RealClearSports: The Masters We Used to Know Returns

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- This was the Masters we used to know. This was the Masters of blue skies and blooming azaleas and golf shots that send an explosion of noise down the fairways and a chill up the spine.

This was the Masters where eagles drop and expectations rise, and the top of the leaderboard becomes a spectator's dream.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

Newsday: Mickelson's eagles help him soar

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Phil Mickelson was watching the leader boards, as was just about everyone else at Augusta National.

Mickelson knew that things were happening furiously on this spectacular Saturday, knew Lee Westwood was making birdies, knew Tiger Woods was making birdies and bogeys.

Then Mickelson, who briefly had fallen five shots behind Westwood, started making things happen himself.

He knocked in an 8-footer for an eagle 3 on the par-5 13th. He knocked in a 7-iron from 141 yards for an eagle 2 on the par-4 14th. He almost knocked in a wedge for an eagle on the par-5 15th, the ball stopping inches from the cup for a birdie.

"I was expecting that last one to disappear, too,'' Mickelson said.

After an up-and-down start, Mickelson suddenly appeared as a solid Masters contender. The champion in 2004 and 2006 had a 5-under-par 67 and is at 11-under 205 after three rounds, a shot behind Westwood, whom he briefly passed before making bogey at 17.

Two others, Dustin Johnson last year and Dan Pohl in 1982, had consecutive eagles at Augusta on the same holes, 13 and 14. Neither ended up a winner. Then neither was ranked No. 3 in the world and had been No. 2, as the 39-year-old Mickelson.

"I played about as well as I have in a long time,'' Mickelson said.

Once again his wife, Amy, weakened from treatment for breast cancer, remained at the Augusta home the family is renting. Whether worries over her health have affected him he won't confide, but his golf has been ineffective at the start of this season.

"This is the way I expect to play,'' was Mickelson's comment before the Masters. "I feel great about my game. I'm hitting a lot of good iron shots, driving the ball well and feel very confident with the putter, even on some treacherous greens. And I've made a bunch of putts.''

Including one on the 510-yard 13th, where he said he took a chance on his second shot, flying it over Rae's Creek.

"I hit a good drive,'' Mickelson explained, "and I had a 7-iron to the back pin from 195. I took a chance to go at it, and hit one of the best shots of the tournament to about 8 feet, and it spurred the rest of the round.''

Not that he expected to follow with the wedge into the cup on the 14th, although he did expect to make birdie. "It's the easiest pin they can have on the hole.''

Eagle, eagle, birdie. Mickelson had gone from 7 under to 12 under in three holes.

"There were roars going all over the place,'' Mickelson affirmed. "You couldn't figure out what [was happening] because there were roars throughout the course. It was a really fun day to see the leader board changing.''

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/mickelson-s-eagles-help-him-soar-1.1856289
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Newsday: This Masters is taking on an English accent

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

Hoist a glass of Tetley's Bitter.

Have a plate of bangers and mash.

Sing a few choruses of "God Save the Queen.''

Tiger Woods' impressive return to golf notwithstanding, this Masters has taken on an English accent.

Halfway through Masters 2010, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, English to the core, share the lead with 8-under-par totals of 136. If this keeps up, the Waffle House on Riverwatch Parkway may put bubble and squeak on the menu in place of grits.

Only the other day, Westwood said, "I think en masse, we are more equipped to go mob-handed to the major championships now."

What happened Friday at Augusta National lent support to his premise.

Westwood, who will be 37 before the end of April, shot a 3-under 69, which included an eagle 3 on the second hole and a double-bogey 6 on the 14th. The 36-year-old Poulter had a 4-under 68 with five birdies and only one bogey, that coming unfortunately at 18.

So the two Brits, who will be paired in Saturday's round, are two shots ahead of Woods, K.J. Choi, Ricky Barnes, Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson.

"If you had bothered to look at the world rankings,'' Westwood pointed out, "and seen how many English players were up there, and three in the top 10 [Westwood, 4; Paul Casey, 6; Poulter, 7], we're not there by mistake.

"We ought to be contending in these major championships, in the biggest events where the best players contend.''

They are. And they have been.

Poulter, the guy who used to wear trousers made from a Union Jack, finished second to Padraig Harrington in the 2008 British Open. Westwood came within a putt of tying Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open, ending up third, and last year was third in both the British Open, also missing the playoff by a shot, and the PGA Championship.

Winner of the Accenture Match Play in February at Tucson, Poulter was called one of the favorites for this Masters, and that didn't displease him a bit.

"I like that it's going to put a bit of pressure on me,'' Poulter said. "It's going to make me focus. This is a golf course you can't let your mind wander at all, in any way, shape or form. Otherwise, it will penalize you badly.''

Westwood was brilliant a decade ago, even leading the 1999 Masters briefly. He slumped badly in the mid 2000s but came back in 2008.

Asked what a win in a major would mean, Westwood, who has victories on every continent, said, "It's the only thing really missing in my career.''

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http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/this-masters-is-taking-on-an-english-accent-1.1855184
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.