Sports writers always are looking for the best story angle.
When it comes to the Masters, the only major golf tournament annually held in the Deep South, what could be better than having a winner named Bubba?
By Sunday's final round, many of the good story angles long had disappeared.
Nothing would have been as heartwarming than watching 52-year-old Fred Couples -who was tied for the lead at the halfway mark -win a second green jacket.
But when he shot 75 on Saturday, the chance of a senior golfer winning the title had disappeared.
Then there were the two favorites when the tournament started -Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. It would have been awesome to watch them match each other birdie-for-birdie on Sunday.
But after the first three rounds, both found themselves in the middle of the pack and well out of title contention.
In all probability, the winner would come from one of the top four on the leaderboard as Sunday began-foreigners Peter Hanson and Louis Oosthuizen and Americans Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson.
When Oosthuizen made an incredible double eagle on the par 5 No. 2 hole, putting the ball in the cup from 260 yards out - it looked like he would rule the day. The Double Eagle Has Landed, our headline writers were contemplating.
But this story took as many twists and turns as an Augusta green.
Sunday was one of those days when every golfer wanted it so bad there were times it looked like none of them wanted it.
They were pressing, or possibly feeling the pressure. Every time it appeared an individual would take control, they would fall back to the field and the race for the top of the leaderboard once again was on.
Finally, it came down to the two most unflappable players on the course -Oosthuizen and Watson -who would settle the title in a playoff. It took two holes before Watson won his first major championship.
Watson is a cult figure among golf fans. He hits the ball so far there simply hasn't been a par 5 constructed anywhere in the world on which he can't reach the green in two.
Yet, while he is long, he isn't always accurate. Otherwise, he already would have had a major title -or several of them -on his resume.
While I enjoyed the Masters, I did find it irritating that more action took place away from the television cameras than while the networks were broadcasting. Those of who were interested in what was taking place had to watch updates on The Golf Channel until mid-afternoon. Contrast that with the coverage of the U.S. Open, which will be televised from daylight to dark. It's time the networks demand more coverage or threaten Augusta National officials there will be no coverage at all.
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
