MOST of Tiger Woods’ victims in winning the 83rd Masters on April 12 (PHL time) were in their 20s and 30s.
“Growing up, he (Woods) was my idol,” said Tony Finau, the lanky lad from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Finau is 29, Woods 43.
When Woods tapped in the bogey to formalize a one-shot victory and end a 15-year slump at the Masters, the first to embrace him was Finau.
“It was a dream come true,” said Finau. “I had always dreamed of playing him in a final round.” That materialized when Finau tied Woods for second at minus-11 after 54 holes, two shots behind Francesco Molinari of Italy.
As the solo leader, Molinari, 33, looked every bit a majors contender again, his pedigree embellished by his British Open win last year in Carnousti, Scotland.
At 43, Woods appeared practically a senior citizen to Molinari and Finau.
But then, golf is one sport that frowns on age—generally speaking.
If you are 43 in basketball or in any other sport for that matter, except chess, you are old hat.
But if you are 43 in golf, you are still very much a championship material.
Jack Nicklaus was 46 when he won his record 18th major, nabbing the Masters in 1986.
And Julius Boros was 48 when he pocketed the PGA Championship in 1968, becoming the oldest to win a major.
Golf’s enduring refrain must be: “You can play it from five to a hundred and five.” One hole, just one hole, spelled the difference among Molinari, Finau and Woods.
On the par-3 12th, Molinari and Finau saw water. Double bogey.
Woods saw dry land. Par.
That opened doors for Woods.
After Molinari got wet again on the par-5 13th for yet another double bogey, Woods was well on his way.
And with his third birdie on the par-3 16th from just a foot away, Woods’ bogey on 18 was enough to hold back the charging Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele (all three under-35), who all finished minus-12 to lose by one.
Molinari’s 74 to Woods’ title-clinching 70 dropped the Italian two shots back at third—a minus-11 in a tie with Finau (72).
With Woods’ win, the young ones are now in awe of the young once. Finau especially.