The story sounds like Tiger Woods in his youth.
Day shot 68 and finished tied for second. With two holes to play, he was two shots from the lead and refused to fold. Day knocked down birdies at Nos. 17 and 18, gave himself a chance, never gave up.
He's only 35, but already a transcendent moment has arrived. Surely, Woods' eagle at the eighth was the opening credit of a surreal rally that would have eclipsed Jack Nicklaus' charge in 1986?
"People with allergies are holding their sneezes," I scribbled while under a magnolia tree as Woods stalked the ninth fairway. So as not to distract Tiger, I guess. Or maybe patrons wanted another breathless moment from Woods, to believe the aura would deliver a fifth Green Jacket. Maybe just to say they were there.
But that's what I'll remember from the 75th Masters. How players Woods influenced are now the guys taking aim at him.
It's not so much Tiger's failures. Heck, he's dared these guys to beat him for over a decade now. Go ahead, be an athlete. Wake early, work out long and hard. Cardio. Weights. Nutrition. Don't just pound range balls. Go beyond being a golfer.
Apparently they've listened. Rory McIlroy, 21, melted amid the pressure, heat, humidity and intimidation of one of the wildest final round rushes in the 75-year history of the Masters. But for 63 holes he looked the part of champion, and spoke of building more character for the next time. Rickie Fowler's game (opened with a 70-69 in his first Masters) overshadows his neon wardrobe, and that's quite a feat for this 22-year-old. Ryo Ishikawa tied for 20th and has substance over style, too. He's only 19.
You'd figure Australian Jason Day, 23, to claim Greg Norman as his idol. You'd lose a Fosters on that one. "It's Woods," he said. "He's always been my favorite golfer and still is. Greg was a little bit before my time. I was born in '87, so he was at his peak around that time."
Day heard the roars announcing Woods' presence and saw his name climb the leader board. "All you'd hear, just so many roars, every hole you'd seem to hear a roar coming from where he was," Day said. "When he eagled No. 8 ... that guy's just a freak."
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