Masters Blog: Curran chases Tiger at Augusta
An inside look at what went on at golf's most prestigious tournament
By Tom E. Curran
NBCSports.com
Closing it out
 | Tom E. Curran
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Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 7:20 PM
All right, Immelman's in the fairway at 18 with a three-shot lead. Barring spontaneous combustion, he's going to win the Masters as we all expected.
For the record, four -- count 'em four -- guys got south of 72 today. They were Nick Watney, Stuart Appleby, Miguel Angel Jimenez (for some reason that's pronouced "Jiminetthhhh" by up in the tower at 18) and ol' Heathcliff Slocum.
Staggering home
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 7:08 PM
Just passed CBS' Jim Nantz who, apparently is working on his hokey catchphrase for a Trevor Immelman win.
Overheard ideas..
"Nobody expected ... HIMellman!"
"Sunday at the Masters ... today it's sink or ... SWIMellman!"
"The final putt on 18 ... around the rim and ... IMMELMAN!"
"The beauty and splendor of the green jacket ... it will never DIMellman!"
We can only wait to see what it'll be. Of course, at the rate Trevor's going, we might not find out until your local 11 o'clock news. Freakin' snail.
Meanwhile, Immelman's going to stagger home. He just doubled 16 and threw it in the front trap on 17. He's at 8-under. Maybe this ain't over yet.
Even is good
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 5:24 PM
There isn't a single player on the course right now that's under-par for the day. Flesch, Woods, Mickelson, Karlsson and Harrington are the only ones of the 32 that are at even-par.
Late Tiger surge?
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 5:20 PM
Tiger Woods is running out of holes and the human rain delay leading this Masters known as Trevor Immelman is showing no signs of coming undone in the spectacular fashion necessary for Woods to make a run.
And then Woods rolls in a crossgreen bomb for a birdie on 11. Looked like about 75 feet.
Through 11 holes, Woods is at 5-under - even for the day - while Immelman is 1-over for the day and is 10-under.
Paul Casey, who I thought had the mettle to hang around given his Ryder Cup experience and having played in the blustery conditions in Europe - has melted. He shot 41 on the front and is at 2-under. Stewart Cink, briefly at 5-under is back to 2-under.
Immelman heard the roar from Woods' birdie. He was on 10 at the time. We'll see if that changes his mood heading into Amen Corner.
Time for live action
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 2:49 PM
OK, I'm heading out to catch the Snimmelman meltdown first-hand. I didn't come to Georgia to watch this in the press room, dammit!
Sneddleman struggling on 1
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 2:34 PM
Sneddleman (the final pairing of Brandt Snedeker and Trevor Immelman) is all over the countryside on the first.
Immelman missed the fairway right then pounded out and across the fairway to the left rough. Snedeker took a good drive and blew it past the green into the gallery.
Tough starts
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 2:27 PM
Eight of the 42 golfers on the course are under par. The only player better than 1-under is Miguel Angel Jimenez. He's 2-under through 13.
And Tiger begins...
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 2:20 PM
Just in from watching Tiger finish his warmups then pound his drive on the first tee down the left side a mile. He's going to be very, very careful of the wind today. He spent a lot of time inspecting it before his second shot on one and it appears to have undone him.
He seemed to expect the wind to push his ball from right to left but it didn't and he left it on the fringe. Playmate Stewart Cink put his second shot about five feet away from further back.
Woods teed off at 2:10. He left the driving range to much hooting and hollering at 1:40. At the chipping green, he spent 12 minutes hitting first lobs with 54 and 60 degree wedges then chips, bump and runs and topped shots that bounded along hugging the grass.
Watching on TV in the press room, Woods just misread his birdie putt and still has five feet left for his par on the first.
And he....made it.
By the way, Snedeker looks very loose on the range, smiling between shots, chatting with guys passing through. I hope he has a day.
Let the breeze begin
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 1:06 PM
Only five of the 26 players on the course are currently under par on their rounds. It's a really beautiful day here but for golf it's not ideal. Cool - high 60s - with a persistent breeze. Nice day to push the baby around in the stroller, not a nice day to have to make up shots on a treacherous course.
If you're Trevor Immelman and Brandt Snedeker, 71 or 72 could be enough to get you in with a W.
Rough starts
Posted by Tom Curran: Sunday, April 13, 2008 11:41 AM
Six of the first nine players on the course at Augusta this morning have bogeyed the first hole. Hmmmmm.
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