Changing of the guard

BEFORE this year's US Masters even started, there was the usual commentary and analysis from golf experts and pundits centred around a handful of possible winners in both young and more experienced players, and whether four-time winner and former world number one Tiger Woods would make an appearance. Woods, who won his first US Masters in 1997 at the age of 21 and went on to win three more in 2001, 2002 and 2005, has been in self-imposed exile since The Phoenix Open earlier this year, when he shot an 82 during the second round to miss the cut in his first tournament of the year.

Woods did manage to tee it up at Augusta National Golf Club, and while the 39-year-old may not have won a major for almost seven years, it is always difficult to completely write him off at a major championship. What was gratifiying to see is that he did display some of his old magic over the four rounds to finish at five under par in a tie for 17th.

However, there were more convincing contenders to look out for during Masters week. Defending champion Bubba Watson, who also won this event in 2012, was hoping to make it three. When he won in 2012 it was completed in style with an almost impossible shot on the second playoff hole. After starting the final round three strokes off the lead, the left-hander recorded four consecutive birdies for a round of 68 to tie the 72-hole lead with final round playing partner South African Louis Oosthuizen. On the second playoff hole, Watson's magnificent second shot from deep in the woods landed just under five metres from the hole to make par against the South African's bogie. Unfortunately this year he wasn't even close, finishing in a tie for 38th at one over par.