Masters Sunday: Birdies Don't Tell The Whole Story at Augusta National

Seven golfers are currently tied for the lead at Augusta National…in TWB (total weekly birdies.) The guy in last place, the 1985 winner, the chap playing with the Augusta National member-as-marker, Sandy Lyle, has 14 birdies and is +14…28 over on the other holes. Wow. Justin Leonard and Henrik Stenson also have 14 birdies and are +4 (18 shots given away elsewhere.) Richard Sterne is +3, for a 17-shot giveaway.

The two gents who lead in total birdies and are in serious contention are Brandt Snedeker and Paul Casey (currently two and four shots off the overall tournament lead. Trevor Immelman has posted 13 birdies, while Steve Flesch has 11, on the week. Flesch is the only one to have made an eagle, so he essentially has 13 birdies, too.

Think you can get away with mistakes at Augusta anymore? Don’t. Immelman has bogeyed 2 holes in 3 rounds, while Flesch and Sneds have bogeyed 5 each, and Casey, 6. Tiger Woods? He has posted 8 paltry birdies, with none on his first round scorecard. He did have an eagle that day, so he too has 5 bogeys.

All five have avoided the big number (double or higher) this week in Georgia. If they continue to do so, we’ll have a shoot-out. If they don’t, we’ll still have a shoot-out. It should be a fun day in the wind and sun in Augusta.

EDS.NOTE: Lorena Ochoa birdied her first hole in Mexico. She’s -22 and 8 up on second place.