The American Spectator

Reader Mail

p> FROM COODY TO IMMELMAN br> Re: Lawrence Henry's The Dullest Masters : /p> p>Alright Mr. Henry, I'm asking: What really happened when Nicklaus and Watson walked up the eighteenth hole? br> -- Dan Dickey br> Batesville, Indiana /p>

Two things always distinguished The Masters in the past:

1) Augusta National was the ultimate risk/reward course. Birdie and eagle opportunities were abundant, but so were possibilities of a 7 or 8. On Sunday, on the back nine in particular, the tournament became a test of nerves as much as shot-making. You couldn't win without playing aggressively, but that meant an embarrassing double- or triple-bogey was always only a hiccup away.

2) As a direct result of Point 1, the cream always seemed to rise to the top at The Masters. There's a reason Jack Nicklaus won this tournament more than any other major, and why Arnold Palmer (4 titles) and Tiger Woods (4 titles) have also won it more than any other of the big four (Gary Player won it three times, equal to his British open titles).

p>With no disrespect meant to Zach Johnson or Trevor Immelman (fine gentlemen and deserving champions both), it ain't the same no more! It's not right when the winner is determined by who on the leaderboard backs up the least on Sunday. I say, bring back the eagles, bring back the "Sunday charge," and bring the "roars" back to August National! Make the course fun again.

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