Bubba!!

American golf has a new hero.

It is amazing that the Albatross wasn’t the best shot of the day. That goes to the huge hooking wedge hit by Watson from out of the woods.

Watson is an amazing talent, and it’s incredible to me that he claims to have never had a lesson. He has more Majors in his future. Remember that he previously got to a playoff at the PGA Championship.

Here’s something that strikes me about Bubba. He plays golf, not golf swing. I think he enjoys trying to make the ball do things. There are some other tightly wound pros out there who should take a page out of his playbook.

Lots of guys had a chance today, but Louis Oosthuizen kept making putts and keeping them at bay. In think Louis has several more majors in his future.

Shotmaking is back.

Phil lost this Masters. If he does the sensible thing at four and goes back to the tee box to hit three to the green and then take two putts for a double bogey, the entire atmosphere of the tournament is different.

While there were no lead changes after the Albatross, there was a lot of shuffling around Oosthuizen. Among those to have a chance during the day were Lee Westwood, Matt Kuchar, Peter Hanson, Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter.

I feel sorry for Lee Westwood. The clock continues to tick for him.

I’m disappointed that the list of Sunday contenders didn’t include the young players who get so much press: McIlroy, Fowler, et. al.

Sergio has gotten some ink by stating (twice) that he doesn’t have the game to win a Major. He’s wrong. Phil actually waited longer than he has. Unfortunately, that sort of prophecy creates its own reality.

The Masters is without a doubt the best of the Majors.

We saw a couple of amazing rounds of golf today from Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson.

Thirty! on the BACK NINE? Crazy.

Loved the Bro-Hugs between Sergio and Rory when they got their first birdies.

Sorry to see Couples and Dufner fall back. Those were really good stories.

The likely winners tomorrow are either Mickelson or Hanson. I’ve been completely wrong on everything this week, so I won’t venture a guess.

Still, there is a lot of talent hanging around the top, such as Louis Oosthuizen at -7; Bubba Watson at -6 and Matt Kuchar at -5. Somewhat less likely are Matt Kuchar who starts tomorrow at -4 along with Padraig Harrington, Henrick Stenson and Lee Westwood. All of these guys will need help from those ahead to make it possible.

Phil’s getting himself into contention is a bit of a Masters miracle. He looked terrible on Thursday, but kept it together. He gained a little Friday and then went crazy today. But it was his ability to keep it close when he didn’t even have his “C” game that made all the difference.

Mickelson and Hanson are one and two in putting this week. Mickelson averaged 1.43 putts per hole; Hanson, 1.46. Tiger is 23rd at 1.61 putts per hole.

Interestingly, Woods and Mickelson are identical in their Greens-In-Regulation stats at 59.26%. They’re also identical in driving accuracy at 59.52%.

What does the above say to me? It may not be Tiger’s driver and iron play that is killing him. It’s the putting. The difference between his putting and the leaders over 54 holes is eight shots. He’d be within three shots of the lead with Hanson or Mickelson’s putting.

I wonder if Hanson will be able to get to sleep tonight?

Here’s the skinny on Peter Hanson: Four European tour wins since he turned pro in 1998. Add to that another “Challenge Tour” victory (that’s the EPGA’s Nationwide). Four Majors played before this one, with the best finish a T7 in the 2011 US Open.  He missed the cut in last year’s Masters, and finished T24 in the 2009 Open Championship and T23 in the 2007 PGA. He was a 150/1 shot to win at the beginning of this week.

Writers around the ‘net are saying that Sergio’s collapse indicates an issue that prevents him winning the big ones. Of course they’re ignoring the fact that Rory was equally bad, and he owns a Major trophy. I think Sergio will win his major and that it’ll be an Open Championship.