3 time winner and most beloved of the Augusta faithful, Phil Mickelson made a disastrous triple bogey 6 on the par 3, 4^th hole. His second triple bogey of the tournament would be too much to overcome. He fought back valiantly and finished tied for third at 8 under par, which would be two shots out of the lead. That he was a factor at all though, is testament to the enormous talent of this erstwhile star.

Former US Amateur Champion Matt Kuchar made a strong run and was briefly tied for the lead after an inspired eagle-3 on the 15^th hole before a bogey on the next would eliminate the likeable Georgian.

Former world #1 player, Lee Westwood contended again in a Major Championship. The Englishman may be the most consistently fine ball striker in the world today, but his putter seems to let him down, whenever he needs it the most. Westwood would lead the Masters in greens in regulation but be third from last in putting.  Sadly this continues to be the rule rather than the exception with Westwood, although surely his time must come to win his first Major.

Overnight leader, Peter Hanson, struggled early on and overcame the most dreaded of all shots, an out and out shank on the 12^th hole, to finish in a tie for third at 8 under. Hanson’s play was remarkable in that he was able to overcome the most embarrassing of all shots in the greatest theater, to finish the way that he did. This was Hanson’s first taste of Major Championship pressure and it would not be as surprise to see him contend in future Majors.

In the end it came down to two men.

Louis Oosthuizen , with a swing like melted butter, and an unflappable  demeanor, would simply not be denied. Oosthuizen’s day got off to a sensational start when he made a double-eagle, 2 on the par 5 second hole which took him straight to the top of the leaderboard where he would remain for the rest of the day.

The South African who won the British Open two years ago in a runaway by seven shots has firmly stamped himself as one of the premier players in the game today. Playing an almost flawless final round, Oosthuizen was almost clinical in his dissection of Augusta. The quiet South African is the son of farming people and owns an almost flawless swing and an even better putting stroke. He demonstrated such calm under the most enormous pressure, culminating with a courageous 5 foot putt for par on the final hole of regulation play to record a 72 hole score of 278 (10 under par).

America’s ‘other’ great lefty is Bubba Watson. Watson is a complete throwback as a player. He does not have a swing coach or a ‘team’, preferring to work on his unique swing and game, on his own. He hits the ball as far as anyone in the world and may be the best shot-maker in golf today, if not of all time.  Often times the colorful, and aptly named Bubba, has been his own worst enemy. He is a source of constant movement which becomes more pronounced as a tournament comes to an end. He freely admits how nervous he is, and that he needs to work on that (very few other players would be that honest about their emotions).

Watson was 4 shots back before storming to the lead with birdies on 13, 14, 15 and 16, then making pars on the last two holes to finish tied with Oosthuizen at 10 under par.

Oosthuizen and Watson could not be more completely different in personality, swing and demeanor, as the playoff would demonstrate.

On the first playoff hole, wailing away with his upright and loose swing, Watson drove his tee shot on the difficult 18^th hole, an astonishing 320 yards uphill, while  Oosthuizen elegantly hit his driver into the middle of the fairway. Oosthuizen then played a lovely 7 iron to 16 feet right of the flag, while Watson hit a wedge (yes, a wedge) that carried long but spun back to be inside the South African and give him 9 feet for his birdie. Oosthuizen barely missed his birdie putt on the right edge of the hole while Watson missed his putt on the left edge of the hole.

The second playoff was far more exciting. Bubba managed to hook his pink driver, 40 yards into the trees on the 10^th hole, while the unflappable Louis, finally, flapped and hit his 3 wood 30 yards right but it hit a tree and then ricocheted back to almost the fairway. Oosthuizen then hit his approach shot to the front of the green. Watson was in the trees, 155 yards from the hole and hit one of “those” shots. He hooked a wedge 30 yards around more trees and finished an amazing 14 feet below the hole. Oosthuzien’s chip ran past the hole 13 feet and he barely missed his par putt, leaving Watson with two putts to win. Two putts later, Bubba Watson became a Major Champion.

