Being half a day ahead of Augusta, Georgia in terms of time, it means TV-lag easily sets in when watching the US Masters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
There are few people in the global TV audience who hadn’t settled in front of the box or flat screen earlier this week and not anticipated Tiger Woods’ great major return.
While Tiger didn’t really disappoint – neither did he light up the TV – it was difficult to see who else was going to provide the spark. That was before Anthony Kim’s amazing second round.
After 75 on the first day and the wrong side of the cut looming, American Ryder Cup hero Kim powered back with a record 11 birdies on some of the toughest greens around. His second-round of 65 put him back in contention.
Though he was seven off the pace after the third round – same as Woods – his birdie-fest, for me at least, has been the highlight of the week so far. Chad Campbell’s 65 on the first day runs him for a close second.
When Woods was a youngster coming through the amateur ranks, he was the talk of the pro circuit. Not many golfers have since stirred the same kind of buzz.
Not even Kim, though the 23-year-old appears to have the kind of talent, will and courage to take on that mantle.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa are the other standouts when it comes to the next generation of golfing giants.
But as I settle in for another Sunday night/Monday morning of golf, it’s difficult not to seek out Woods and Kim even as the cameras focus on folks like Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera, Jim Furyk, Campbell and others who are battling it out for top honours.
😎 The Masters was really good on Sunday, I had picked Kenny Perry to win, he been playing such great golf this year. Mcllroy and Kim were my youth picks and Kim just amazing. The World #l and #2 gave the three on the top of the leader board a run for their money. This was a really good as always Masters.
My 81 year old Dad, who is still an avid gollfer, rang me two nights ago and complained that they weren’t showing enough of the other golfers in the field. ‘It’s always about Tiger Woods, what about showing some of the other guys?’
I have to admit, even though I am a Tiger fan, he had a point.
A lot of the coverage did focus on Tiger, weather he was winning or making another charge.
I’m not sure what it was about this year, maybe our new 42inch Plasma TV, but I watched this wonderful event from start to finish and enjoyed it more than I’ve ever done before.
The twists and turns it took in the end had me rivited.
I thought Chad Campbell would be the eventual winner and when Angel Cabrerrer lost it in the trees I thought it fitting that Kenny Perry should win, thus giving us older golfers hope.
But Angel had the last say and became the first Argentinian to win ‘The Masters’ and the coveted green jacket.
I can’t wait til next year now to see if Tiger can win it again……sorry Dad 🙂