. Has long putt for bogey.
12:23 - CBS has a phenomenal shot showing No. 5 green and the putt Tiger faces. He leaves it a half-inch short. Amazing putt! May be just what he needed. Cink meanwhile makes 7 footer for bogey to drop to -5.
12:29 - Nantz reports that Jimenez in with a 68 today. 4 of 45 players on the course are under par. And looking at the leaderboard, I see no score lower this week than 68.
12:32 - Steve Flesch plays out of Triple Crown CC? He nearly makes birdie on 5. Pars on the first five holes and looking solid.
12:33 - Tiger makes first birdie of the day after hitting it three feet on No. 6. He's five back of Immelman.
12:37 - Tiger on No. 7 tee. Yet another tee where markers are on the front. So far every tee has been all the way up.
12:40 - Nice remembrance of the late Gay Brewer going to commercial.
12:42 - Immelman with awesome second shot at 5.
12:45 - Tiger leaves approach short on 7 and Kostis says you can sum up his week in one word: frustration. Nantz chimes in, "you know Peter everyone in the field feels that, not exclusive to one player." Kostis later on says he feels Tiger himself hasn't dealt with frustration this week as well as he has in the past. Tiger's body language would definitely back up Kostis.
12:46 - Casey grounds club, ball moves on 6 putting for par. Takes bogey, drops to -4.
12:49 - Immelman birdies gets to -11.
12:50 - From reader Chris, something I wholeheartedly agree with: "The brilliant computer animated graphics have been very under used. They are one of the best additions to the CBS broadcast in years and I wish we were seeing more of them."
12:53 - Faldo and Lundquist state their surprise at seeing the hole cut on the front of No. 6 instead of traditional back right spot.
12:54 - Flesch hits it in newly planted trees left of 7, Kostis notes the trees take away options. Clubhouse cheer heard.
1:02 - Snedeker misses 10 footer for par on 6, Immelman pars, lead is 3.
1:04 -12 players in red figures. Kostis notes that the three shot lead actually complicates his strategy, Faldo concurs.
1:08 - Great reaction shot of Tiger's third into No. 8. He comes up well short, has 20 footer for birdie.
1:09 - Immelman tight on No. 7, Kostis says he was lucky with the bounce.
1:17 - Snedeker bogies 7, Immelman yanks 2 foot birdie putt on No. 7, still has four shot lead. Make that three with Flesch making birdie on 8.
1:20 - Immelman in fairway bunker off No. 8 tee. Hits poor third shot in for third. Brings three putt into play.
1:31 - CBS with the very cool shot shape graphic of Tiger teeing off 10. Nice they saved that for the weekend and deprived ESPN.
1:33 - Flesch with a "fabulous" shot into 9 according to Faldo. Misses putt badly but he's lurking three back.
1:35 - "Such a difficult putt" Oosty says of Immelman's birdie putt on No. 8. Hits it about 8 feet by, misses. CBS reminds us that 16 of last 17 winners have come from last pairing. Zach last year being the exception.
1:41 - Nantz after Immelman's drive rolls into second cut on 9: "That won't be a fairway hit but it's in good position."
1:47 - Great stuff: Nantz says Immelman has every major since 1984 on tape and has studied them. Trevor leaves his second shot short on 9, a no-no. Nantz also reports that Player is "en route to the Middle East" and hopes to watch when he arrives. He also reads his voice mail message to Trevor: "Take your time. And keep your eyes on the ball an extra second on putts. There will be bad breaks. I know you're going to win."
1:50 - Tiger and Cink never threaten 10th hole and make bogies. Tiger from right of green, Cink from left.
1:54 - Immelman's closed putting stance is interesting, we see it up close as he makes the par putt at 9. Leaderboard after nine: Immelman -10, Flesch -8, Snedeker -6, Woods -4, Mickelson -3. Time for leaders to play front nine: 2 hours and 29 minutes.
2:03 - CBS graphic: This week Immelman is -2 on the front, -8 on the back as he starts the final nine.
