Buzzin Golf

Trevor Immelman, the 28-year-old South African eventually beat Tiger Woods by three shots to win his first major victory, just four months after having a benign tumour removed from his foot.

I was glued to the BBC coverage of the 2008 US Masters Open from Augusta this weekend.  It was good to see Justin Rose at the top of the leaderboard after the first round (again) with joint leader Trevor Immelman on Thursday evening. And what about Ian Poulter’s sensational hole in one at the 16th?

And did anyone see the other great shot of the weekend? Brandt Snedeker chipping the ball into the holewhile on the green?

Unlike Justin Rose, Trevor Immelman had a good second round on Friday.  Once again Rose was unable to  sustain his good start.

As well as Trevor Immelman, I was also taken by the charm and brilliant play of the young American Brandt Snedeker.  While Immelman seemed to take longer and longer deliberating over each shot, on the contrary, Brandt Snedeker took a look, took a shot, smiled and nodded as he appreciated the applause.

Tiger Woods had a shocker on Thursday and Friday and appeared to be too far behind as far as I was concerned.  Tiger should never be written off but if the leaders are playing with the confidence of Immelman and Snedeker then I couldn’t see a way back for the world number 1.

By Sunday evening I was on the edge of my seat.  Tiger was on the move, but Immelman looked unfazed by the pressure of being at the top of the leaderboard since Thursday.  As Round 4 unravelled Tiger uncharacteristically missed several short putts which would have put him level with Trevor Immelman.

So, to the last two holes, and Immelman is ahead by eight shots and can simply coast home.  That is until he finds the water and sand!

Tiger eventually only lost by three shots.  That in itself is amazing.  But for me, it was good to see Immelman and Snedeker as i was unfamiliar with them before this weekend.  I look forward to the next major golf event.