Tiger will win more Masters

Tiger Woods not winning the Masters last week provided American golf writers and columnists a lot to write about.

Despite being craftily civil, they just had a heyday reporting or commenting on the failed Tiger charge in the last round of the Master that allowed Trevor Immelman to win the green jacket for the first time.

Immelman survived a near collapse in the final round with a double bogey 75. His previous rounds of 68, 68 and 69, saved him the day.

To think that had Tiger made at least three of his many putts and scored a 69, he could have tied with Immelman and forced a playoff. That would have been an excellent finale to this year’s tournament. That’s water under the bridge now, or as my three-year-old would say, “bridge under water, ‘Pa.”

Entering the tournament, Tiger was 8-10 this year. Thus, a no-brainer would have been for him to win this year’s Masters and create history: 5th Masters and 14th major win of his career.

He didn’t make history. He missed a ton of his putts. He missed those that he should have made and made those he could have afford to miss!

When asked about this performance at the end of the day, Woods said, “I learned my lesson with the press, I’m not going to say anything.”

He doesn’t have to say anything at all. The last time he uttered something like “easily within reason,” alluring to winning all four major golf titles in the same year, the press churned in story after story of Tiger being a sure winner. When he failed, the same press was quick to call his boast.

Poor Tiger, he was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. There’s the press; there’s the course.

Yes, Augusta National stood its ground.

In 1996, Jack Nicklaus predicted that Tiger will win more Masters than what he and Arnold Palmer won between them, and that’s 10. At age 32, Tiger had already won five.

After his win in 1997, when he virtually, toyed with the Augusta National course, the manager made adjustment to “toughen and lengthen” the Augusta National and prevent further Tiger dominance.

The new layout is working! Tiger Woods found it hard to submit low scores. His last three finishes attest to this: third in 2006, second in 2007, and another second this year.

The “Tiger-proofed” course wreck havoc on other golfers as well. Phil Mickelson had a final round 72 after a forgettable 74 in the third; Paul Casey had final round 79 after shooting 69’s in the second and third rounds, among the contenders.

Jim Furyk, whom I was rooting for, was nowhere on top 10. He finished tied for 33rd with a forgettable tournament.

Woods missed the record books this year - one bust - three to go! Wouldn’t it be tempting to write him off? At 32, and arguably, still the best golfer around, I won’t bet in him finishing second in all the next three major tournaments.

What I’ll bet on is that if Tiger wins one or two of the remaining three, the pundits will be quick to write praises for him again. How he recovered. How he adjusted his putting. How he dominated the field - again.

He didn’t make history this year but he will win more Masters in the coming years. A winner has the heart to come back. Jack Nicklaus recognized a winner in Tiger when he saw him some years back.

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