2004 Masters Tournament

Infobox_Individual_Golf_Tournament
tournament_name = 2004 Masters Tournament


dates = April 8 - 11, 2004
location = Augusta, Georgia
course = Augusta National Golf Club
tour = PGA Tour
PGA European Tour
Japan Golf Tour
par = 72
yardage=7,290
field = 93 players, 44 after cut
cut = 149 (+5)
purse =$6,000,000
winners_share =$1,170,000
Champion = Phil Mickelson
Score = 279 (-9)

The 2004 Masters Tournament was the 68th Masters Tournament held from April 8-11, 2004 at Augusta National Golf Club. Phil Mickelson won his first, long awaited major championship with a birdie on the 18th hole to defeat Ernie Els by one stroke. The purse was $6 million and Mickelson won $1.17 million.

Round-by-round results

First Round (Thursday-Friday morning)

The first round was dominated by 23-year old, Justin Rose, who posted a five-under 67 on the day. American's Chris DiMarco and Jay Haas shot 69s, to finish second for the day at -3. Two time U.S. Open champion, Ernie Els was among a group tied for fourth at -2. Among the seven players tied at -1 was two-time Masters champion, José María Olazábal. Phil Mickelson shot an even par 72, and eight-time major champion, Tiger Woods shot a three-over 75. The winner of the last major (2003 PGA Championship), Shaun Micheel, finished with an even par 72. Play was suspended for roughly two hours due to rain, so 18 players had to complete their opening round Friday morning.

Final Round (Sunday)

In one of the most exciting back nines the Masters has ever seen, Phil Mickelson out dueled Ernie Els to claim his first ever major championship and green jacket. Mickelson shot a final round 69, including an 18-foot birdie on the 18th hole to defeat Els. Els started the day at -3, and posted a five-under 67 a few groups ahead of Mickelson. His -8 seemed to be good enough to at least get him into a playoff with Mickelson. Els stumbled out of the gate with two bogeys in his first five holes, but quickly regained his form. He collected two eagles on his round at the par 5 8th and 13th. He also connected on a birdie at the 15th to put him at -8. Seeing his first major possibly slip away with a two-over on his front nine, Mickelson had to match Els's fire on the back nine. Mickelson would birdie five holes. Knowing Els had eagled the 13th, Mickelson would birdie the par 3 12th and par 5 13th. He would then briefly tie Els with his third-consecutive birdie at the par 4 14th. After a disappointing par at a birdie hole on the par 5 15th, Mickelson really had to buckle down on the final three holes. On the par 3 16th, Mickelson put the ball 20-feet above the hole. He would tie for the tournament lead with the dramatic putt. He remained tied heading to the final hole. When his second shot landed on the green, a championship winning putt was in front of him. As Mickelson made the putt, he jumped for joy as he won his first major title.

K.J. Choi finished third, which was his best major finish, with a three-under 69. Sergio García shot the round of the tournament with a six-under 66 to finish in a tie for fourth. Also in this tie for fourth was two-time Masters champion, Bernhard Langer, who shot an even par on the round. Four major champions, including three former Masters champions (Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, Nick Price, and Davis Love III) finished in tie for sixth at -2. Tiger Woods's streak of not winning a major continued to seven with a disappointing +2. First and second round leader, Justin Rose also finished the tournament with a +2.

Quotes

*"Is it his time? YES! Phil Mickelson has won the Masters!" -Jim Nantz's (CBS Sports) call as Mickelson sunk his birdie putt on the 18th hole to defeat Ernie Els and win the tournament.

External links

* [http://www.masters.org/en_US/history/results/2004.html Full results]