The Ultimate Green Jacket

On this Easter Sunday, it was a fight to the finish as Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen both ended the fourth day of the Masters at -10.  For only the ninth time in its history, the Masters was going to sudden death.  The pair again pared hole 18 and were sent to 10 for a double overtime matchup.  Watson was first to hit of the tee.  After his opponent sunk the ball 15 feet off the green into a bed of pine-straw, it looked like Oosthuizen really would something to smile about.  But on his second shot, Watson had a wondrous miracle recovery shot.  The ball beautifully landed within putting distance to the hole.   Oosthuizen was up next, but he missed two attempts at a put leaving his final hole at bogey.  To win his first major title and very own green jacket, all Watson had to do was par the hole.  On his fourth shot, he tapped the white ball in and immediately the water works started.  He quickly hugged his caddie before  rushing off to his momma and close friends.  


Today's game started off with quite a shocker.  Oosthuizen grabbed control of the final round with a stunning albatross on the second hole.  But as the saying goes, the Masters doesn't really start until the Sunday's back nine.  A group of golfers got close, and Matt Kuchar even held a share of the lead for a hole after an eagle at 15.  But in the end, it was only Watson who could catch up to Oosthuizen.  With four consecutive birdies on holes 13-16, he made himself known as a contender.  

Phil Mickelson had another noteworthy, game-changing play of the day; unfortunately, his was for all the wrong reasons.  At the par 3 fourth hole, Mickelson rocketed the ball into the thick brush left on the green.  With his swing badly obstructed by the  shrubs, he tried to knock it out right-handed and barely moved the ball.  On his third  shot, he went right handed again and finally got the ball within range of the green.  When it was all over, Mickelson ended with a triple bogey falling at just 5 under.  He ended the day tied for third at -8.  I bet he's wishing he would have taken the extra stroke and reset the shot.  It could have cost him his fourth green jacket. 

To find out where your favorite golfer finished, click here for the 2012 Masters Leaderboard.