The man who wears his heart so openly on his sleeve then broke down, first in an embrace with his caddy, and then his Mother before a host of his fellow players celebrated, with this most unorthodox of players.

Golf needs you Bubba, and we celebrate your success. May this be the first of many.

In particular, the manner that 3-time Champion, Phil Mickelson has conducted himself and how he has set the stage for could be one of the fabled tournament’s most splendid Sundays.

In modern vernacular let’s call this the “APP’s”:

ATTITUDE. Winning golf, no matter at what level is all about your attitude. How you approach a final round. If you embrace the fact that in this game, things do not always go your way (in Thursdays’ first round, Phil Mickelson was a dismal 4-over par after 12 holes and seemingly out of it. He managed to birdie his last two holes to record a manageable 2-over par, 74).

PATIENCE.  Mickelson made 9 straight pas to begin his third round on Saturday, before exploding to shoot a back nine 30, which propelled him to a 3 day score of 8 under par and just one shot behind leader, Peter Hanson. You cannot try to overpower Augusta National and shoot at every pin. Depending on pin placements, weather and tournament circumstance, Par, is a very good score on many of the holes.

PASSION. Mickelson loves the Masters, and embraces its’ history and tradition so much, that he was on the first tee to watch the Big 3 (Nicklaus, Palmer and Player) hit their ceremonial tee shots to begin the event. It was 7 hours before his tee time yet Mickelson had this to say “I’ve been wanting to do that every year, and this worked out great because I had the last tee time,” Mickelson said. “It’s an experience that I really enjoyed — watching those guys hit it, what they have meant to the game of golf. They’re the Big Three and they brought the game to where it is. Anybody who has a chance to come to the Masters, it’s worth getting up early to watch those guys tee off.”

Or this excerpt from his post-round interview after Saturdays’ magnificent 66, which propelled him into contention:  “I love it here, and I love nothing more than being in the last group on Sunday at the Masters. It’s the greatest thing in professional golf.”

It will to be his fourth final round pairing in the last 9 Masters.

There is still so much yet to be written as we sit enthralled to watch the last round. There is the old adage that the Masters’ doesn’t really begin until the final 9 holes on Sunday. Very true. However, the very fact that Mickelson is in contention at all is testament to all his “Apps”.

That same catastrophe would be reason enough for any 25 year old playing in their first Major Championship, to want to run away and hide.

Not so, Keegan Bradley.

At the Atlanta Athletic Club on Sunday, the extraordinary happened at an event that was up until then, anything but extraordinary.

25 year old PGA Tour rookie, Keegan Bradley, trailed similarly unheralded, 34 year old journeyman, Jason Dufner, by 2 shots. That was until Bradley made a disastrous triple bogey-6 on the diabolical, 15^th hole.  At that moment, he trailed by 5, with three holes to play.

At which point a legend was born.

The last four holes of the Atlanta Athletic Club have been described as the most difficult 4 closing holes in Major Championship history.

Bradley proceeded to make a birdie at both the 16^th and 17^th holes before making par at the ridiculously difficult 18^th hole.

During that time, the up until now, unflappable Dufner, had nine fingers wrapped around the Wannamaker trophy (golf’s biggest trophy which is awarded the winner of the PGA Championship). He would play those last four holes in 3-over par.

Playoff.

Bradley immediately birdied the first hole of the 3-hole playoff, giving him a one shot edge. On their second hole, the par 3 17^th both players found dry land with their tee shots. Dufner 3 putted from 40 feet while Bradley safely two putted for par and a two stroke lead heading to the infamous 18^th. Both players hit great drives and equally superb approach shots to almost identical positions, 20 feet from the hole (only three players had made birdie on this hole all day). Heroically, Dufner made his putt for birdie, and watched resignedly while Bradley two putted for par, and a one stoke victory.

There were a lot of voices complaining that this was a tournament of nobodies-given the unheralded names at the top of the leaderboard for most of the week. Tiger Woods missed the cut by a whopping 6 shots and may not be seen again competitively in the US for 6 months. And that is OK for golf. As great as he once was, ‘he’ is not the game-and the game not only survives but it is finding new stars.

