Experience counts.
That's the feeling heading into Sunday's final round of the 73rd Masters at Augusta National.
While much of the talk has been about the younger players, veterans such as co-leaders Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera have risen to the top.
Cabrera, 39, the 2007 U.S. Open champion from Argentina, fired a 69 yesterday and along with Perry (70) are at 11 under. For Cabrera, it's his 10th Masters and Perry is playing in his ninth.
"It's very important," Cabrera said through a translator about knowing the nuances of the legendary course.
What also will help Cabrera is his experience in recent majors. He won the 2007 Open coming from behind, but this time he'll be front and center trying to become the first Argentine to win the Masters.
Cabrera downplayed what it would mean to win for his country. The most famous close call came in 1968 when Roberto De Vicenzo signed for an incorrect score that gave the tournament to Bob Goalby.
Cabrera wasn't even born in 1968.
"Well, I was not there and I was able not able to live that bad moment that Roberto had at that time," Cabrera said, "but now I am playing for myself and trying to make the most of it."
When Cabrera won the '07 Open at Oakmont he joked that instead of having a sports psychologist like a lot of players he had a smoking habit that calmed his nerves.
"Well, now I don't have a sports psychologist and I don't smoke," he said.
Chasing Perry and Cabrera is Chad Campbell (72), who led after the first and second rounds. Campbell, who had a costly double bogey at 16 when overcooked a 6-iron to the 173-yard par-3, is at 9 under. Jim Furyk, who is playing in his 13th Masters, is also right there after shooting 68 and is at 8 under.
Furyk, who like Cabrera has also won a U.S. Open, said that having experience around Augusta National matters.
"I think experience has always played a huge part in this golf tournament," said Furyk, whose best finish is fourth in 1998 and 2003.
Furyk pointed out that Fuzzy Zoeller was able to win in his first attempt in 1979, but that was the exception.
With the weather expected to be near perfect for today it could be favorable for someone to post a low number early. However, the winner has come out of the final pairing in 17 of the last 18 years with the exception being Zach Johnson in 2007.
Steve Stricker (68) is fifth at 7 under with Todd Hamilton, Shingo Katayama and Rory Sabbatini at 6 under. Tim Clark is alone in ninth at 5 under.
Among those tied for 10th at 4 under are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the top two ranked players in the world. They will be paired together, but both have a long way to go to make up seven shots.
The last time anybody rallied from seven back to win was 1978 when Gary Player shot a 64.
Perry, 48, has the best chance to win his first major since the 1996 PGA Championship when he lost in a playoff to Mark Brooks.
He says that experience around Augusta National is something that will come in handy today. But what he is excited about is he feels as if he is mentally ready.
"I never thought I was there mentally," Perry said. "I never could put the two together. I never had the short game to compete here. You've got to really pay attention out there."
Perry then pointed to the 16th hole as an example. He was playing with Campbell, who hit a 6-iron that went too far. Perry debated clubs but chose the 7-iron and made par. It was a minor decision, but it paid off in a big way.
As for Campbell's mistake on 16, he said: "I hit a perfect shot, but it was the wrong club."
One of the oldest sayings in Masters' history is the tournament doesn't start until the back nine on Sunday. Leave it to the experienced Perry to let everybody know that will be the case today.
"You will definitely see something happen on the back nine where somebody is going to win it," he said. "That's where it's all going to happen."
John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or jdell@wsjournal.com
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement