& # 039; A special day that will stay in memory for a long time & # 039;
Story of the day: Tiger Woods wins 2019 Masters
A first bird of the day out of three. A first mountain range of Augusta Sunday Tiger.
It is an earthy roar, the kind that comes up through the ground and rattles through your boots. Breakfast beer feeds an already noisy crowd
"It's Tiger at Augusta." On a Sunday in contusion Why should you not follow him? "just about everyone says.
Thousands follow Tiger Woods & # 39; every movement around Augusta National, hoping to witness the writing of another glorious sporting chapter.
Hearing from people trying to hold a cheat to a respectable level, the careful planning needed to catch a glimpse of a shot and the realization that you've seen something special, this is what it was like to follow Woods on the road to his first big win since 2008.
The oops & the swarming masses
There is early chaos with marshals trying in vain to stop the swarming masses from the first green to the second tee, with Aaron Wise, Marc Leishman and Si Woo Kim trying to tee off between the two on the ninth.
Wise makes a silly call and hits anyway, pulling his drive to the left
While Woods at seven for a few minutes, the patrons who look down the hill are not aware of Kiradech Aphibarnrat turning right next to them on the third.
And so it continues. The patrons, largely respectful, but trample over Augusta National.
The atmosphere is the incredible round Amen Corner. & # 39; Night leader Francesco Molinari dumps his tee shot in the water on the short 12th.
There are a few gigs and hollers, but an overly exuberant patron shouts his approval with a "Go Tiger" added on. The cigar-to-beer drinking man is immediately confronted by a marshal who tells him firmly that this kind of behavior is not acceptable and takes him away.
It is blood in the water for Woods. I'm probably 20 back and can see the top of his head. He hits the ball with a nine-iron. Almost before it's out of the tee, a shout of "get in the hole" sounds.
The culprit is three meters in front of me. He is also right next to a marshal and a guard. Augusta National also does not tolerate that kind of screaming and he too is led away.
Fortunately, these are relatively isolated incidents.
Masters 2019: Tiger Woods 2005 v 2019 – find the difference
Moment Woods draws with Molinari
While Molinari double bogeys the 12th, Woods two putts for par. The second battle is received with such enthusiasm as if he had fished. The customers know how important a par was. Their husband has aligned himself with the Italian.
The stands are emptied when the players go to the 13th tee. Woods, Molinari and Tony Finau form the last group. So the crowd swells with every passing hole.
I don't see the ride at 13, but I know that Woods is in the fairway. The cheers tell me that. I also know that Molinari is in a good place. The Open champion has its supporters.
There is no chance to get close to the 13th green to watch one of the most iconic shots in golf, across the creek to the green to bet an eagle chance.
Standing on chairs & trying to see past umbrellas
It's hard after Tiger. You have to reconcile with the fact that you won't see many shots, but it is enough for most to just be in the presence of a sporting legend.
For some, it was a kind of military operation, presumably months in the planning, figuring out which side of the fairway must be to gain access to greens and the next hole.
For others, it was always about being on the move, staying ahead of the race, missing the misses A strange hole to ensure optimum visibility later.
A short downpour made many more difficult with huge masters, green and white umbrellas blocked many of the 13th green.
A couple tried to stand on their seats in front of the full grandstand on the 14th – another frowning act – but they got away with it.
Others were on tiptoe, clinging to the pines of Georgia, benefiting from higher ground but so far away they relied on those closer to each other to put things into perspective, via roar, like Woods on it was breathing.
A challenge from Koepka & Schauffele?
Masters 2019: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson & Justin Thomas in the best recordings of the final
The moans speak volumes. Molinari & # 39; s missed eagle sputt is greeted more understandably happily. The Italian had his fun back in July in Carnoustie but now we are in Wood's backyard.
The leaderboards suggest that Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele may also have a vote in the result. The Woods fans have nothing to do with it.
This is his time. This is their time. Time to see the four-time Masters champion take a lead closer to Jack & Augusta's National record. And also move within three of Nicklaus & record major distance of 18.
I meet three boys who have flown in from Los Angeles and New York. Chris tells me that his wife is also traveling, but "she didn't feel like the early start, so she stayed in bed" and will accompany her later. I know.
Another mistake by Molinari
Patrons cheer as Tiger Woods celebrates its little bird on the 16th green during the final round
Molinari, a machine that makes a mistake with only one bogey in its first 54 holes all week. This time it is terminal. His third to fifteen joins the turtles in the pond that protect the green ones. Smothered cheers greet the news.
Another little bird for Tiger. He is now three times free from Molinari, but the threat comes from elsewhere. World number two Dustin Johnson sets the target at 12 under.
Woods charges at 4 pm, the scene of & # 39; that shot & # 39; from the back left that led to his last Masters victory 14 years ago.
He is tall. But the customers know where this ball will end up. The traditional Sunday marker is located at the bottom of the slope. Gravity takes over and the ball goes back down, encouraged by thousands of fans. A crane. Fourteen under par. Leader by playing two with two.
Enjoying the winning moment
Watch the moment that Tiger Woods wins the 2019 Masters
There is a profound awareness of what we are looking at. The players come from the bottom corner of the court. Woods steel-faced, almost unchanged from the first tee. Molinari looks like he can cry.
A par at 17 for Woods. A bogeyman at last wins the Masters.
He does not make it easy. A good second on the 18th makes him work. But the chip is decent and Woods does not do a 3-putt of 14 feet.
The outpouring of emotion on the green is matched by the screams of "Tiger, Tiger, Tiger" from it.
He is round the circle. Twenty-two years ago he won his Masters and embraced his father, the driving force behind the young Tiger, when he left the green.
On Sunday it was a hug for his mother. And his own children. The emotion of all this is overwhelming.
He makes his own roar. A real Sunday with the roar of Augusta Tiger as he walks away.
It has been a special day and one that will live long in the memory of all those here to see it.
Tiger Woods presented itself with its fifth Masters Green Jacket
