RAY'S CREEK

The Pull of Ray’s Creek

Winning any tournament takes a combination of skill and good luck and that was the case when Phil Mickelson won his first Masters in 2004. Phil played great golf but came to the last hole needing a par to tie Ernie Els and a birdie to beat him. Mickelson knocked it on the green about 18 feet behind the pin leaving him a tricky downhill putt. Chris DiMarco was in the front bunker and blasted out about 12 inches farther than Mickelson but exactly on his line to the hole.  It’s well known that putts break to Rays Creek, the lowest point at Augusta, but the question of course was how much?

DiMarco shows the way

DiMarco’s putt was almost perfect, missing a fraction on the low side by virtue of the pull of the creek.  As soon as DiMarco hit the ball Mickelson positioned himself directly behind the line of the rolling putt to spot the break.  He factored in what he had learned from DiMarco’s attempt and calmly rolled his putt down a slightly higher line and into the cup.

Luck had opened the door by giving him a “teach” but it was skill that allowed Mickelson to walk though that door to his first Major.