2007 Masters - Round 4
Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:31:43
The course set up was a lot better, I felt, than it had been earlier in the week. The organizers assembled a course that was fair for everyone. You still had to hit great shots, but at least you had a chance. While they moved some tees around to help, the major part of that was they put a little bit of water on the greens. That meant you were able to stop it if you hit a really good one. The last few days it was just so unpredictable when you were pitching and chipping, you never knew when it was going to hit hard and skip or maybe grab.
My round was pretty good today, although it could have been better. At the start of the day, I thought that if I could go out and get to five or six over, I might just sit back and watch to see if the wind forced the scores to go backwards.
I had some good chances on the front nine. On the third, I was a little unlucky. After driving it in the bunker I hit my second about 25 yards short of the green. I nipped a wedge just right and it jumped up on the green but then hit the flag stick dead on and came all the way back to me.
After hitting it stiff and making birdie on six, I had a good chance for birdies on eight and nine, but couldn't convert. I managed a good save on 11 by holing one from the bunker and got a birdie on 13, but that was all I was able to fashion.
While there was some scoring on Sunday, for the first three days, I think a lot of guys have been talking about how quiet it is out there, that it's not like it used to be. I don't mean to suggest it's better or worse, just that it's different. I think people come here expecting to see people make birdies and eagles and have some fun out there and have some excitement. But when it's playing like it did yesterday, it's pretty quiet out here. It seems more like a U.S. Open.
One thing I did think about last night and today was if a few certain guys were put on the clock like I was yesterday. Somehow, I highly doubt it. I questioned an official this morning about it all. I know the rules are the rules and I'm not making any excuses but they have to take into consideration the conditions. When they're like they were yesterday with swirling winds and it's tough to pull a club and you're trying to win a tournament, it's unfair to think we're going to play at the same pace as when it's calm. To me, it's not a track meet, it's a golf tournament. We're under enough pressure out there and I just think it's wrong. If they come out and tell us to pick it up, that's understandable, but not when it's blowing like crazy. I don't think it's right.
Overall, I'm pleased with the way I'm playing right now. The swing changes I've been working on are starting to sink in. I feel I'm really just a couple of things away from being right there and this week was a good indication that I'm moving in the right direction. I know that if I keep improving at this rate, it won't be long until I get to where I want to be. Hopefully it will come sooner than later.
Thanks for your support.
Mike
