An Unlikely Masters Champion

By Coast

The final round at Augusta on Sunday produced a 31 year old, American champion. His name...Zach Johnson. Johnson, edged out the other, more well known 31 year old American Tiger Woods to win his first green jacket.

At the beginning of the day on Sunday, Tiger Woods was at +3, 1 shot back of Stuart Applebee who at +2 led the way for the final pairing. After Applebee double bogeyed the first hole and Tiger grasped a share of the lead, everyone except one man thought it was over. That man was Zach Johnson. Johnson began the day at +4, 2 back of the lead and one back of Woods. Maybe Johnson was too inexperienced to understand what he was doing, especially since he has never finished in the top 15 of a major and missed the cut in the final 3 majors of 2006. It has happened all too often that the world's best players have caved on Sunday's in majors at the mere sight of Tiger Woods at the top of the leaderboard. Today, however, was a different day and Johnson was going up against a different Tiger Woods.

On the front 9, many golfers were making moves up the leaderboard, especially Rory Sabbatini, Retief Goosen and of course, Zach Johnson. One man who wasn't was Tiger Woods. Woods bogeyed the 1st and the 6th in route to a front 9 37. This was worst out of all the contenders. Sabbatini fired a 33, Johnson a 35 and Goosen a 32. Tiger's playing partner, Applebee, shot a 37. Tiger at +4 trailed all 4 men at the turn and was fading fast.

Things got worse for Woods on 10. He aimed a 6 foot par putt right edge. The only problem was that the putt moved right. It was an obvious mis read and Tiger was at +5 and playing himself right out of contention. The rest of the contenders kept playing well however, especially Zach Johnson.

Johnson took advantage of Woods' lack luster play by playing the best 9 holes of golf in his career. At about the same time Woods dropped a shot on 10 to fall to +5, Johnson Birdied 13 to get to +2. He followed that up with a birdie on the par 4 14th to get to +1 and to put himself 4 clear of the supposedly unbeatable Woods.

Standing on the 13th tee, Tiger was well aware of the situation. He was 4 back on the back 9 of the Masters, a tournament he has won 4 times and held the lead alone for a brief period on the front 9. The whole world knew Tiger wasn't going to go quietly. After an excellent tee shot, Tiger started at just under 200 yards for his 2nd shot on the par 5. He played his 2nd perfectly. He landed a 5 iron on the back left portion of the green and let the slope funnel the ball to within 3 feet. Tiger drilled the putt for eagle and just like that was 2 back.

Johnson, who was standing on the 16th tee must have heard the roar. He did, and it surely would phase him...but it didn't. On the 170 yard par 3, Johnson hit his tee shot to within 12 feet. He would go on to make that and go to Even par for the tournament after birdies on 3 of 4 during the back 9 of the final round of the masters.

Tiger would go on to miss a 15 footer for birdie on 14 and then approached the 15th knowing he would need birdie at least on the par 5. His tee shot was decent but found itself slightly behind a tree. He would need to pull off a 230 yard power fade to reach the green, a very risky shot that only Tiger could possibly pull off. The safe bet, lay up and give yourself an uphill pitch and try and make a birdie. Tiger being Tiger decides to try and pull a Mickelson. He tried hitting the power fade, the risky low percentage shot and he buried it in the water. He salvaged a par after an excellent up and down but he let an opportunity slip away leaving him 3 back.

Johnson showed some nerves on 17 by missing a short putt for par and dropping to +1 but stayed solid and hit a perfect tell shot on 18. Woods, who was on 16 now needed a birdie desperately and layed a perfect tell shot to about 12 feet. However, unlike Johnson, Woods missed the putt and remained 2 back, with 2 to play.

Johnson, standing in the fairway on 18 could taste it. Center of the green, 2 putts, get out of here with a 69 and make Tiger birdie out. It wasn't that simple however. Johnson pushed his 2nd and it was going right for the green side bunker. It was Zach Johnson's day though. His ball settled mere inches short of the sand, leaving him an easy pitch from just off the green rather than an awkward attempt from the sand. Johnson got up and down and easily entered the clubhouse at +1 289.

Woods now needed birdies on the last 2 holes and his 2nd shot on 17 summed up his week. He hit a wedge that he though was good and right online, except it was short and landed in the bunker. Woods couldn't believe it as he yelled "What the hell just happened?! Seriously, what the hell just happened? This hole is playing straight down wind!!" No Tiger, you hit the wrong club. No one else was mis judging distances from the fairway that miserably all day. You hit the wrong club, it is that simple. Woods would go on to miss the bunker shot and miss his 2nd on 18 and it was over. Zach Johnson won the Masters with a 69. Tiger shot a 72 to finish tied for 2nd.

This Sunday at Augusta was anything but normal. Tiger fell apart and played a terrible round (for his standards) when it mattered most. This tournament was there for the taking. His 5th green jacket and 13th major were in his hands, and he didn't take it. Instead it was Zach Johnson winning his first major and probably last.

One final note: They really need to do something about the green jacket presentation. There isn't a more awkward moment in sports than the former champion presenting the new champion the green jacket in Butler cabin with the chairman and with Jim Nantz. Please, change that.