Masters Sunday: Rory or Reed?

OK. Final day at the Masters. Iconic. Historic. Tense. Dramatic. Who will triumph? Reed is a bulldog. He won’t let go of that three shot lead so easily. His game is sharp, decisive, intelligent, in control. As he reports, he is patient. That’s the word he keeps using, and it’s one of the most demanding words in golf to put into actual action. Why that is is that golf tempts you to take chances. It plays with your mind, trying to convince you that you can pull off a shot that would be better played cautiously. And of course touring pros think they can pull off just about any shot that pops in this game of uncertainties.

So patience is, perhaps, on a continuum as far as professional golf is concerned. Based on past experience, who will be more patient among the current contenders? My preference is for Rory to take the title. But Patrick seems to be more in control of his game, including his mind. He is more mindful. You can see it in his eyes as he focuses and concentrates on each individual shot. That’s the key: to approach each shot as if it were mutually exclusive from any shot before. Like my hole in one at Adobe a few years ago, which immediately followed a double bogey. Tiger did that so well in his heyday. Put the mis-shot behind you. Let it go. Reed has done that the first three days. Rory not as much.

Rory’s issues are a bit more mental than anything to do with his swing or putting stroke. But he may well rise to the occasion. I hope so. Rory could go on to break Jack’s record in the majors, and like to see that.

Of course, someone else might be even more patient, while being hot. Ricky? Rahm? Henrik? Jordan? JT? DJ? At the Masters, as we’ve seen in the past, anything is possible.

Anyway, enjoy the show!