Like Keegan Bradley.

Bradley has royal golf lineage. His aunt is Hall of Famer and LPGA great, Pat Bradley, who won 6 Major Championships in the 1980’s. Her Mother, back at her home in Vermont, used to famously ring a cowbell after each of her 31 victories. When Pat retired and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, the cowbell retired with her and is enshrined with her.

Perhaps the cowbell should be dusted off and get ready for some more ringing.

Steve Williams now caddies for the brilliant, if sometimes underachieving, Australian, Adam Scott. Scott’s swing has long been compared to Woods’ (they shared the same coach for years, Butch Harmon before Tiger switched to Hank Haney). And while Scott’s swing has remained as pure a motion as you can find, it has been his putter that has been his nemesis.

Over the last weekend, Scott was dominant at Firestone CC, winning the World Golf Championship, Bridgestone Invitational, by an impressive 4 shots.

In what may have been a deliberate overstatement, Williams said; “Honestly, this was the greatest week of my life. The people here have been absolutely astounding. This is the greatest week of my life caddying, and I sincerely mean that.”

Perhaps part of that satisfaction came from the fact that this week was Woods’ return to competition and he finished a very pedestrian, 37^th; 17 shots behind Scott. Or that Firestone CC and the Bridgestone Invitational was the tournament that Woods dominated like no other. At one point he had won a remarkable 7 out of 10 of these titles.

So does the caddy have that much to do with a victory?

Yes; and no.

For the “no”; it must be noted that the player will always be the one that is actually hitting the shots and that will never change.

For the “yes” however:

There is no sport that is more solitary than golf and the relationship between player and caddy is one important cog in what can be a very squeaky wheel.

A great caddy is a part time physiologist and a full time baby sitter. There is an old saying on the PGA Tour that a good caddy should observe three basic commandments:

1. “Put Up”. Basically be able to tolerate anything that his player might do or say to him
2. ‘Keep Up’. Always remain at your players’ side and be ready IF he has something to say to you.
3. “Shut Up”. Under the penalty of death, do not in any event, ever initiate a conversation. Speak only when spoken to.

While employed by Woods, one of Williams’ primary functions was to be an “enforcer” and not allow people (press, media, and fans) to get close to his player. On several occasions, Williams, took his job to extremes with behavior that was over the top. Getting into heated shouting matches with people, destroying cameras and generally behaving like a bouncer.

Working for the very easy-going, Scott seemed to have relaxed the aggressive, Williams. And Williams’ influence on Scott seems to have allowed him to find the extra gear that his game, thus far, has lacked. This was the 31 year old Scott’s ninth victory on the PGA Tour and may well prove to be the catalyst for him to become everything that he has promised for so long.

Rory Mcllroy’s US Open performance became a virtuoso ascendance to the world’s greatest stage. It was not a victory because to be victorious you need opponents and for the last week; Rory has walked alone.

You simply do not shoot a four round total of 16 under par at the US Open (you can rely on the USGA to make the set up at next years’ Open one of their most diabolical). It is a scoring record that may well never be broken.

Just two months ago, Mclleroy took a four shot overnight lead into the last round of the Masters before shooting a final round, 80. Most 21 year olds’ who would have to endure  that kind of public capitulation, might never be heard from again. Not so, the young man from Northern Ireland. He walked with his head held high, and behaved like a perfect gentleman. When interviewed immediately following the round, he was polite, gracious and there was not one iota of self-pity. It was a display of maturity well beyond his years; but more importantly, it was the blueprint for the way that the game, should be played.

We had all already marveled at Mcllroy’s prodigious talent but it was after the Masters, that we hoped that this might be Golf’s new star. The brilliant Belfast meteor that is Mcllroy, is exactly that.

Here’s why:

Learning to win is a “process”. Mcllroy has had a share of the lead at some point in each of the last four Major Championships.

Mcllroy hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation in a US Open. He led from wire-to-wire and he won by 8 shots.

