The Day After

By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: April 14, 2008

It’s the day after The Masters (sigh).

To me, the Monday after The Masters is like the day after Christmas. It’s just another day. No presents. Just leftovers and another year of anticipation.

Yesterday was glorious, however. I watched all five-and-a-half hours of Masters coverage on CBS. I watched every shot. And I mean every shot. I even watched the “Jim Nantz Remembers the 1978 Masters” replay that CBS showed prior to Sunday’s final round. You remember, or wait, maybe you don’t, it was the one where Gary Player earned his third—and last—green jacket at the age of 42. At that time, he was the oldest champion in Masters history.

Quiz: Who broke that record, and is now the oldest player to win at Augusta National?

Please know this. In fact, I’m so sure you know the answer—even my wife does—that I’m not going to tell you. I’m that confident in you Couch Potatoes (that’s what I’m going to start referring to people who are avid readers of my blog ... Hi, Mom).

So, I’m at our weekly Opelika-Auburn News sports department meeting today, and ESPN is on the TV. Yes, we meet at a wing restaurant. Where else would a bunch of sports writers meet? 

Anyway, so we’re shooting the ... er, meeting, and I read a question on the bottom of the screen during ESPN’s “First and 10” segment. The question? Did Trevor Immelman win or did Tiger Woods lose?

Excuse me? I guess that’s the type of power Tiger has. I mean, he’s the greatest athlete the sport has ever seen (and I do mean that) so the fact that he didn’t win can’t possibly mean someone else played better. It just means that he gave it away, right?

Pulheez.

Yes, Tiger did lose. But it wasn’t because he was trying to. He couldn’t make a putt. Actually, he couldn’t make a lot of putts. He struggled. Gasp! I know it’s hard to believe that Tiger Woods is human, but it’s true. He didn’t have it this week at Augusta.

But guess who did? That’s right. Immelman. The South African WON The Masters. Period. He beat the field, and the course, leading wire to wire, to win the most prestigious event in all of golf.

Sure, Tiger is the favorite in every tournament he plays. But that doesn’t mean that he’s good enough to give someone else the win. Think about it. It’s not like Tiger was out there saying “You know, my closet is pretty full, and I don’t thing another green jacket will fit in there, so, I’m just going to miss a few putts, and give this thing over to Trevor. He seems like a good guy.“

No. No. And. No. Tiger was grinding just like everyone else Sunday. And he got beat, just like everyone else. Immelman won, and should be congratulated for it. There’s not going to be an asterisk by this win, saying, “2008 Masters Champion: Trevor Immelman (Tiger Woods let him have it).“

Give the guy some credit. It’s like saying Greg Norman lost the 1986 Masters, instead of Jack Nicklaus beating the plaid pants off of everyone else.