Oh the Masters...

What a week of golf the Masters 2011 was! Who would ever think that Charl Schwartzel would make it. When I watched him last November at the Barclays Open, I did so only because I was following Ian Poulter's flight.

That's why the photos I took of Charl was mostly his back as he and Ian shared a light moment ...

Or half of his face....since I was really just taking a photo of the leader board.

But boy was Charl amazing at the Masters sinking putt after putt after putt. Speaking of putters, I was astonished at how my man Adam Scott gave life to his new broomstick putter.

 Last year Scott was 136th in putting average on the PGA Tour and 174th in putts per round. 

It seems that his adjustment period to his LONG putter has not been difficult. Scott hit a total 111 putts in 4 rounds of the Masters or 28 putts per round. His putts were staying on line and was pretty steady.

What was painful to watch though was Rory McIlroy's putting.

Rory made 124 putts through 4 rounds at the Masters. But McIlroy is an extraordinary player. Despite his collapse at the Masters I am certain that we will still enjoy watching him play a lot more incredible golf. That's the Taurean for you! (It turns out we even share the same birthday).  Just days after the Masters, Rory flew to Malaysia where he is playing at the Maybank Malaysian Open. He discovered that his clubs were missing and despite this demoralizing event, Rory was all grace under pressure. That's world class. Some other player might have thrown a fit! Fortunately the missing golf bag showed up the day before the Maybank Malaysian Open.

Martin Kaymer is one of the star players at the Maybank Malaysian Open (April 14-17)

Kaymer is currently ranked the world number 1 with three individual titles next to his name in 2010. That was why it was disappointing that he didn't even make the cut at the Masters. Meanwhile Italian teen sensation Matteo Manassero finished Thursday's game with a 66.

He was unforgettable when he played the 2010 Masters at only 16 years old. Compare Manassero's round of 66 to  Charl Schwartzel's 70 in this same April 14 round at the Maybank Malaysian Open. 

Oh such is golf....

Fore!