The Masters - The Magic - Is Back!

Anyone who thought The Masters had lost "it" - that the major had become dull and boring, that all the "birdies" had flown away from Augusta National, and the roar at Amen Corner had become the echo of tournaments past - got blasted away Sunday. The 2009 Masters will go down as one of the most competitive and edge-of-the-seat golf matches in history.

It had everything to golf talk about:

- Great shots (Kenny Perry's tee shot on the 16th for birdie...that almost aced it).

- Drama (we lost count of the number of times the lead changed throughout the day).

- An incredible charge for the lead (Phil Mickelson's front nine: par, birdie, birdie, par, birdie, birdie, birdie, par - to take him from 7 back to one under).

- A persistent challenge for 18 solid holes by a player to almost become the oldest winner of a Major in history (Kenny Perry, age 48).

- The No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world putting on the show-of-shows performing against each other in the same pairing (Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson playing stunning golf almost all day).

- The No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world showing that they are still human, after all (Phil using the wrong club to bounce it into the water, and Tiger slicing it into the pine needles - only to chip into a tree).

- A dark horse lurking and lurking all day, keeping the pressure on and staying in contention (Angel Cabrera patiently waiting for the right moment to win it).

Shakespeare couldn't have staged it any better.

Those who think golf is a declining sport must have been startled by the swarms of fans willing to pay up to $200 for a four-day badge to the tournament, or $36 to $41 to catch practice early in the week. Augusta National doesn't disclose the actual numbers at which they limit attendance (so everyone has some room to comfortably move around to follow the action) , but current estimates are 40,000 for each practice day and 25,000 for each round of the tournament. Tournament badges were sold out early in the week for all four days - with a waiting list, and each practice day had fans outside the gate hoping for a ticket.

What other sports event can you pay that low a price to almost mingle with the best players the sport has to offer from the whole world - sometimes standing a few feet away?

It gets even better when you get inside the magnificent "theater" that is Augusta National. Breath-taking flowers, plants, trees...and that grass! It's like being cuddled in the palm of God's hand for a little while.

You realize that you are really participating in a class act from the moment you arrive. Parking is free. After 44 years in Los Angeles, that blows me away . FREE parking?

And if that doesn't impress you, how about a buck-and-a-half for a hot dog? Or, $6.25 for a club sandwich, beer and chips? The last time I had a beer at Dodger's stadium, it cost $6.00 by itself!

Our compliments to Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National, and all the club's members. In these difficult times, The Masters was a wonderful reminder of the best America has to offer.

Thanks, Guys. We needed that.


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Tags: golf, golf talk, golf ball, golf club, golf swing, talk about golf, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera, golf talking, The Masters, PGA Tour