Augusta knocks out big names

Usually, Amen Corner is the deciding factor in who gets to wear the green jacket ? but not this year.

Augusta National had its way with the world?s top golfers this weekend. In simple words, the golf course ate their lunch, and turned players full of confidence and pride into humble hackers.

After Saturday?s round spectators anticipated an exciting finish on Sunday, something you might see in a heavyweight title fight. But it was far from that and more like a survival of the fittest contest.

Now, I?m by no means a good golfer and understand more than I would like how it feels to shoot 10- or 15-over par. But I can?t imagine how these professional golfers felt after turning in sub-par rounds. From what I understand most of the players headed straight for their cars after their round, making a quick exit down Magnolia Lanes.

Zach Johnson, a 31 year-old from Iowa who has been playing professionally for nine years, suddenly found himself at the top of the leader board after walking off the 18th green on Sunday. His only other Masters appearance came last year, when he finished tied for 32 place.

Zach Johnson sounds more like a boxer?s name than a golfer. He doesn?t have the brute strength for a knockout, but instead he floated around Augusta National with the grace of a seasoned fighter, jabbing and slipping away from punches, staying in the fight and going the distance to pick up the unanimous decision.

Johnson didn?t attack the course or take dead aim at the pin like so many of the big hitters tend to do. Instead he managed his game to perfection ? or at least as well as anyone could do considering the conditions of this year?s course.

One good example was on the 13th hole, when Johnson elected to hit his shot just short of Ray?s Creek. From there he relied on his wedge and putter to make birdie, which gave him the lead for good.

Fans, including myself, thought Tiger Woods was invincible and after seeing the scores after Saturday?s round, had Tiger pegged for another green jacket.

But Tiger?s game could have been more compared to a casual round by Mr. Nunley and myself. OK, maybe that?s a little far fetched, but this is one Masters where Tiger?s mental game collapsed.

Now that the Masters is over and hopefully warm weather is on the way, I feel it?s time to put on the gloves and throw my yearly challenge out to Mr. Nunley.

As most of you know over the past five years, Rob and I have battled it out on the golf course for bragging rights. It?s supposed to be just a nice friendly game between friends, but it turned ugly several years ago when Rob finally picked up a rare win.

The best I remember, I had a bad cold that day and a severe backache from building a deck. But he insisted on getting in 18 holes so like a good friend I obliged, only to be trashed in his column the next Friday.

So with that said let the trash talking for 2007 begin. I hate to say it, but it?s going to be a long summer for Rob. I?m sure he will respond with some type of comment about my age or memory lapse, but come fall the W?s will be all mine.