SF Examiner: Bubba Watson walks away from Masters in tear-jerking triumph

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

And now we wait and hope, hope the next major golf championship of 2012, the U.S. Open at San Francisco’s Olympic Club in June, can be as full of tension and greatness — and, of course, drama — as the Masters.

What an ending Sunday, in the shadows after the setting sun dipped below the Georgia pines, a day of history, only the fourth double-eagle in 77 Masters and, because the winner couldn’t be determined until a sudden-death playoff, mystery.

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Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: 2 Penalty Strokes Mar Tiger's Opening Round

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The signs, posted after the rain, offered a warning: "Caution, slippery when wet.'' What they neglected to say was: "No less dangerous when dry."

Such a beautiful place, Augusta National, with those tall Georgia pines, finely mowed fairways and rolling greens. Such a troublesome place, Augusta National, when playing from under those pines or the wrong spots on those greens.

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© RealClearSports 2012

SF Examiner: Gender equity once again a hot-button topic at Augusta

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

Augusta, Ga. — For a few hours Wednesday, the most important person at Augusta National was not Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. It wasn’t a pro golfer. It wasn’t even a “he,” which is the reason Ginni Rometty and her status has become important.

They’ll be teeing off this morning in the 76th Masters. The entrants that is. On Wednesday...

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Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: McIlroy has unfinished business at the Masters

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- This is where it begins, on the fairways and under the pines. This is where the golfing year starts. It’s all been a warmup until now, until the first weekend of April, until the Masters.

Jack Nicklaus defined his year by the majors, and if that idea were good enough for Jack, still the greatest until proven differently, it’s good enough for the rest of us. And the rest of the pros.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Tiger-Rory Rivalry Bubbling at Masters

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The other golfer was talking like a fan, which as a kid growing up and admiring Tiger Woods’ success is exactly what Rory McIlroy used to be.

Tiger’s records were yardsticks for McIlroy, as Jack Nicklaus records were – still are – for Woods, proof what can be accomplished and reason to strive for excellence.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012