The great majority of European players who have played with Rory over the last few years universally agree that he has the greatest swing that they have ever seen. To quote 2010 US Open Graeme McDowell, “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen.” Or this from world #1 Luke Donald, “I think he has probably the most talent I’ve ever seen from a golfer.”

He has a head on his shoulders that is much older than his 22 years. “I felt like I got over the Masters pretty quickly, and I kept telling you guys that,” Mcllroy said at his press conference Sunday evening. “I don’t know if you believed me or not.” And this is the quote that he posted on his Twitter account the day after he shot 80 at Augusta “It’s repetition of affirmations that leads to belief, and once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen – Muhammad Ali”.

This is the first Major Championship win of in his career, which leaves him 17 behind Jack Nicklaus.

It will not be his last.

A contact window and bank account has been set up for donations. Your donation goes directly to the office of the Governor of Miyagi prefecture and will be distributed properly.

There are two different types of donation you can make, and you will have to specify which one you would like to support.

1.      Contribution to support the daily lives of the people who had lost their houses.
2.      Donation for the resources to restore and reconstruct towns.

Bank account information:

The name of the bank:  The 77 Bank, Ltd.
Branch:  Kencho Branch
Swift code:  BOSSJPJT
Account #:  206-5515581
Account Name:  Miyagi-ken Saigai Taisaku Honbu
Address:  3-chome 8-1
Honcho, Aoba-ku
Sendai-shi
Miyagi-ken, Tohoku
JAPAN (This address is for both Miyagi Prefectural office and the bank)

Purpose for donation:  Relief Donation (or Saigai Gienkin)

Bird Golf Academy has already made the first donation (our Bank wired the funds very easily); on behalf of Hiroko and Isamu

We would beseech all of you who are able, to please also do so. To all, of the Nation of Japan; know that you remain foremost in our thoughts and prayers. 

We had the great privilege of getting to know Jeff Boucher when he came for a school at Wild Horse Pass in January of 2009.

Jeff graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1979, with a degree in photography. He was an adventurer and outdoorsman extraordinaire, having led guided tours and expeditions all over the world. Jeff was a climbing lead for the REI Company in Washington and worked also for the National Science Foundation. For the last several years he had owned his own photography studio which showcased his enormous talents as a photographer.

Jeff was perhaps the most rabidly passionate golfer that I have ever met.

In October of 2010, Jeff married the love of his life, Victoria Graves and moved to Sonoma, California.

For the past 12 years, Jeff battled cancer. “Battle” really doesn’t do him justice. Jeff dealt with enormous pain and adversity, with an insatiable spirit. A complete and steadfast refusal to surrender and an indomitable will.

Jeff did all these things with humor. With love. And with so much courage.

I only ever had the chance to spend 20 minutes with Jeff in person, although we corresponded several times and communicated on Face Book.

I have been crying for the last 4 hours since I heard of his passing. It is most surely a Life so well led, that can inspire and affect one, so much.

One of Jeff’s favorite quotes was: “No, I don’t think that we’ll make it, but we must continue on in the best possible style.” from movie the ‘The Eiger Sanction’.

Jeff; you had the best possible style.

You have taught us all so many things. You were and will always, remain: an inspiration.

It is my belief, that our Heavenly Father needed a fourth for His Saturday morning foursome, and you were the one He chose.

Two young men, who would go on to dazzle this world with their brilliance, grace and charisma would excel that year. Parallels in a universe connected in ways that we are not meant to understand but in which we should just….marvel.

One of these young men was the Captain of the Wake Forest Golf Team and the other the Captain of the Tennis Team. One of whom would become famous the world over while the other would dedicate himself first as a Clergyman, and then as a sage.

The captain of the tennis team would spend the first 30 years of his professional life as a Chaplain. In this role he was a friend, healer and spiritual adviser to thousands but it also gave birth to his fascination with, and research of; the human mind.

