The Masters - How They Finished

You have to go back a long time to remember a Masters when so many players, at some point, were arguably in contention to grab that fabled Green Jacket. We know who ultimately prevailed but what happened to other runners who came up short when the chips were down? Here is GP's rundown of the how the main contenders finished.

Tiger Woods

There were no fireworks but just a wise head as Tiger carefully plotted his way round the final 18 at Augusta. It was not like the old days when, at times, it seemed that all the other players did not believe they could beat Tiger but rather a smarter golfer watching those around him lose it. He arguably won it at the 12th. Woods watched 4 players before him put it in the water and paid particular notice to Brooks Koepka, a man Tiger knew hit a harder ball than him. The decision was made to follow what us viewers thought was the age-old rule on the final day, i.e. aim over the left bunker and accept a long two putt. Walking off 12 Woods surely knew if he could birdie the upcoming two par fives it may well be enough. He duly produced the two birdies, although once again his heart must have been in his mouth as his tee shot at 13 found its way through the trees on the left out on to the fairway. A text book birdie at the 16th, to the normal generous final round flag position, gave Tiger the luxury to navigate a rather dull, but safe, bogey up the last and grab his fifth Green Jacket.

Finished 1st (-13) – Masters Champion

Dustin Johnson

DJ very much went under the radar and was not really seen much in the final round until a blistering streak of four birdies in five holes from the 13th suddenly put him in the running as the leaders struggled. He always needed a slip up by Tiger, which never seemed likely, but had he managed to birdie the last a play-off may have beckoned.

Finished T2 (-12)

Xander Schauffele

Three birdies in five holes after turning in -9 suddely catapulted Schauffele to the top of the pile and at one point he was arguably looking favourite to grab an unexpected victory. However, Xander rather ran out of fuel and 4 straight pars to finish was never really going to be enough unless the heavens suddenly opened and the rain came.

Finished T2 (-12)

Brooks Koepka

One of the four players out of the final six to visit the water at the 12th Brooks appeared to have blown it. However, a storming eagle at the 13th put him back in contention. A birdie at the 15th put him level with Woods but he needed at least another birdie to challenge and was another who will look back at what might have been.

Finished T2 (-12)

Jason Day

Day came out of the pack, having started the final round 7 back from the leader. However, an excellent 67 was never going to be quite enough and he fell a couple shy of the Green Jacket.

Finished T5 (-11)

Webb Simpson

Another who never seemed in contention until the Molinari meltdown, Simpson, slowly built his score and a back nine of 33, including a birdie at the last saw him move slowly back up the leader board after a poor front nine.

Finished T5 (-11)

Francesco Molinari

Francesco walked on to the 12th struggling a bit with his game but still two shots ahead of Woods. Like many that have gone before him he made the fatal error of going at the right hand pin and fell short in the water. A double bogey ensued and his lead had disappeared. Molinari never really recovered his composure and a disastrous double at the 15th, including another visit to the water, killed off the Italian’s dreams.

Finished T5 (-11)

Tony Finau

An amen corner he will certainly wish to forget saw Finau fade out of contention. Following a bogey at the 10th he was one of many fooled by the wind at 12 where he visited the water. His immense power saw him eat up the par fives, 13th and 15th, and a birdie at the 16th saw him move to -11 but by now Woods was seemingly out of sight.

Finished T5 (-11)

John Rahm

Rahm seemed to tiptoe, if a man that size could be described as light footed, round the final 18 unnoticed until the 16th when a birdie opened up an unlikely opportunity to catch Woods. Two pars followed and he finished on the credible mark of -10.

Finished T9 (-10)

Patrick Cantlay

A great eagle at the15th suddenly propelled Cantlay I to the scrum at the summit of the leader board and given the bit of rain in the air he was looking like a real contender. However, the enormity of the occasion seemed to suddenly hit him and a 3-putt bogey at the 16th was followed by a bogey at the 17th and that was that.

Finished T9 (-10)

Ricky Fowler

It would have been a popular win and when Ricky reached the -10 mark after three straight birdies from the 13th the crowd were getting excited. A further birdie at the 17th put him right up there but a sloppy bogey at the last killed off his chance.

Finished T9 (-10)

Bubba Watson

A run of birdie, birdie, eagle from the 13th tee saw Bubba suddenly in contention (-10). However, he could not keep up the momentum and faded back to -8 with bogies at the final two holes.

Finished T12 (-8)

Justin Thomas

Birdies at the 12th and 13th moved him closer to the leader at -9. A Roller coaster from there with sloppy bogies at the 14th and 15th followed by a hole in one at 16. A bogey at the last left him on same mark as Poulter.

Finished T12 (-8)

Ian Poulter

A bogey at the 11th followed by a visit to the water at 12 (double bogey) and it was game over. There was a chink of light after birdies at 13th and 15th but a bogie at the 17th saw him fall back again.

Finished T12 (-8)

And Another Thing...

What Was in Tiger Woods' Bag