| I've been away for the last week and enjoying | | | | cover the contradiction between all those |
| the undulating green fairways and even more | | | | high-flying drives and the number of players who |
| undulating high-speed greens of Augusta National. | | | | were reported to be happily "flying under the |
| Taking in the wonderful scenes, listening to the | | | | radar" in advance of the tournament. |
| roars as Phil and Tiger hit yet more unbelievable | | | | For today, I'd like to close on just four of my |
| shots and holed seemingly outrageous putts. And | | | | hundreds of wonderful memories from this year's |
| they were just the sideshow on the final day - | | | | Masters. |
| what a sideshow! I've also been breathing in the | | | | 1. The genuine and sportsmanlike applause from |
| atmosphere and soaking up the scenery - all | | | | Kenny Perry after Angel Cabrera holed his |
| those glorious Azaleas and the "herbaceous | | | | downhill put on the 18th green to halve the first |
| borders" of the colourful galleries. | | | | extra hole. He even topped it by then sharing a |
| Visiting Augusta for the Masters has been my | | | | high five. |
| dream for the last 40 years since I took up golf. | | | | 2. Still with Kenny Perry, I will never forget his |
| Sadly, it'll have to remain a dream - albeit a very | | | | humble yet positive attitude in the post playoff |
| vivid one this year with the hypnotic medium of | | | | interviews and his final comment, "But I'm not |
| Peter Alliss, Ken Brown and the High Definition | | | | really going to go there, because if this is the |
| Television coverage from the BBC. I just have to | | | | worst thing that happens in my life, my life's |
| help one of my clients to get to the Masters and | | | | pretty good." |
| convince them to take me with them. | | | | 3. The exhilaration in the voice, eyes and every |
| Wasn't it just inspirational first nine holes from Phil | | | | pore of Phil Mickelson in his interview after the |
| Mickelson on Sunday and the amazing way that | | | | final round. |
| Tiger Woods clung on to his coat-tails, despite not | | | | 4. Most importantly, the utter joy of winning from |
| playing at his very best? It was sad to see them | | | | Angel Cabrera. |
| fade as they seemed to realise they couldn't quite | | | | I'll leave the last word top Angel Cabrera, "Now I |
| win | | | | don't have a sports psychologist and I don't |
| It was sad to see how many really good players | | | | smoke." As a golf psychologist, I'll have to think |
| acting like they were beaten before they started. | | | | about that one, maybe he's the exception that |
| I'll talk more about this tomorrow and I'll also | | | | proves the rule. |