Masters Recap: Lessons Learned at Augusta

In the 1974 movie "The Gambler," James Caan's character, Axel, is stunned when his bookie comes to his house looking for money. Caan didn't see a final score, but he did know that UCLA had been way up. He was sure he won. He hadn't. As Jimmy the Bookie so simply put it, "They don't give out no prizes at the halftime, Axel."

It's one of my favorite anecdotes when it comes to fantasy sports – any sports, really.

Which brings us to gamers who own/picked Jordan Spieth for the Masters. With Spieth up by five with nine holes to play, you didn't turn your TV off, but perhaps you relaxed just a bit. Just like all the Danny Willett owners were thinking, "Second place? Pretty darn good."

About 30 minutes later, Spieth owners likely had the same look as Axel after hearing about UCLA.

By now, we all know what happened. In one of the great collapses in golf history, Spieth – Jordan Effing Spieth! -- lost that five-stroke lead, and it was gone in only three holes. Two balls in the water leading to a quadruple-bogey 7 made the 12th at Augusta the single most surreal golf hole since Jean van de Velde's triple-bogey on the 72nd hole of the 1999 Open Championship. The Frenchman needed a double bogey to win.

While Spieth ballooned to a 41 on the back nine for a closing 73, Willett shot a 67 to capture his first major title, defeating Spieth and English countryman Lee Westwood by three strokes.

The 28-year-old from Sheffield, England, announced himself on a world stage last year by finishing third in the 2015 WGC-Match Play Championship, and then he steadily climbed the OWGR, arriving at Magnolia Lane at No. 12 in the world. He heads home to spend more time with his newborn first child at No. 9.

When will Willett return? Probably not until the Players Championship next month and, after that, maybe not until the U.S. Open in June. He surely is now a more valuable commodity to gamers, but just how valuable will be determined by how much he plays. Willett once again will have to consider special temporary membership on the PGA Tour.

As much as Willett is the 80th Masters champion, this tournament will forever be known as the one Spieth gagged away.

What does that mean for Spieth and his owners? It might turn out to be a good thing. Remember, this is one of the most steely minded golfers on tour, a proven closer who had never blown one like this before. After the hurt goes away, Spieth likely will be more determined than before to get back in position to win another major.

And it may happen in the very next major, in June at Oakmont.

MONDAY TAKEAWAY

Lee Westwood

Westwood is 42, and for years was considered perhaps the Best Golfer to Never Have Won a Major. He's no longer in that conversation, but of course it's because he's no longer among the best, not because he finally won a major. Westwood had one of his best chances on Sunday and played admirably, going birdie-eagle on Nos. 13 and 15 before a final, fatal bogey on 16 did him in. Unfortunately, this was likely a case of a veteran golfer summoning knowledge of a course on which he's always played well, and not the start of a career renaissance. Like Phil Mickelson, another 40-something, Westwood has the ability to rekindle the magic on occasion, and maybe he will again next year at Augusta, as the top-12 and ties are invited back.

Dustin Johnson

It's getting tough to write something fresh about why Johnson came close in a major but didn't win. He was at his very best tee-to-green, giving him really good opportunities on the green but simply didn't make enough putts. There's no shame in that at Augusta. Two double bogeys on the card when you finished four back of the winner? That's another story. And doubling 17 when you were still fighting for the title? Classic DJ. Notify me when he wins a major; until then, I'll pass on Johnson on the biggest stages.

Hideki Matsuyama

Bidding to become the first Japanese major winner, Matsuyama played himself out of the tournament with three bogeys and a double in the first six holes. He rallied for a 73 to tie for seventh. Clearly it seems Matsuyama's time will come at a major, though perhaps not at Augusta, where putting, his weakness, is most diabolical. It really wouldn't surprise anyone if he came back to contend at the U.S. Open in June.

Rory McIlroy

Once again unable to complete the career Grand Slam, McIlroy played just well enough (or just badly enough?) for another backdoor top-10. He crumbled alongside Spieth in the final pairing on Saturday and, still on the fringe of contention on Sunday, opened with three bogeys in five holes. McIlroy admitted to feeling very "tentative" and "playing defensively" and said his inability to win at Augusta is more mental than physical. On one hand, it's good to admit that; on the other; for a golfer to be so open, it's had to have gotten really bad. McIlroy is still a top-five golfer and will win his share of tournaments, but he does seem to save his worst for the biggest moments against the top golfers.

Jason Day

Day tied for 10th with McIlroy at 1-over for the week. But the feeling is he didn't play as poorly, likely because he doesn't have all the Masters scar tissue that McIlroy does. Yet. With some near-misses at Augusta, it won't take many more years for Day, like McIlroy, to wonder if his shortcomings are more mental. As for the rest of this year, Day seems primed to continue his greatness, and another major is entirely possible.

Brandt Snedeker

Snedeker shared 10th with Day and McIlroy, his third Masters top-10. He's back playing to his full capabilities, and it really wouldn't be a shock if he won again this year, even a major. He's played well over the years at the U.S. Open, with four top-10s since 2008. That's another way of saying: Keep an eye on Snedeker at Oakmont.

Bryson DeChambeau

DeChambeau finished as the low amateur at Augusta and that was to be expected. As fascinating as watching him at the Masters was, it becomes more intriguing this week, as DeChambeau turns pro to compete in the RBC Heritage. In the RotoWire Golf League, a shrewd competitor scooped him up a few weeks ago – an unprecedented move for an amateur. If by some small chance he's still out there in your league, don't dawdle. DeChambeau is good enough to win right away.

Adam Scott

Scott came to Augusta as one of the hottest golfers going, with two wins in 2016. But those came with David Clark on the bag. And they came after Scott had decided to return longtime caddie Steve Williams (semiretired) for the Masters. It couldn't have sat well with Clark, and the former magic with Williams didn't reappear, with Scott tying for 42nd with three rounds of 75 or worse. Now we have to keep an eye on what happens next, and how the resuming Scott-Clark relationship goes forward. There are no announced plans for Williams to caddie again for Scott.

Hunter Mahan

Nobody's game has fallen further and faster than Mahan's. He's got six wins, including two in WGCs and one in a playoff event. But he returned to Augusta only because of a T9 last year. This past week, he had moments, before a 78-76 weekend left him T54. That was just enough to get him back into the top 100 in the OWGR, at No. 100. But for someone who was 22 in the world as recently as 16 months ago, the major appearances will become more sporadic. If Mahan gets there, however, he has the ability and veteran presence, like Westwood, to summon a good week out of the blue.

Phil Mickelson

Oh, Phil. Playing his best golf in years, Mickelson fell flat – again. It seems every time he's playing well, or thinks he's playing well, he crumbles. That may be the new norm for a 45-year-old, but it was no less agonizing to see Mickelson double Nos. 15 and 16 on Friday to tumble below the cutline. Yes, he could win another tournament, and even another major, but is it worth the stress you'll endure watching him try to do it? Pass.