Smith: Plenty of classic finishes through the years

AUGUSTA - At the end of the day, there will be a new Masters champion who will have all of sports toasting his grand achievement. He will be a million dollars richer, and David Letterman will be calling.

Nothing, however, will top the closing ceremony when the green jacket, symbolic of the Masters championship, is placed over his shoulders, officially confirming his dominance in golf's first major.

There could be a new face in the winner's circle, as it has been the last two years with Zach Johnson and Trevor Immelman joining immortals like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer at the champion's dinner.

If it is to be a repeat champion, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, both at 4 under par, would have the best chance to catch Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry, who finished at 11 under par.

"It is a great thrill to win the first time, but you'd like to experience that emotion again," said Jack Nicklaus, who has enjoyed the experience a record six times.

"The prestige one gets from winning the Masters tournament is very great," Byron Nelson is quoted in the Masters media guide, "and I will not be satisfied until I win it again. As for the beauty, the course stands far superior to anything I have ever played."

A favorable weather forecast has the gallery in an anticipatory mood. With a tradition of classic finishes on Sunday, this year's Masters could return the drama that has been missing. Chairman Billy Payne, according to one source, has promised that the roars, weather permitting, will return to the Augusta National Golf Club this afternoon.

A lot will be said of the new champion and how he fared on certain holes. Like Zach Johnson, two years ago mastering the par-5 holes with his wedge and a deft putting touch, as opposed to the power hitters reaching them in two strokes and gaining a considerable advantage.

Traditionally, the player who birdies the par-5 holes has always fared well at the Masters. Multiple winners like Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods were often overpowering, but they also brought drama to other holes, like Nicklaus did with a birdie at No. 14 when he won in 1986 and Woods when he chipped in at No. 16 in 2005.

The 17th hole is not one that is remembered for its drama, but there were two instances where it figured into the success of Nick Faldo, who has three Masters titles - two of which came from key results at the 17th.

In 1990, Faldo got into a playoff with Ray Floyd when Floyd uncharacteristically bogeyed No. 17, failing to get up and down for par.

In the playoff, Floyd, uncharacteristically again, hit his approach shot into the water at No. 11, giving Faldo the tournament on a silver platter.

A year later at a press conference, Floyd said: "I know the record book shows that he (Faldo) won, but I gave the tournament to him."

In 1996, Greg Norman finished the third round with a six-stroke lead over Faldo, who birdied the 17th hole on Saturday. The significance of that birdie meant that Faldo would be paired with Norman in the final round.

Faldo took a long time to make his putt at No. 17. He knew it would be to his advantage to play in the final pairing with Norman, who had tied the course record with a 63 in the third round.

In previous head-to-head matchups with Norman, Faldo had come out decisively ahead. Psychologically, he believed he would benefit from teeing off in the last group with Norman.

It certainly appears that he was correct, as Norman could not do anything right and ballooned to a 78 while Faldo's efficient 67 brought the Englishman his third green jacket.

This afternoon, holes like the water-guarded par 5s on the back side along with the treacherous par-3 No. 12 will probably be the focus of everybody's attention in the final round, but more than likely it will be a lesser-celebrated hole that will figure into determining the championship, as No. 17 did twice for Nick Faldo.

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