2:06 - Mickelson bogies 16, Lundquist tells us that none of the last 20 players on the course is under par for the day.
2:16 - That seemed like a new interview with Jack about teh 1986 Masters. It never gets old seeing those highlights, does it?
2:17 - "Now that's a roar, a Tiger roar" -Baker Finch says as Tiger drains a long, long putt on 11 to move within 5.
2:18 - CBS graphic: Trevor at Amen Corner, -3 this week.
2:20 - Tiger hits 7-iron over right pin on 12. On fringey/second cut area. Dry.
2:24 - Tiger makes nice par putt on 12, Flesch pars 11 to remain two back. Immelman and Snedeker waiting in fairway as leaf blowers clean 11 green. Baker Finch notes that they add to the "shine effect" on the greens.
2:29 - Snedeker has 229 into 11. Flesch dumps it in the middle of Rae's Creek, looks up at trees. But he said "Go" after making contact.
2:31 - Immelman on 11 fairway. 222 out. Backs off or called off. CBS: Immelman +2 on Par 3s, -10 on Par 4s, -2 on Par 5s for week.
2:33 - Flesch with a tremendous shot to 12 after taking a drop. Doesn't make the putt. Double.
2:34 - Real warm and fuzzy handshake there between Phil and Vijay on 18! Vijay hands Phil his card at back of green!
2:35 - Tiger has little backswing on 13. Faldo very surprised Stevie isn't providing some possible lay up yardages. Kostis: not much to be gained and lots to lose by being aggressive. Tiger hits great lay up leaves 100 yards or so.
2:38 - Baker Finch and Nick talking about Nick and his great memories on 11. Like there's nothing else to talk about right now. Snedeker bogey drops to -5.
2:40 - Tiger laughing as he backs off shot on 13. Kostis notes that wind was into him when he approached the shot, now down. Tiger nearly holes shot, has 4 footer for birdie to get him to -6 and in second place.
2:42 - Trevor drains long putt for par on 11. Roar! "Great stuff" - Baker Finch, four shot lead.
2:45 - Tiger misses the birdie putt on 13 but Immelman has major problems on 12 as his tee shot takes horrible bounce and ends up in pine straw left.
2:49 - Snedeker is standing awfully close to Immelman at 12 isn't he? Trevor leaves shot in fringe, but as Faldo says "understandably" with that stance above the ball.
2:51 - Snedeker drains a long one on 12 for birdie!! Gets him back to -6. Baker Finch estimates 35-40 feet. Immelman leaves par putt 4-5 feet short, drains that though. Lead is 3.
2:55 - Someone's cell phone is on and near a microphone!
2:57 - Tiger with a poor approach on 14, leaves himself a long birdie putt from lower shelf. Leaves that 9 feet short and misses, drops to -4 and five back. Immelman hits solid drive on 13 after Snedeker drives it deep down the left side to the nice flat lie. Wow, bold!
3:02 - Immelman lays up on 13, Kostis feels it takes bogey out of the equation. Snedeker seems stumped about what to do or by wind? Only has 199. They are talking it through but Faldo talks over them! Repeats yesterdays shot and hits it in the creek. Ugh.
3:06 - Immelman sticks wedge on 13 and that is huge. "That was special" -Faldo, Kostis praises "courage" to lay up. Amen.
3:10 - Flesch three putts 14. His first of the week. Drops to -5. With Snedeker making bogey on 13, lead about to go to five.
3:15 - Immelman makes the 2 footer, lead is five. "Is it enough?" Kostis asks.
3:19 - Wow, back to back commercial breaks. There's something you don't normally see at the Masters.
3:23 - Tiger stiffs it on 16 but appears to be out of reach barring a Tin Cup finish. Oh Verne points out the new viewing area on 16...again.
3:28 - Snedeker three putts. Flesch bogies 15. Tiger misses birdie putt on 16. Lead is 6.
