Still excited from yesterday’s game, a long line of one thousand fans anxiously waited for the gates to open this morning. Trying to find the best places to watch from, they secured their spots with chairs. Augusta National Golf Club permits fans to leave their chairs for a maximum of five hours. Good manners are a characteristic of the Masters, so even if fans leave their chairs for a long time, there is no worry about chairs being removed or stolen, particularly if name tags are attached.

Today’s temperature was at a low of 50 degrees and a high of 76 degrees. We had three consecutive days of perfect golf weather, starting on Friday. It was a chillier morning than yesterday. In contrast to actual temperatures that were at a high of 73 degrees, it was very hot on the course, with strong sun.

Incidentally, with only three hours left to watch play, the market price of today’s Sunday ticket, which we can call the final ticket market price of the 2010 Masters, was $250.

The Masters is quite an upscale event. One fan invited his 20 clients to this year’s Masters and threw a luxury barbecue party last night at the house that he rented during the Masters at the nearby Augusta National. Some corporations brought celebrities such as NFL players to their parties. Such prodigious corporate entertainment was extraordinary, but truly in keeping with the Masters.

On the last day of the 2010 Masters, fans were intent on seeing how this tournament would end, and who would still be smiling at the end. Fans and media could expect a close race today.

Lee Westwood, who was yesterday’s leader, missed some shots today as his long tee shots produced very long distances but sliced forward to the left a couple of times, presumably due to the immense pressure to win the Masters. At the beginning of his No. 1 hole for today, his tee shot went left into the trees and he started to bogey at that hole. He grabbed a birdie on the No. 2 hole to eliminate that bogey, but on the No. 4 Hole, he got a bogey. On the No. 8 hole, he was careful to avoid hitting the left side, but then his tee shot went to the right hand side into the banker. From the beginning today, Westwood didn’t seem to be in good shape. Phil Mickelson, who played with the same group as the last group, continued to get par until the No. 7 hole.

Tiger Woods, who still had the opportunity to be the champion, also shot his first tee shot on the No.1 hole into the trees, and started from a bogey. On the No.4 and No. 5 holes, he got bogies again and made three bogeys for his start today, as fans wondered if he would lose the chance to win the 2010 Masters. But Tiger Woods was Tiger Woods. On the No. 7 hole, his second shot made cup in and grabbed an Eagle. “This is the same as a Hole in one!” said a fan. After seeing this super shot, the expectations of the fans that Tiger still had the chance to get the 2010 Masters title dramatically increased. “That is his smile a day!,” said a cheering fan, praising him.

Tiger Woods got birdies on the No. 8 and No. 9 holes, continuing to rise to the fans’ expectations and to keeping him in the competition for the championship. K.J. Choi, who played with Tiger, got a birdie around 4 p.m. and improved one score. The very stable and solid playing style that he is known for stood out today.

Even if the No. 16 hole is the 8th easiest hole at the Augusta National Golf Club, it should still be noted that Ryan Moore made a hole in one there. Anthony Kim, also a role model player for younger generations, demonstrated a great catch up one hour before the last group finished. He got only one bogey on the No. 6 hole, and his long putt was solid today, consecutively sinking the long putt on No. 13, No.14, No.15 and No.16. He earned a total score of only 7 today, finishing with -12. Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Anthony Kim, and K.J. Choi made super shots by turns and the possibility that any of them could win this Masters continued throughout the middle stage of the tournament.

Fans had high expectations for Fred Couples today. Couples, a 50-year-old senior player, thrilled and excited fans at this Masters. Today, he once again played wearing his rubber-soled shoes. He constantly produced birdies, and was received with cheers from the fans, with comments like, “His consistency is great!” He eventually got three bogeys and earned a total score of 2, ending up in 6th place.

Tiger Woods could not stabilize his swing as well as his scores. Many times during the middle portion of the tournament, he narrowly missed chances for birdies and pars. On the No. 11 hole, his tee shot was in the trees and even his second shot couldn’t get him out of there. Fans joked, “Woods is in the Woods.”

But just when we saw this and thought that this unsteady streak would cost Tiger the 2010 Masters champion title, his third shot not only got him out of the trees, it closed five to six feet from the pin. Unfortunately, he missed that easy par putt and finished with a bogie at that hole. On the No. 13 hole, which is the best hole for Tiger, he made birdie. On the No. 14 hole, he made a big mistake. His iron shot was just 40 to 50 inches from the pin, but as if he were indisposed to play and his putts were disliked by the cup, he missed that birdie putt as well as the next OK putt, and finished with a bogey at that hole.

On the next hole, No.15, he produced an eagle, followed by a birdie on the No.18 hole – mistakes he would regret. He had two eagles, four birdies, and five bogeys, earning a total score of 3, finishing up 5 scores behind the top, in fourth place. On the last hole, No. 18, the fans naturally applauded Tiger, who smiled with relief after he finished with a birdie.

At the beginning of this year, Tiger was not sure if he would participate in the PGA Tour this season due to his well-known scandal. He wondered whether the fans would support him or boo him. However, I think that this Masters gave him the opportunity for a new start. Fans warmly welcomed him, and let him prove his abiding star power as the No. 1 golfer at the Masters.

Phil Mickelson’s super shot just in front of a large tree on No.13 was his best shot of the day. This got him a birdie. As this last group, consisting of Michelson and Lee Westwood, finished the No.13, No. 14, and No.15 holes, Phil Mickelson gradually ascended in the ranks. He stayed two scores in the lead, as he went to the No.18 hole. Mickelson seemed oblivious that his wife, Amy, was waiting for him beside the green of the No.18 hole. Astute fans noticed Phil Mickelson’s caddie give her a hand signal to "Let him get the job done.” Mickelson did not seem to notice, and continued to concentrate on his last putt for birdie. He made it and struck his victory pose, as the fans burst into huge screaming cheers. Lee Westwood ended in second place, which meant that he consecutively finished in the top three for three major tournaments.

Phil Mickelson hugged his three children when they ran to him, and found his wife, Amy, whom he gave a long, emotional embrace. While Phil Mickelson walked a long and tough road to attain his three-time Masters titles at the 2010 Masters since his last title of 2006, his wife, Amy, was fighting breast cancer, and survived. (Mickelson’s mother also had breast cancer surgery just six weeks after announcing to the public that his wife, Amy, was suffering from breast cancer.) Both women are now doing well. The scene was so emotional that the gentleman watching next to me shed tears, and said, “My wife is also breast cancer survivor." Many fans around us cried.

The beautiful sunset that shone on the golf course seemed as if it were made for such an emotional moment. We were all greatly moved by that poignant end to the 2010 Masters.

As everyone left, they said, "See you next year!” We are already making plans to go to next year’s Masters, as well. The 2011 Masters will be Monday, April 4, through Sunday, April 10. We look forward to your using us for an exciting 2011 Masters experience! We have begun accepting applications for the 2011 Masters. Please feel free to call us at 914-333-7507 for your 2011 Masters needs!