TAMPA, Fla. — So much for reality TV. Survivor, Dancing with the D-List, the Amazing(ly dull) Race, Undercover Boss. Not one of those examples of cheap network programming could hold a candle to the reality TV we watched from Augusta, Ga., this weekend.
I loved the fact Phil Mickelson won the tournament (160-under on that golf course is pretty special) and was able to share the win with his wife. Great story. Good for Phil.
However, the real story was Tiger Woods — and what a spectacular story it was. The 2010 Masters was a movie unto itself. Forget that Woods was an amazing 68-70-70-69 to finish in fourth place at 11-under. Forget that after 144 days out of the game, hounded by a sick American mainstream media that had absolutely nothing else to sell, Woods played four rounds under par at a tremendously tough golf course in the middle of a pressure-packed atmosphere that would have brought anyone else on the planet to his knees. It was one of the greatest athletic performances in history and unquestionably the best fourth place finish ever.
But what was even better — and certainly more entertaining — was how Woods played. On the final day, he was three over after the first five and then played the final 13 holes down the stretch at six under. On at least four occasions, you thought Woods was done, ready to fade to the back of the pack. But he kept turning it one, kept coming back, kept making birdies.
It was the best weekend in sport in years. Too bad Woods is going t take more time off.
In the meantime, the Stanley Cup playoffs start this week. If they’re a tenth as entertaining as the Masters, it will be the best post-season in decades.
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