SF Examiner: Bubba Watson walks away from Masters in tear-jerking triumph

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

And now we wait and hope, hope the next major golf championship of 2012, the U.S. Open at San Francisco’s Olympic Club in June, can be as full of tension and greatness — and, of course, drama — as the Masters.

What an ending Sunday, in the shadows after the setting sun dipped below the Georgia pines, a day of history, only the fourth double-eagle in 77 Masters and, because the winner couldn’t be determined until a sudden-death playoff, mystery.

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Copyright 2012 SF Newspaper Company

Global Golf Post: Haas Plays Safe And Is Not Sorry

By Art Spander
For GlobalGolf Post.com

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA -- Jack Nicklaus said he "loved option holes," and the beguiling 10th at Riviera Country Club, only 315 yards long, with a rolling green surrounded by bunkers, was one of his favorites. Bill Haas would like to second the motion.

Haas knocked in a 45-foot birdie putt Sunday at the 10th, the second hole of a three-way sudden-death playoff, to beat Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley and win the Northern Trust Open.

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Copyright 2012 Global Golf Post

Global Golf Post: Bradley's Long, Cool Ride to Augusta

By Art Spander
For GlobalGolfPost.com

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA -- The mirrors were taped to the sides of the car, a Ford Focus. "They fell off too much," Keegan Bradley remembered.

Not what you want to make an impression at Augusta National. Or even at the Subway sandwich shop down the street.

Bradley's mode of transportation is better now. It should be. He won the PGA Championship...

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Copyright 2012 Global Golf Post

RealClearSports: Mickelson Keeps Flying - Over, on Course

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

LOS ANGELES — He made a bogey. After 49 holes. And who knows how many air miles? Phil Mickelson, jet-setter, pacesetter, has brought his game down the California coast in a big way.

Pebble Beach? Riviera? He just keeps flying along, literally and figuratively.

The first round of the Northern Trust Open on Thursday ended...

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© RealClearSports 2012

RealClearSports: Tiger and Phil Still Own Golf's Star Power

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

LOS ANGELES — And now this week’s distillation of the PGA Tour: Phil is here, and Tiger isn’t.

Here being the Northern Trust Open, which used to be called the Los Angeles Open. Here being Riviera Country Club.

A lot of Hollywood in the history of Riviera. A lot of Hollywood is in pro golf, in every sport.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2012