Thanks!

This Week At The Masters

Mike Weir is the 2003 Masters Champion
by Vartan Kupelian

Canadian Mike Weir became the first left-hander ever to win the Masters Tournament Sunday when he defeated Len Mattiace on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Weir, who shot 68, forced the playoff with a clutch 6-foot par putt on the 72nd hole. Mattiace, whose 65 was the best of the final round by 3 strokes, left the door open with a bogey at the final hole. They matched 281, 7-under-par.

Weir won the playoff with a 3-putt bogey on the 10th hole when Mattiace missed the green and made double-bogey 6.

Sunday's Heroes
by Jim Huber

It is difficult, at times, to maintain your perspective once inside the gates of Augusta National. The noise of the Washington Road traffic dies instantly and you are swallowed up in a kind of fuzzy and warm blanket. The trees seem brighter green, the azaleas more dazzling pink, the dogwoods brighter white.

The most important thing, after securing your spot at No. 16 or behind Amen Corner, is the movement up and down the enormous scoreboards. Can Tiger make it three straight? Can Mickelson win his first major? What of Vijay and Maggert and the amateurs?

You are in your own little world here for four days, four glorious, sentimental, dramatic, poignant days. Millions envy you and millions more live vicariously through a television set.

It is the Masters, after all, and nothing can be finer or more important.

Until, that is, you hear the whisper of tears. Until you sense the great jubilation. Until you feel a shiver run up your spine and know that something wonderful has happened.

Until you know that the seven American prisoners of war have been found, alive and semi-well and heading home.

On this Masters Sunday, a great thing has happened far, far away and all the yellow ribbons have found some justice.

There are, then, huge smiles here today. It is difficult maintaining perspective inside these gates, for the real world seems to fade away quickly, but this brings us all closer to what is truly important.

Masters.org - For final scores, visit http://www.masters.org/en_US/scores/index.html