By Michael Elliott
Masterful- There’s a new sheriff in town on the PGA golf tour and his name is Jordan. Indeed, Michael Jordan just pulled off the greatest feat of his illustrious career by capturing golf’s… Did I get one over on you, oh gullible one? Sorry ‘bout that. Just clamoring for your attention.
Jordan Spieth is the newly-crowned Masters Champion as he went wire to wire for his first major championship. Spieth’s four-stroke victory over Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose was a veritable walk in the park as Jordan paraded his way around the hallowed grounds of Augusta National in a record-tying 270 strokes for four rounds of play. That computed to an astonishing 18 under par to match Tiger Woods for a record for the ages. Time and again Spieth came up with the shots necessary to fend off his closest competitors as he calculated his approach shots, lagged putts magnificently and drained the inside-8-footers on a consistent basis.
Nobody really caught fire on Sunday in an attempt to run the leader down. Both Mickelson and Rose played admirably, but their nondescript final rounds of 69 and 70, respectively, failed to put any heat on Spieth as he remained a cool 3 strokes ahead throughout. He just refused to be reeled in.
It was quite interesting to notice the constant verbal exchange between Jordan and his caddie Michael Greller. Golf is typically a loner’s game and golfers usually carry their pent-up emotions inside themselves for the duration of the round, unless you are Tiger Woods (more on him later). It served Speith well that he and Greller have a solid line of communication and trust in one another. It appeared that any time he made a poor shot or missed an important putt he would converse with his caddie in rather animated ways, which I believe rid him of chances for nerves to crop up in critical situations. It is akin to the old adage that getting it all out relieves pressure and you are free to move forward because whilst chasing around a little white ball with a stick for 4-plus hours, one is the loneliest number. Dig it Three Dog Night fan.
Back to Tiger. Woods most certainly wears his emotions right out on his sleeves. He is trying to make somewhat of a comeback from physical and personal roadblocks and actually performed very well at this Masters. As one of the commentators stated, “Tiger looks like the old Tiger instead of just looking old!” For a guy trying to reshape his image it was disappointing to see him take a step backwards from his reparations as he was caught on the television microphone uttering a few choice words that the viewing audience, especially the youngsters, need not to have heard. Sure, most golfers have spewed forth a profane word here and there while teeing it up, but on this regal of a stage, Woods should have the class and dignity to keep it inside as he still holds sway and influences the masses.
Watching the Masters golf tournament is a splendid thing for golfing enthusiasts. It’s ultra-cool that rarely are commercials played during telecasts. The elegance of the course is second-to-none, as is the fluid delivery by CBS’s legendary Jim Nance and the rest of the commentators who seem to know precisely when to and when not to chime in. It is comforting to see that the once-staid membership of the exclusive country club has loosened its grip and now accepts, women members and sponsors kid’s events on days leading up to the professional competition.
And so, the 21 year-old newly minted champion rides off into the sunset towards his next event with badge attached, having corralled his competition. Cue it up Glenn Frey, Don Henley and mates. Most assuredly there is a “New Kid In Town.”
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