The 2013 Masters Champion - Adam Scott

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Godfrey Cooper
5 years ago
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The 2013 Masters Champion - Adam Scott It's never an easy task to have to pick a winner in an event such as the Masters, especially when you have to put it in print, but every once in a while you get

1 The 2013 Masters Champion - Adam Scott It's never an easy task to have to pick a winner in an event such as the Masters, especially when you have to put it in print, but every once in a while you get a vibe about a player and it seems like it was handed to you. I was covering Tavistock a few weeks ago, and was following the group of Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell and Adam Scott. Adam Scott just seemed a little different to me, even 1 / 6

2 though the Tavistock Cup is a casually competitive event, Scott looked dialed in and his shots just seemed crisper than everybody elses. At 32 years old, he has won his share of big events like The Players at TPC Sawgrass, and has blown his share of big events Open Championship at Lytham... but after the 77th Masters he can no longer be called a talent without heart and guts. The Aussie with the sweetest move in the game, made the clutch putt on the 72nd hole for what looked like the winning stroke, but ended up being his ticket to a sudden death playoff with Angel Cabrera (Cabrera stuck his approach on the 72nd hole to force the playoff). After exchanging pars on the the first playoff hole (the eighteenth), each faced birdie putts on the 10th (second playoff hole). At this point it was nearly dark, so a possible Monday finish was looking 2 / 6

3 likely. Cabrera, the 2009 Champion, rolled his uphill right to left birdie putt on what seemed to be the perfect line with the perfect speed, but somehow it hung on the high side of the cup. Par. Next, Adam Scott had his chance of fulfilling his destiny, and he knew it. It was getting dark at this point, he had to call in Stevie for a rare read on the downhill sidehill 12 foot putt. Stevie Williams told Adam it would move more than he thinks, two cups outside right. The putt seemed to move down the slope in slow motion, and as it dove into the cup the Aussie raised his arms in exaltation and instantly entered into the world of the sublime. Back to my drive home from Tavistock. As I made the 160 mile drive back to Palm Beach, I was thinking 3 / 6

4 about the Masters preview I had to write, after analyzing the entire field I wittled it down to 26 players who actually had a legitimate chance of walking away with the Green Jacket. It then came down to two players: Phil & Adam. Phil was not on form, but always seems to show up at Augusta so it was tough to overlook a guy who will tell anybody who will listen, that the Masters is his favorite event on his favorite course. Adam just flat out looked better to me than anybody else, and being 32 years old (prime golf age) with his recent major performances, it just seemed to point to a major breakthrough. Sunday he put up his third 69 of the week, his -9 score was equaled only by Cabrera... but in the playoff, the bloke with all that talent came through not only for himself but also for the nation of Austrailia. When the golf writers give you a standing ovation in the press room for your post round media 4 / 6

5 conference, it's a sign that the journalists that aren't supposed to pull for the player, pulled for the player. It's human nature, sometimes you just can't help but pull for a genuinely great guy... good to see the Golf Gods "pay it forward". Austrailia, rejoice... you have your Masters Champion. Scores: 5 / 6

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Couples Sunday.txt 1

Couples Sunday.txt 1 1 FEBRUARY 14, 2010 INTERVIEW WITH FRED COUPLES Q. Fred, another shoot-out. I mean, the slug-fest with Watson two weeks ago? FRED COUPLES: Yeah, I got to watch that. That was easier, I think even easier