AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - Read our golf reporter's Masters picks, plus read how Virginia Tech alumnus Johnson Wagner won the Houston Open to secure the last spot in Augusta.WAGNER WINS LAST SPOT AT MASTERS WITH HOUSTON VICTORY:
Former Virginia Tech standout Johnson Wagner snared the final spot in this year’s Masters’ Tournament by recording his first PGA Tour victory at the Houston Open in Humble, TX.
Here’s a round-by-round recap of a wild week in which Wagner shared or held the lead from start to finish:
Round One
Adam Scott broke the course record with a 63 on Thursday (Held by none other than Wagner), only to be tied atop the leaderboard at day’s end by – you guessed it, Wagner. Apparently he doesn’t like his record’s being broken. Some would say Wagner’s 63 was more impressive than Scott’s because he did it in the afternoon when the wind blew much harder. Scott, however, shot his 63 with a fever and sore throat. It wouldn’t be the last we would hear from the weather or Scott’s illness this weekend.
Charley Hoffman’s 65 was as close as anyone would get to the first round leaders, while Steve Stricker followed with a 66 and four others including Geoff Ogilvy shot 67.
And, of course, John Daly shot 78 and promptly withdrew.
Round Two
Weather wreaked havoc on the players who had the unfortunate afternoon draw as a one hour and forty-five minute rain delay halted play late Friday. When play resumed the temperature had dropped a good 15 degrees and it continued to rain the remainder of the round. Stricker, Ogilvy and Scott were all casualties of the afternoon squall, shooting 76, 73 and 76, respectively. Scott withdrew Saturday; unable to shake an illness he had been fighting all week.
Wagner shot a 69 Friday morning to hold the 36-hole lead at 12-under par. Chad Campbell had the round of the day shooting 64 thanks to a scorching putter. Hoffman stayed in the mix with a 70, three shots behind Wagner.
Michael Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open champ at Pinehurst, continues to struggle with his game (and that’s being nice) shooting 81-85 to miss the cut by 22 shots.
Round Three
Maybe the hardest thing to do in professional golf, or in golf period, is to follow up a really low round with another the following day (unless your given name is Eldrick). That’s exactly what Chad Campbell did Saturday by firing a 65, one day after shooting a 64. At one point late in the third round Campbell was 16-under par over his last 29 holes.
Wagner continued to lead at 15-under after another 69, but Campbell was now only one back and Hoffman, who also shot 69, was three back along with Texas native Bob Estes who fired a 64 Saturday after recently going to an interlocking grip and using a glove for the first time in nearly a decade. Ogilvy, by far the best player within five shots of the lead, was just that at 10-under par.
As Wagner slept on the overnight lead again, it was clear that if he stumbled the winner would be one of those four players already double-digits under par.
Final Round
Billy Mayfair and Freddy Couples tried to prove that theory wrong as they both fired 66’s Sunday, but starting the day at –7 they were just a little too far back. Ogilvy looked poised to catch Wagner but a bogey at the par-3 14th and a par at the par-5 15th sealed his fate despite an unexpected birdie at the long, watery 18th. He would finish tied for second with Campbell, who couldn’t possibly shoot another below par round could he? The answer was no as he shot even par 72 and finished two shots behind Wagner at 14-under.
Yes, it was Wagner who had made only two cuts this year and had never won on Tour who led wire-to-wire and earned his first Masters invitation. Though it looked at times like he was about to falter, his nerves never affected his putting which carried him to victory with an assortment of deft lag putts and crucial five to ten-footers that kept his lead intact..
Pat Perez made the most lucrative jump of the day shooting 64, propelling him up the leaderboard after starting Sunday at T-41 and finishing T-8. Brett Quigley on the other hand, was spilling cash all day, going from T-7 to T-66 with a final round 82 that included an 8 on the home hole.
Masters Picks
The Favorite
Tiger Woods- Coming off a poor putting performance at the CA Championship at Doral should only help the world’s No.1. How many times has he putted poorly two tournaments in a row?
The Contenders
Phil Mickelson- Has really not given me a reason to think he can win at Augusta but since he is this generation’s Arnold Palmer and Palmer won the Masters every even numbered year four times I will give Mickelson a good shot at winning the tournament should Woods falter.
K.J. Choi- Has played well for stretches at Augusta before, and now has the short game and winning experience to breakthrough at a tournament like the Masters.
Padraig Harrington- When his meticulous putting style is working he has the ability to thrive on Augusta’s undulating greens; if he can stay away from the “blow-up hole” he has just as good of a chance as anyone outside of Woods.
Vijay Singh- Of all the guys who use the ridiculous belly-putter he and Stewart Cink have the most success with it, however, the problem with a gimmicky putter is that under the gun it usually fails. Singh, who has won here and a lot of other places, won’t be scared if he can get himself in position on the second nine Sunday.
Geoff Ogilvy- Probably playing the best of all the contenders heading into the tournament, putts and chips well, hits it high and long, and has won big tournaments before. Could become first Australian to win at Augusta.
The Sleepers
Fred Couples- I don’t think he can putt well enough for four rounds but crazy things can happen if he keeps himself in contention until Sunday. And the way he is striking the ball that is definitely possible.
Justin Leonard- This may look crazy at first but Leonard is similar to past winners Zach Johnson and Mike Weir. He’s won a major before and has come a long way in the past year so this may be a sentimental pick but he has a slim chance if others falter.
Brandt Snedeker- Last year’s Rookie of the Year hasn’t played his best so far this year but has the ability to get hot with the putter and usually plays well in big-name events.
