Masters Recap: Tiger's Roller Coaster, Rory's Meltdown (and, Oh Yeah, That Charl Schwartzel Guy)

In what has to be described as one of the most thrilling final rounds in Masters history, 26 year-old South Arfrican Charl Schwartzel became the fourth consecutive first-time Major champion, captializing on an epic four-hole stretch to capture the coveted Green Jacket.  Schwartzel, who hadn't won on the PGA Tour prior to Sunday, kick-started his round with a sensational birdie from well right of the first green, then followed that up by holing out for eagle on the par 4 3rd.  However, his defining moment may have been the four-hole home stretch, as he made birdie on each of the final four holes, en route to his first victory on American soil.

However, we'll probably soon forget the name Charl Schwartzel.  After all, we fans have bigger fish to fry.

First up, Tiger Woods.  In my opinion, Woods, who hasn't won since the Australian Masters in November 2009, struck the ball better than he has in the past 18 months.  He looked like Tiger Woods circa 2000, and not the controversy-laden, swing-tinkering Tiger.  Unfortunately, as all golfers can attest to, you win and lose tournaments on and around the greens.  Recently, Tiger has been changing putters more often than most of us change clothes.  Desptie the changes, the results have been very similar: poor putting, leading to no wins.

Put it this way: when Tiger was in his heyday (around, say, 2000 and 2001), he was spraying the golf ball all over the golf course, just as he's been prone to do in recent months.  Casual fans never noticed this for two reasons: first, Tiger Woods was, and still is, unquestionably the greatest golfer in history when it comes to recovery shots, and second, Tiger Woods could drain 40-foot putts with unbelievable regularity.  Look at the putt he made on the 17th hole during the 2000 PLAYERS Championship.  You can give every Tour pro 100 balls from that exact spot, and they would be lucky to make one.

Tiger doesn't have that stroke anymore.  And it doesn't look like he's close to getting it back (case in point, Tiger's four-foot eagle putt on 15 Sunday).

Now, on to the 54-hole leader, 21 year-old Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.  From the very beginning of the final round, he looked rattled, if not downright scared.  He was able to survive the front nine relatively unscathed, but completely came off the rails on the par 4 10th, snap-hooking a drive 150 yards left, and scuffling his way to a triple bogey seven.  After that, McIlroy was totally unhinged, winding up with a fianl round 80, the highest score of a 54-hole leader in Masters history.  This was certainly a dark day for the 21 year-old, but anyone who thinks he'll somehow be damaged because of this is sorely mistaken.  He has the game and the mindset of a champion, and his day will come sooner rather than later.

Other musings from Augusta:
-Adam Scott is playing the best golf of his life, thanks in large part to his new long putter.  The 30 year-old Australian, widely considered to have one of the best swings in the world, is finally seeing his game round into form as he reaches the prime of his career.  Look for Scott, a former PLAYERS Champion, to break through on the Major stage.

-If you don't know who Jason Day is, learn, and learn fast.  The 23 year-old Aussie is young, talented, and incredibly fearless, a quality needed for superstardom on the Tour, as well as in the Majors.

-One of these days, Korean K.J. Choi will break through on the Major stage.  He's too solid and too undaunted to not get it done.

-Food for thought: with Schwartzel's win on Sunday, no American-born player currently holds a Major title (Graeme McDowell/Northern Ireland/U.S. Open, Louis Oosthuizen/South Africa/British Open, and Martin Kaymer/Germany/PGA Championship). 

What are your thoughts?  What did you take away from the Masters?

What I'm Listening To:  Jason Mraz -- Sleep All Day.  A pre-stardom Mraz song.  A very underrated Mraz song.