Final Day Drama At The Masters.

Well, I've deliberately waited a day before I write this post. Just to get my breath back. Just to let it all sink in. And just so I can remember the very dramatic final day of the 2009 US Masters.

It all started so calmly until Messrs Mickelson and Woods made their way onto the course. Phil just played fantastic golf and to cover the front nine in six under was phenomenal. For once Tiger was virtually a spectator. And Perry and Cabrera at the top were just treading water. It looked like the winner was going to come from off the pace.

But then Mickelson dropped two shots at the par three twelfth hole, Perry picks up a birdie at the same hole, putting in from off the green, and the tournament is back up for grabs. But Phil misses from around eight feet at the thirteenth for eagle, and again from the same distance at fifteen, and although he gets two birdies, he only gets back what he dropped at the twelfth. Tiger birdies sixteen to get to one off the lead.

But neither player can sustain the challenge, and with two holes to play, Kenny Perry has a two shot lead and looks set to be the oldest ever winner of a major. The way this last round has gone that was never going to happen, and with Perry dropping shots at each of the last two holes, we are set for a three way play-off.

Perry, Cabrera and Chad Campbell set off back up the eighteenth, and by the time this hole is finished Campbell is out and will finish joint second. Up the tenth now, and when we finally get to the green, some poor play from Perry again, leaves Cabrera two putts to win. He takes the two putts and claims his first Green Jacket.

What a truly great afternoon of golf. It certainly made for dramatic viewing on the television, it must have been even better if you were actually there. Lets hope the three remaining majors are just as good, or if possible, better!

Talk soon,

Gordon.

WGC-CA Championship at Doral Golf Resort.

Well Phil Mickelson overcame illness to register his first WGC title at Doral resort in Florida yesterday. The new world number two shot a final round 69 for a 19 under total to hold off playing partner Nick Watney by one stroke.

Mickelson had to have emergency treatment on Saturday night for heat exhaustion and dehydration which resulted in a doctor walking the course with him yesterday to ensure he was getting enough fluids and to generally keep an eye on him.

The two co-leaders both started well and had stretched their four shot overnight lead to seven as they fought one another for victory. But bogeys at the 11th and 12th left Watney chasing Mickelson, and in the end not being able to catch him.

Another American, Jim Furyk, birdied 15 and 16 but left it just too late to catch the top two.

Tiger Woods, in his first strokeplay event since returning after injury, had a final round 68 to tie for ninth position. He started to look pretty good in his last round and I don't think it will be long before we see him back as a winner.

And Rory McIlroy had a disappointing final round of 73 but the nineteen year old Northern Irishman still managed a second consecutive top 20 finish in the US.

WGC-CA Championship.

Haven't had a lot of time this week to see any of this tournament, but I managed to catch a little of it last night.

American duo Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney (pictured right) share the lead on 16 under, four shots clear of the rest of the field. 27 year old Watney carded a 67 to join countryman Mickelson ( 69 ), the second round leader, at the top of the field.

Jeev Milkha Singh (68) of India and Columbia's Camilo Villegas (69) are next best placed at 12 under, with five other players, including Americans Jim Furyk and Kenny Perry at 11 under.

Norther Irish teenager Rory McIlroy had three bogeys in four holes on the back nine for a level par round of 72 to leave him on 10 under and six shots off the pace going into today's final round.

World number 1, Tiger Woods, continued on the comeback trail after several months out with a knee injury with a 68, that left him nine shots behind the leaders.

Final round later on today, at the Doral course in Florida.

World Golf Championship Day 2.

Tiger Woods return to tournament golf was short lived as Tim Clark defeated him by 4&2 in round 2 of the Accenture World Match Play in Arizona yesterday. After Tiger's easy victory on Wednesday, things got a little tougher yesterday, and although he played some good golf he seemed to lack the competitive edge that comes with playing every week.

In saying that, Clark thoroughly deserved his win, playing steady golf all day. As far as Woods is concerned, I would expect normal service to be resumed sooner rather than later.

Elsewhere in the field, there were some big wins for Ross Fisher (6&5) over Pat Perez, Paul Casey (6&4) over Mathew Goggin and Camilo Villegas claimed victory over Miguel Angel Jiminez by 5&4.

There were extra hole wins for Geoff Ogilvy and Luke Donald respectively, over Shingo Katayama and Vijay Singh. And Stewart Cink had to go to the 23rd hole to see off Lee Westwood.

Some good ties in prospect today, with the pick being Phil Mickelson against Stewart Cink and Rory McIlroy versus Tim Clark.

World Golf Championships Day 2.

Well, as expected Tiger Woods made it through safely to Round 2 after a rather tepid match yesterday, winning 3&2 against Brendan Jones. It was a comfortable win for the World number 1 as the Aussie didn't offer much resistance at all. Woods is up against Tim Clark in the second round later today.

There were a couple of big name exits yesterday with Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia tasting defeat. The matchplay format certainly throws up some shocks, when you have to perform over one round or go home.

Phil Mickelson only scraped through after apparently cruising against Angel Cabrera. The Argentinian won 3 of their last 4 holes to take the match in to overtime. Mickelson then produced a birdie at the 1st extra hole to claim victory.