Johnson's Green Jacket Revives Putter Company

31 winners from last year will tee it up in Kapalua this week

(NEWSER) - Not all the stars will be out when the PGA Tour kicks off with the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Kapalua, Hawaii this week. Four winners from last year, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and British Open champion Padraig Harrington are all taking a pass, reports the AP. Among those competing are defending Masters champ Zach Johnson and top rookie Brandt Snedeker. More»

He closed with 4 straight birdies

(AP) - Charl Schwartzel of South Africa closed with four straight birdies today to win the Masters over a pair of Australians in one of the most dramatic finishes ever at Augusta National. Schwartzel's final putt from 20 feet curled into the side of the cup for a 6-under 66, the best closing round at the Masters in 22 years. It gave the 26-year-old , who finished at 13-under 274, a two-shot victory over Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day. Scott shot a 67 and Day finished with two straight birdies for a 68, leaving the Aussies in second place at 276. More»

Crowd lifts Lefty as Woods slumps in return to competition

(AP) - Phil Mickelson, already a fan favorite and now the sentimental pick with his wife and mother battling breast cancer, won his third Masters today, shooting a 5-under 67 to pull away for a 3-stroke win over Lee Westwood. Tiger Woods, the week's sideshow in his return to competition, had an uneven day that ended with a 3-under 69 and a tie for fourth with KJ Choi at 11-under 277, 4 strokes behind Mickelson. Anthony Kim finished third. More»

Scandal-battered golfer gets in some early practice for the Masters

(NEWSER) - A day before his eagerly awaited press conference, Tiger Woods hit the links at Augusta National this afternoon. Sporting what appear to be the beginnings of a goatee, the scandal-plagued superstar unexpectedly arrived around 1pm and played nine holes with Mark O'Meara. "He's one of the toughest guys mentally I've ever met," said O'Meara, a close friend who won the tournament in 1998. "I think he'll do well this week." Practice rounds for the Masters, which begins Thursday, formally start tomorrow. More»

(AP) - Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry are proving they can handle the pressure on golf's biggest stage. Cabrera made three birdies on the back nine today and scratched out an important par on the final hole at the Masters for a 3-under 69. Perry finished with five straight pars for a 70 to join the Argentine in the lead. Meanwhile Tiger Woods shot a 2-under 70 to fall behind the leaders by seven strokes. More»