As a sports fan, the past week is arguably the most entertaining week of the year. March Madness closes out with the Final Four. Opening day for major league baseball occurs across the country. Team are fighting for the last playoff spots in the NHL… and then there is The Masters.

There is just something about watching “a tradition unlike any other“.  On TV it’s easily discernible how beautiful the course is.

Hogan Bridge

The rolling hills, the towering magnolia trees, and the speckle of colors from the azaleas – almost always in full bloom on the weekend of the tourney. Visiting Augusta National Golf Club during Masters Week is near the top of my bucket list. Of course getting tickets you literally have to win the lottery, as that is the only way to receive them short of forking over your child’s college fund.

Here are some famous thoughts on the course and tournament…

 “If the Masters offered no money at all, I would be here trying just as hard.”– Ben Hogan

“This is where God hangs out.”– Mac O’ Grady, on the Masters

“Every shot is within a fraction of disaster — that’s what makes it so great.”– Gary Player

“I hope I’ll never get too old to want to take part in this event, and I don’t think that I will ever age that much.”– Sam Snead

“If you don’t get goose bumps when you walk into this place, you don’t have a pulse.”– Don Sutton. Baseball Hall of Famer, on the Masters

“If I knew what was going through Jack Nicklaus’s head, I would have won the Masters.”– Tom Weiskopf, asked if he knew what Jack Nicklaus was thinking on his way to winning the ’86 Masters

“I don’t care about that. The Green Coat is enough for me.”– Billy Casper, asked how much money he made for winning the Masters

“The course is perfection, and it asks perfection.”– Nick Faldo

“I must admit the name was born of a touch of immodesty.”– Bobby Jones on deciding to call the tournament the Masters

“I always said that if they have a golf course like this in heaven, I want to be the head pro.”– Gary Player

One of the famous sayings about the tournament, is that The Masters doesn’t start until the back nine Sunday. It’s easy to forget that from year to year, but never was that statement more true than this year. A handful of players had an opportunity to earn their way into a green jacket, as no lead is ever safe on Sunday. Perhaps it’s the allure of Amen Corner and the reachable par 5’s.

12th hole at Amen Corner

Or maybe it’s just been proven over and over again that anything can happen in a short 2 hour span. Never was this more true as the eventual champion birdied 4 holes in a row Sunday to close the gap.

As the drama unfolded, the roars echoed throughout the course. And since 72 holes of golf couldn’t create a champion, both Louis Oosthuizen (dont ask me to pronounce his name because the tv commentators couldn’t even get it right) and Bubba Watson headed to a playoff.  After both parring the first playoff hole, Bubba ripped a driver (a neon pink one to boot) deep into the woods to give Oosthuizen a wide open opportunity. But it wasn’t meant to be for Louis. Bubba went on to hit one of the most amazing and memorable shots in the history of any tournament, let alone The Masters under immense pressure during a playoff.

From about 155 yards away off of pine straw with just a wedge and blind to the green, Bubba smacked a ball, keeping it under the tree limbs perhaps just 15 feet off the ground. As it rose after reaching the fairway, the ball then made a 40 yard turn like a banana and hopped on the green, taking a wicked bounce before settling just 12 feet from the hole.  He went on to two-putt to claim victory.

Bubba Watson has once again proven that nice guys can finish first. His background is intriguing as he never had a lesson, never talked to a mental coach, never talked to a nutritionist, has learned to live with and control his ADHD without medication, and essentially works on his golf game through feel and not technology. He wears his emotions on his sleeves and weeped on national tv standing on the green surrounded by his peers who each wanted a chance to share the moment with him. He has been described as John Daly without the drama of booze, gambling and women.

However I think a better comparison would be Tim Tebow – without… “the tebowing” and proselytizing.  He is humble, caring and down to earth. He seems genuine and is extremely likeable. While being interviewed in the Butler Cabin (which resembles the Brady Bunch living room) Bubba uttered a statement that captured my attention and I’ve thought about it many times over the last 24 hours.  He stated, “I never had a dream go this far, so I can’t really say it’s a dream come true.”  How humble can a guy be? He went onto say, “I don’t play the sport for fame. I don’t try to win tournaments for fame.” Now isn’t that a nice change from one Eldrick Woods.

So as the greatest tournament closes until next year… another one is just starting. Cake season officially kicked off tonight with the celebration of Sweet Lew’s 71st birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! Over the next 7 months, the family will get together for multiple celebrations of birthdays and beyond. And although it seems each one of us is watching our calories in one form or another… “LET THEM EAT CAKE!!!”