Coming into 2017 Masters we all tried to create our own storylines. Would Jordan Spieth rebound from the disaster on the 12th hole in last year’s Masters? Would Dustin Johnson continue his hot streak and win his 4th tournament in a row? Could Rory complete the career grand slam?
We do this every year because we never learn the lesson Augusta National teaches us. The golf course writes a better story than any of us can ever imagine. Not only does it not need our help, it doesn’t want it. It knows want we want more than we know.
So on what would’ve been Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday, Augusta National gave us more than we could ever imagine. It gave us a Spaniard trying to exorcise demons while honoring the man who gave golf so much. Ballesteros died in 2008 of a brain tumor. His enthusiasm and shot creativity is what golf legends are made of.
As an American golf fan, you rooted hard against Seve every Ryder Cup. It was Seve that turned the Ryder Cup from a bi-annual American coronation of golf to the fierce competition we know it as today. After a narrow defeat in 1983, Seve led the Europeans to a 16.5-11.5 victory two years later at the Belfry. Ballesteros went 3-1-1 that weekend. Ever since that weekend, the Europeans are 9-5-1 in Ryder Cup competition. It all changed with Seve.
Going into Sunday the thought from so many was “how will Sergio play his way out of contention”? At times Garcia has been an emotional wreck. He even proclaimed that he wasn’t good enough to win a major. In 2012, Garcia was in contention at The Masters but a 75 on Saturday ended his hopes. After his brutal round, he said “I’m not good enough… I don’t have the thing I need to have. In 13 years I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place”. When asked for clarification, he left no doubt, what he was referring to, “In any major”.
Five years later, Garcia came into the final round of The Masters tied for first with Justin Rose. Rose had won the Gold Medal at the Olympics and Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler were lurking. Sunday morning was filled with the question of can Spieth make a charge at a place where many think he’s the “horse of the course”. Can Fowler get his first major? What a great story that would be.
As Sunday watched Spieth and Fowler drop out early in their rounds and Schwartzel and Pieters make futile attempts at late charges, we were left with Rose and Garcia. And as the story was being written, we thought we knew the ending. Garcia had horrendous bogeys at 10 and 11. He hit his tee shot on 13 into the azalea bushes. This was the Garcia we had seen in majors the last few years. It was the guy who proclaimed he should play for second and third and he was in perfect position to do just that.
This is where Augusta National intervened. It’s where it showed us, yet again, it’s a better story teller than we’ll ever be. Garcia chipped out of the bushes and got the Par that turned the tournament around. Rose missed a makeable birdie putt. Instead of being down 3, possibly 4, strokes Garcia was still only down two strokes.
All of a sudden, the pouty Garcia looked confident. He looked like the reprieve he was given might’ve been a favor from his mentor, Seve. All doubt left Garcia’s body and you saw a confident golfer down two but with an expectation of closing the deal. Garcia birdied 14 and eagled 15. Now you felt like Rose was on the ropes. This had turned into a friendly Ali-Frazier heavyweight tilt. Clutch putt after clutch putt had both combatants congratulating each other after walking off green. A bogey by Rose on the 17th hole left Garcia with a chance to win his first major on 18 but a missed short putt meant a playoff.
Despite the fact that Garcia was striking the ball better than Rose over the last few holes, most fans had the feel of “here we go again”. We were going to watch Garcia gut out an incredible comeback only to fall short. However, Garcia had other plans. On the playoff hole, Rose was wild off the tee and had to punch out. He was lying 3 on the green while Garcia had striped another drive and stuffed his second shot. As both players were walking up to the green, Rose lagged behind. He was letting Garcia soak up all the love and adulation that had avoided him in the past.
Rose’s only chance was to make his putt and hope Garcia would two putt. Rose burned the edge and it was now Garcia’s time. The Spaniard closed the show by sinking his putt followed by a primal scream. All the demons left. Seve was smiling from the Heavens above. And Augusta National proved once again, it’s a better story teller than we will ever be.
Marcus “Mook” Washington is the host of Making The Cut. Follow Mook on Twitter: @mtcwithmook and IG: MTCWithMook
