AUSTIN, Texas: Jordan Spieth tapped in for bogey to win the Masters, bent over briefly after which straightened with a smile. That was his favourite picture from his 2015 victory.
The finest {photograph}? That was one he by no means would have seen coming.
Spieth figures it was not more than two hours after he made his last putt, proper earlier than he joined the Augusta National members for a Sunday evening dinner, that the membership introduced him an image body with a set of photographs that he had by no means seen, primarily as a result of he was busy placing.
They already had all these totally different footage put collectively in a single body you, your caddie’s response and all of the household you had there. My dad and mom. Annie (now his spouse).”
It additionally had photographs of his brother, Steven, and his grandfather, each on the grounds when he gained. The membership even managed to get a photograph of his sister, Ellie, who was watching from dwelling in Dallas.
Everyone who was with you, all capturing the second, Spieth stated.
Even in a day when photographs are extra available, that is no small job to have it able to current to the Masters champion earlier than successful has even sunk in. There’s lots of traditions in contrast to others. This one doesn’t get a lot consideration.
But it certain received Patrick Reed’s consideration.
Reed, who gained in 2018, says he doesn’t hold lots of golf photographs in his workplace or round the home in Houston. But this one he has in a closet as he tries to seek out the best place for it.
It’s superior, Reed stated. How quick they get it circled is a joke.
His victory got here right down to the ultimate putt, a brief par for a one-shot victory over Rickie Fowler.
It was actually … I signed my card, the ceremony (on the 18th inexperienced), straight to media after which we got here again to Butler Cabin as they’re getting the members collectively for dinner, Reed stated. It was already sitting there. Some of the photographs are whenever you make the final putt. There’s certainly one of hugging (spouse) Justine.
To have all that collectively, it’s simply superior.
KOEPKA ON THE MEND
Four-time main champion Brooks Koepka stated he’s busy as hell attempting to recuperate from surgical procedure on his proper knee. The query is whether or not he can return in time for the Masters.
Koepka, whose profession has been slowed by accidents to his ankle (2016), wrist (2018) and left knee (2020), dislocated his proper knee cap and had ligament harm throughout a fall. He had surgical procedure on March 16.
Progressing properly and blissful the way it’s going, Koepka stated in a textual content message Tuesday.
Koepka already has missed three majors during the last 5 years, together with the Masters in 2018 whereas recovering from the wrist harm. He needed to miss the U.S. Open he was coming off back-to-back wins and a runner-up end in his earlier three appearances whereas letting his left leg heal.
There isn’t any deadline for committing to play within the Masters, which begins April 8.
ALL WET AND STILL AWAY
Matt Kuchar gained the holes and nonetheless wasn’t certain what to make of the peculiar rule that got here into play throughout his semifinal loss to Scottie Scheffler on the Dell Technologies Match Play.
On the par-5 twelfth, Kuchar hit his second shot to the entrance of the inexperienced about 90 toes away from the opening. Scheffler hit into the water and needed to drop simply over 100 yards away.
According to Rule 6.4a(1), it was Kuchar’s flip to play as a result of Scheffler’s shot was about 60 toes away by no means thoughts that it was on the backside of the river, it technically was nearer to the opening. Kuchar rolled his putt as much as 3 toes, Scheffler hit wedge to 40 toes for his fourth shot and Kuchar gained the opening.
On the par-4 thirteenth, Scheffler tried to drive the inexperienced and got here up a yard quick into water. Kuchar was effectively proper into the mounds however pin-high. Scheffler was standing some 200 yards again (from the place the ball final crossed water), ready on Kuchar to chip.
It was form of a head-scratcher, Kuchar stated Tuesday. I get it the way it works, however I dont perceive it and I most likely dont fairly agree with it, both. I simply cant work out a scenario the place it actually is smart. When a ball is totally unplayable, I dont perceive why the away course of adjustments in that scenario, when anyone has to obviously take a drop someplace additional away.
Scheffler went on to beat him and advance to the finals, the place he misplaced to Billy Horschel. Kuchar gained his comfort match.
WALKER CUP
British Amateur champion Joe Long and Angus Flanagan had been amongst 10 gamers chosen for the Great Britain & Ireland group that may play U.S. amateurs within the Walker Cup at Seminole subsequent month.
Long gained the British Amateur final summer time and can play within the Masters subsequent week. Flanagan performs faculty golf at Minnesota and final month gained the Collegiate Showcase at Riviera to earn a spot within the discipline on the Genesis Invitational.
The different GB&I gamers named to the group are Barclay Brown, Alex Fitzpatrick, Ben Jones, Matty Lamb, John Murphy, Mark Power, Ben Schmidt and Sandy Scott. The group has seven gamers from England, two from Ireland and one from Scotland.
The Americans, who named their group earlier, have gained the final two instances at Royal Liverpool in 2019 and Los Angeles Country Club in 2017.
LPGA IN HAWAII
The LPGA Tour returns to Oahu two weeks after its first main, however to not the identical golf course.
The Lotte Championship is transferring this 12 months from Ko Olina to Kapolei Golf Club for its ninth version. What hasnt modified is the event will begin on Wednesday and finish on Saturday. The LPGA then leaves Hawaii for Los Angeles earlier than embarking on a three-week swing by means of Asia.
Kapolei beforehand hosted the Ladies Hawaiian Open from 1996 to 2001. Most lately, it hosted the Pacific Links Championship on the PGA Tour Champions from 2012-14.
Last years event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not going to have spectators at Kapolei.
DIVOTS
Billy Horschel had earned $1,538,772 in 12 tournaments this season on the PGA Tour. He made $1.82 million for successful the Dell Technologies Match Play. … The Travelers Championship has prolonged its title sponsorship by means of 2030. Travelers Companies has been a part of the event because it started in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1952 and has been title sponsor since 2007. It sometimes is the week after the U.S. Open. … Comcast Business has taken over sponsorship of this system that doles out $10 million in bonus cash to the PGA Tour gamers who end within the prime 10 within the FedEx Cup after the common season. The No. 1 participant within the standings will get $2 million, whereas tenth place pays $500,000. … Americans now have gained 10 of the final 11 instances within the World Golf Championships. … The Austrian Golf Open returns to the European Tour schedule and might be performed the week after the Masters. The occasion was the primary to be held final 12 months when the tour returned following the pandemic-caused shutdown.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Lexi Thompson has completed second, third, fourth and fifth (not in that order) in her final 5 appearances on the ANA Inspiration and is a mixed 49-under par.
FINAL WORD
My son informed his trainer his mother has two jobs and his dad has zero, so it is going to be cool for him to observe me. Hopefully, I could make the minimize. Hell assume I even have a job this week. J.J. Killeen, who gained a 2-for-1 playoff Monday to qualify for the Valero Texas Open.
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