Standing behind the 12th tee on Amen Corner with a perfect view of that green and the 11th, sipping a beer in the evening sun watching Rory McIlroy lead the Masters. Life just does not get any better.
It was my week’s aim to have a beer at that very spot on Sunday and just take everything in for the last time regardless of what way the leaderboard looked. It had just gone 5pm and alcohol sales were now finished – try doing that at The Open and see what happens! – But I managed to snag the last cold one from the kiosk and away I went. The atmosphere was tantalising.
Arguably the best thing about attending the Masters at Augusta National is that there are no phones on course and no big screens. Instead, the narrative and crowd reaction is controlled by these giant old fashioned scoreboards that overlook the greens. The oohs, aahs and waay’s ripple around the pine trees. It’s at that point where I see Justin Rose has bogeyed the 11th, 12th and only made par on 13. All of a sudden McIlroy has gone from three back to two in front.
He saves par on 11 and from here it is prime time viewing. This is it. The back nine at Augusta is about to take full swing and Amen Corner is conducting the orchestra. McIlroy gave the entire field and their mothers huge hope when he went double bogey, bogey on 11 and 12 but he played the crucial stretch of three holes in superb fashion. A brilliant 9-iron to 8-feet set up a birdie on 12 and a drive, 8-iron and two putts on 13 gave him a birdie that put him three ahead with five to play.
As always, Rory made sure to put us through every emotion on a rollercoaster final day. Winning back to back Masters titles and becoming only the fourth person to do so is how it was meant to be when he was in his early 20s and was able to bully and swashbuckle his way to the top. Things are different now but he stands on the precipice of a record major haul for a European. This is how it was always meant to be. The count won’t stop.
The key moment was on the 7th. McIlroy took a considered look at the scoreboard, did the maths, saw he was three behind Rose and decided to take charge. In went the birdie putt and out came the driver with authority on the 8th tee. One 6-iron later and he was two putting his way to a birdie which put him one behind Rose. A chance went begging on 9 but he kept his head.
After last year’s rollercoaster, where he fell off upside down a few times, one would have been forgiven for thinking that McIlroy had rediscovered the knack for seeing major titles through. Six shots clear at the halfway stage, it looked like vintage Rory had come back.
We had to wait until the back nine for vintage Rory to reappear. This was a stretch of holes where he took his chance to stamp his authority on the tournament. He said in his Saturday media that he would remind himself that he was the reigning Masters champion. He did so and he played like one. It was a clinical display with birdies on 12 and 13 and his game management is what saw him home.
Back in the day Ray Floyd put the kiss of death on to Fred Couples who won the 1992 Masters title in saying that he could win the Green Jacket as many times as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, he had the perfect game for it. Freddie never won another major.
We have always known that Rory has had the game for Augusta and while at times it’s looked like Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler would be Georgia’s favourite sons, Rory has finally come through and could win at least four of these things.
Couples almost went back in time with his own take on Floyd’s quote and said Rory might “never lose this thing again after last year.” After 36 holes it looked like an obvious call, after 54 it was questionable, after six holes on Sunday it looked like the kiss of death had been passed on.
Now it looks pretty good.
Rory McIlroy, back to back Masters champion and ties Faldo on six major wins. After everyone had the opportunity to enjoy their meal on Tuesday surely he makes way for an Irish stew, an Ulster fry or even a pint of Guinness?
Speaking of, I’m off for another beer.
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