After the conclusion of the 2020 Masters, I wanted to share five big takeaways I had from this past weeks Masters.
#1: How does DJ only have two Major wins?
I am going to guess that I am not the only person having this thought this morning, but how the hell has DJ not won more majors? On Wednesday (My 2020 Masters Picks) I told you I thought the tournament was wide open.
I was dead wrong. The #1 player in the world won the 2020 Masters by 5 shots!
When I look at DJ, I look at someone who is due to collect a lot more majors. If you think about his history in golfs biggest tournament, DJ has had so many close calls.
- 2010 US Open – Pebble Beach – DJ entered the final round with a 3 shot lead. Ended up posting 82 to finish T8.
- 2010 PGA – Whistling Straits – Grounds his club in a “bunker” on the 72nd hole. Instead of joining the three man playoff he is assessed a two stroke penalty. I can still remember the clip they have of him erasing his scorecard in the scorers tent. Devastating scene.
- 2011 Open Championship – Royal St. George – DJ gets to within two shots of leader Darren Clarke on the back 9. Proceeds to double 14 by hitting a 2 iron out of bounds
- 2015 US Open – Chambers Bay – DJ misses a 2 foot putt on the 72nd hole that would have put him into an 18-hole playoff with Jordan Spieth.
- 2020 – PGA Championship – Harding Park – DJ held the 54 hole lead. Ends up finishing T2.
By all accounts, Dustin Johnson has all the game he needs to become the 6th player ever to complete the career grandslam. And yet, he only has two career major wins. All of the signs point to this guy going on a run in the majors over the next several years.
I overlooked for the 2020 Masters, but I wont make that mistake again. DJ is the best player in the world right now for a reason and he should be the favorite in all the majors going forward for the foreseeable future.
#2: Champions never quit
If you follow golf closely, then you know that everything in the modern game is compared to the gold standard, Tiger Woods.
If you ever have a half hour to kill, I strongly suggest heading to this link on Tiger’s website -> https://tigerwoods.com/timeline/. Try finding anyone in the world that has dominated their sport for as long as Tiger has. Please let me know if you think found him/her, because I don’t think that person exists.
On Sunday, Tiger Woods, proved once again, why he is one of the greatest athletes of all time.
During Sunday’s final round, Tiger made a 10 on the Par 3 twelfth hole. 7-over on one hole. From that point, Tiger proceeded to birdie 5 of his last 6 holes to close out his round. That folks, is the heart of a champion.
In fact, my brother said it perfectly, Tiger Woods is just competing against himself. Being in his own world is why Tiger can make a 10 and then birdie 5 of his last 6 holes. Competing against himself is why Tiger won the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach by `15 shots! It is why, he came into the week as the defending Masters champion after not winning a major for 11 years.
Tiger Woods is the gold standard not just in golf, but in sports as a whole.
#3: Rory McIlroy will win a green jacket. Maybe.
75. Rory shot an opening round 75.
10 shots behind the first round leaders, and he ended up the week finishing T5.
There always seems to be one round at The Masters that gives Rory fits. In 2018, Rory shot 74 in the final round when starting the day in the final group with Patrick Reed. This year, he opened with 75 and then finished the week with three straight rounds in the 60’s.
If Rory can figure out a why to shoot even par in his worst round for the week, then he will finally have a legitimate chance of completing the career grandslam. Until then, he will have to continue to settle for the shoulda, coulda, wouldas.
I’m tired of the shoulda, coulda, woulda’s Rory. Figure it out bud!
#4: When I grow up, I want to hit my driver just like Rory McIlroy
I just going go leave you with this photo and move on.
#5: Augusta National does everything right
Every year I am blown away by just how much better the viewing experience is during The Masters that every other tournament in golf. And to take it a step further, each year gets better and better.
This year, Augusta National introduced the My Group feature on The Masters App. This feature allowed you to see a clip of every shot, that every player hit, on every hole for the entire week of The Masters.
Didn’t see Tiger make 10 on the 12th hole? No problem, load up his scorecard on My Group and rewatch the shots in all their glory.
Didn’t see him birdie 5 of his next 6 holes to close out his round? No problem, The Masters App has got you covered.
Augusta National’s commitment to not resting on its laurels is refreshing. They know they have the best tournament in the world and they are constantly working to make it even better.
I will end this post by saying well done to ANGC and what a hell of a fall Masters this was. The right guy won and it was extremely entertaining from start to finish.
April can not get here fast enough!
Until next time,
Enjoy the chase!
If you would like to see other posts from the blog, follow this link -> Chasing Birdies Blog.