IT’S ALWAYS ENJOYABLE when major sporting events fulfill their promise and provide a quality spectacle for fans watching at home and in person.
This year’s edition of The Masters more than lived up to the task.
Coming on the heels of the men’s NCAA basketball championship, the most dreadful college basketball game I’ve ever seen, all I really needed was a shot of azaleas-in-full-bloom satisfying Masters experience.
While the basketball game was a dud to all but the staunchest UCONN supporter, this golf tournament, and especially the final round on Sunday, was a dream.
Sunday turned into a bad dream and maybe even a nightmare for three-day leader Rory Mcllroy.
He saw all of his hard work vanish on the 10th hole of the final round with one of the ugliest triple-bogeys in recent memory.
And as the author of a few of my own bungled attempts, I know an ugly triple when I see one.
The young Irishman from Northern Ireland limped down the stretch to post an 80.
Mcllroy has been nothing but gracious in defeat.
Coming off the 18th green, he was kind enough to stop and hand his golf ball off as a souvenir to a young fan, and he was polite and humble during his interview with the CBS commentator.
I would have been stuck in a zombie-like lurch up to the scorecard tent and barely comprehensible during any television interview.
He was also big enough to pose with a green-jacketed Masters winner Charl Schwartzel while the two flew with other players on a private jet to this week’s Malaysian Open.
Mcllroy quipped on his Twitter account, “Flying to Malaysia with Charl! Glad one of us has a green jacket on!”
I like the kid and hope he can bounce back from the toughest test of his young career.
Other Augusta chatter
■ Did you notice that Schwartzel bears a striking resemblance to Jerry Seinfeld?
Hail to the Masters champion: golfers don’t usually birdie the final four holes at Augusta on Sunday.
He had three top-20 finishes in majors last year, and other pros rave about his swing. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.
■ If only Tiger Woods could figure out that Nike Method putter.
He had six three-putts, tied for most at the Masters and lost by four strokes.
The jacket was there for him to wear, Tiger just didn’t have the goods on the greens.
I wonder if we will see a switch back to the Scotty Cameron model that brought him so much success or if he stays with the folks who make his clothes, shoes, irons, woods and golf balls (Nike).
■ I like Australians and I enjoyed watching Adam Scott (long putter), Jason Day (plays slow and steady), and Geoff Ogilivy (the invisible man on CBS’ coverage of the final round) duking it out to be the continent’s first Masters winner.
Hopefully, the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship all have a flair for the dramatic and end like The Masters did Sunday.
Peninsula Golf Club
Need some new golf shoes or some rain gear? Enjoy discounts?
Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles will host the Foot Joy representative from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Besides shoes, Foot Joy will have its entire outerwear line on hand.
Footjoy also will have its shoe-fitting system and will find the right fit for your foot.
Items ordered and purchased Saturday will receive 10 percent off.
On Sunday, Golfers can go and demo the Wilson Golf line and talk with a Wilson rep from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, phone the Peninsula golf shop at 360-457-6501.
Port Ludlow demo days
Vito DeSantis, director of golf at Port Ludlow Golf Club, checked in with information on two upcoming demo days out at his course.
Callaway and Nike Golf will be on hand on Friday, April 22 to show off their new 2011 line of equipment.
Ping, Cleveland and Adams Golf will visit with their newest wares on Wednesday, April 27.
Demo hours are from approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Golfers who purchase $150 or more in equipment during either demo day will receive a free round of golf at Port Ludlow.
The Port Ludlow 18 Hole Women’s Club opened its season last Tuesday with a brunch at Beth Weaver’s home.
They played a nine-hole team best ball event at 1 p.m. with Bonnie Vahcic, Ann Nugent, Ann Weigel and Turney Oswald taking top honors.
SunLand events on tap
The ESPN Best Ball Challenge Sectional Qualifier will be held at Sequim’s SunLand Golf & Country Club on Saturday, April 30.
The two-player best ball event will include gross-net and senior-net divisions.
Cost is $52 per player.
Players will receive 12 Callaway IZ golf balls and a one-year subscription to Golf Magazine.
A minimum of five teams will advance to the regional qualifier.
Foursomes that pay one extra entry will enter ESPN’s Triple Play contest, giving them three partners rather than one.
Players also will receive an extra dozen Callaway IZ balls.
For more information on the contest, visit www.espngolf.com.
For more information on playing in the SunLand event, phone Tyler Sweet at 360-683- 6800.
SunLand will host its own demo days with Ping visiting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26 and Cobra in the Valley from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.
The course is still offering winter rates on the weekends and is a bargain at $25.
Port Townsend women
The Port Townsend Ladies Golf Club has changed its name to the PT Women’s Golf Club.
The officers for 2011 are Libby Atkins, co-captain, Denyse Early, co-captain, Arlina Brown, treasurer, Jo Norwood, rules chairwoman, and Barb Matter, publicity chairman.
The women held their opening day last week and had 16 out playing, including new members Betsi Ferrell and Elvira Schawl.
New members are always welcome.
The women play at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays in April and will switch to 9 a.m. in May.
Port Townsend’s next tournament is a four-person Relay for Life benefit scramble on Saturday, April 30.
Players will pick their own teams, score low, have fun and support a great cause.
For more information, phone the pro shop at 360-385-4547.
Lessons at Discovery
New PGA pro Mark Wurtz will be conducting spring tune-up clinics beginning the week of April 18 and continuing through early May.
The clinics are divided into both beginner and intermediate level with men’s and women’s sessions.
Each clinic involves two two-hour sessions, with a maximum of eight participants in each session.
Cost is $40 per person per clinic. Balls and equipment (if needed) are provided by Discovery Bay Golf Club.
Clinics will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The first session will be devoted to developing short-game skills, with the second emphasizing the fundamentals of the golf swing.
If you’re interested in anything happening at Discovery Bay, phone the clubhouse at 360-385-0704.
At the links course
Sequim’s SkyRidge Golf Course will hold a two-person Spring Opener Scramble on Saturday.
The 9 a.m. shotgun start event is $100 per team.
This includes your golf, range balls, KPs and lunch after play.
There will be gross and net divisions for the event as well.
DECA tournament set
Port Angeles High School’s DECA marketing club will host its third DECA Golf Scramble fundraiser at SkyRidge on Saturday, April 23.
The four-person scramble will begin with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Fees are $200 for a team or $50 per individual. The fee is $20 for high school students with an ASB card.
The tournament includes 18 holes of golf, range balls, prizes from local businesses and a mulligan table.
Golf carts are also available for $12.
DECA is a student-led organization that allows students to travel to conferences and competitions to demonstrate and expand their knowledge in the fields of marketing, business and entrepreneurship.
Proceeds from the tournament will go toward traveling competition expenses for Port Angeles DECA students.
To play in either the spring opener or the DECA tournament, call SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
If you can’t play, but would like to donate to DECA, contact Lora Brabant, Port Angeles DECA advisor and marketing teacher, at lbrabant@portangelesschools.org.
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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.