3:33 - The wind appears to be getting worse and the temperature dropping. Immelman has his hands in his pockets as he walks off 15 tee.
3:39 - Leaderboard...wow: Immelman -10, Woods -4, Snedeker -4, Cink -4, Flesch -3
3:49 - Immelman clearly hits it in the water. Lundquist thinks he's in the sand. CBS has no shot of ripples?
3:54 - Tiger hits it close on 18. Birdie would get him to -5. He drains it. Looks at leaderboard, shakes his head.
3:56 - Immelman taps in for double. Drops to -8. Lead is 3 over Woods, 4 over Snedeker who bogies 16.
4:00 - "I just didn't make any putts all week." -Tiger Oh, and 60 Minutes is coming up for everyone except on the West Coast. In about an hour. Maybe.
4:05 - Immelman in front bunker, "anything long and left he could have a putter in his hand." - Oosty
4:10 - Hits excellent bunker shot, makes the putt! Good for you Trevor, three shot lead to 18.
4:12 - "A lot of sacrificing to get this prodigy to this point." -Nantz on the Immelman family.
4:14 - Great moment, Trevor exhales after hitting the tee shot on 18! Poor lad was so nervous he was unable to acknowledge the ovation on 18. Looks like he wanted to try but was just too focused on the tee shot.
4:19 - Oh my lord, he's in a deep divot! Ugh.
4:21 - Great shot, keeps it below. "Get lucky" is his call. He brings Snedeker over for the walk up 18. Class touch. He's not smilling, appears to be holding back tears.
4:24 - NIce standing-O for Snedeker. Shoots 77, finishes -4.
4:25 - Round now at 5 hours. The final putt...almost goes in. Big smile, waves, class act, waves his family out. Caddie already grabs the flag and hands it to his son. Somewhere in the Middle East Gary Player is bawling his brains out!
4:29 - Kerry Haigh double checking the scorecard on the computer.
4:36 - Green jacket ceremony starting. The mantle above the fireplace appears to have been cleaned! Billy: We have questions to be asked. Thankfully Nantz will be asking them.
4:38 - Gary Players advice mentioned. He certainly got the message on taking his time. Oh Jim asking about the family sacrifice. Trevor mentions his parents taking out extra mortgages to help pay for him to travel overseas.
4:40 - Trevor Immelman is the man at the 2008 Masters" - Nantz. Over and out.
Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Reader Comments (48)
Any thoughts on how course looked/played 30 yrs. ago versus now after watching the 1978 replay Geoff?
Wonder how this becomes a Jim Nantz Production?? Doesn't Augusta own its own, old footage? Not like the colorized B&W as last year...
Also wondered why Arnold Palmer was in the Butler Cabin ceremony? One of Bill Lane's few appearances...maybe he needed a caddy?
Nantz came up with the idea to do the rebroadcasts, so it's his baby. Really glad he thought of it, I just wish they were available on DVD.
Greens were Bermuda then, yes.
Nice music too.
Don't like the announcers talking about themselves esp. as they seem to be doing more of this year.
Finish could be shades of 1958 wasn't that the year Venturi skied to an 80 and Burke won in big wind?
Immelman is very slow and the wind is making him and the rest even slower...did they push tee times up?? CBS supposed to show all 18 of final round, but last group had teed off first when they came on...
Fred Ridley's new tightened slow play times obviously gone with the wind now!! (part of pre-tourney press conf)...looks like he's as ineffectual at Augusta as he was at USGA.
Immelman has got it now.
Lay up down the left side on #15, Trevor.
And if Tiger was supposed to be so unbeatable this year, does this mean he'll never win a Masters again? I kept hearing how untouchable he was going to be.
They sure set a great example...5-hour rounds for groups of 2 with less than 50 players on the course!!
Goofy Clampett even predicted 30+ career majors for Tiger, which seems very farfetched to me.
Nantz said it best summing up Tiger's week: If you're just a fraction off at Augusta you're miles away.
Remember all the critics when Player chose him for the President's Cup?