That fascination would lead to his second career in which he would become one of the founding Fathers of what today has become, an industry. As with all innovators and pioneers, he encourages people to “think outside the box”, to go beyond what “ought to happen” and show people “how” to do something.

He is the author of four books. His work and insights have been featured extensively in books by Michael Hebron, Phil Ritson and John Andrisani.

At one point in his illustrious career, he had faced and educated three out of every four PGA of America, professionals. He has tutored and enlightened hundreds of PGA, LPGA, Champions, Legends, European, Canadian and Nationwide, Tour players.

Despite all of his remarkable achievements, he would tell you that his greatest accomplishments are the love of his life, Jan; their three sons and five grandchildren.

He is my Mentor and my greatest counsel. I am in awe of very few human beings, but he is most certainly one of them.

The name of the Captain of the 1950 Wake Forest Tennis Team?

The one and only: Carey Mumford.

The name of the Captain of the 1950 Wake Forest Golf Team?

The “King”: Arnold Palmer.

Two extraordinary men who for the last 61 years have enriched the fabric of the world in so many sundry ways. Men who are icons in their fields and who have used the stage on which they played, to create “the best of times”. Parallel lives. Living legends.

Rose has been on golf’s stage for almost 12 years now since he dazzled everyone as a 17 year old amateur at the British Open.

Following that performance, Rose turned pro, and almost immediately lost his game. For the next two years he missed the cut in each event that he played in and seemed destined to become a member of the “whatever happened to?” group that litters golf’s history.

Golf can be such a fickle pursuit. It will grant you, your every wish, and then take those wishes away.

In his early 20’s, Rose would slowly find his game again and become a multiple winner on the European Tour. 2002 saw Rose win three events and the ship had been firmly righted. In the fall of that year, Rose’s father, Ken, passed away. Ken had been Justin’s greatest friend and supporter and his sudden death left his son, devastated.

Life. The higher the heights, the harder the fall.

In 2007, Rose was the leading money winner on the European Tour and won the “Order of Merit”. The following year, Rose decided to play the PGA Tour full time and most everyone thought that he would win immediately and often.

He didn’t.

Rose became a player that could play the first 3 rounds of a tournament very well, only to falter on Sundays. There is a word that goes with that and no-one wants to say it or hear it, but you know what it is.

For three years, Rose would have several Top 10 finishes but that first victory proved elusive. The longer that he went without winning, the more the pressure mounted…..to win.

Golf can be a brutal taskmaster. It will test every ounce of your patience and perseverance.

Finally, Rose broke through at The Memorial in June and it was generally agreed that it would now be all systems go, for the affable young Englishman.

Two weeks later, Rose took a four shot lead into the final round of the Traveler’s Championship. Rose played a very steady front 9 on Sunday and increased his lead to 5 shots. Surely he would now coast to back-to-back wins. I mean, Rose had learned to win and this was now a formality, right?

Wrong.

In a painful to watch, 2 hours, Rose would completely disintegrate and end up dropping all the way to a tie for ninth.

Just when you think you have it all figured out…..

This last weekend at the AT & T National Championship at storied, Aronomink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, Rose once again played magnificent golf for the first 3 rounds and was the over-night leader heading into Sunday’s round.

Rose admitted in an interview that he was haunted by his capitulation the week before at The Traveler’s. In admitting to those thoughts, surely he would be destined to repeat them, wouldn’t he?

No.

Playing one of the most demanding golf courses on Tour, Rose played a superb front 9 on Sunday, shooting a 2-under par, 33. He then began his back 9, with back to back bogeys. And the wheels appeared ready to spin right off their axels.

But they didn’t.

Rose was flawless in his last seven holes. He played perfect, intelligent and brave golf on a golf course that punishes even the smallest mistake. Rose’s victory now gives him two PGA Tour wins in his last three starts. Pretty impressive for someone that “couldn’t win”.

And once again this grand pursuit correlates Life in so many ways. Take nothing for granted. Remember all the old axioms. Live each day as if it were your last. Savor each beautiful sacred moment ‘cause we know not when they come again, and never let adversity overcome your will.