The Shank that Won The Masters!

Did no one else see it? Am I the only one? On the eights hole on Sunday from the middle of the fairway with a perfect lie Angel Cabrera did what many weekend hackers do from a similar situation trying to muscle an iron. He SHANKED it! The difference is he went on to win the Masters. You golfers out there no this is really the most incredible feet. For once you have hit the shank how do you even pull the trigger for the next shot. Never mind that you're contending on Sunday for the green jacket. The announcers briefly mentioned it but almost seemed to embarassed to talk about it at length themselves. At least Faldo did bring it up but I would have loved to have heard Johnny Miller's reaction to this.

Every golfer knows it had to be on his mind. I don't care who you are, the shank plays reeks havoc with your mental stability on the golf course. Kudos to Angel for keeping it together. Never mind bouncing one off a tree and getting the bounce into the fairway and then saving par during the first hole of the playoff. The shot of the tournament was the shank on #8. When have you ever seen anyone go on to win a tournament, much less a major after hitting such a shot? It simply doesn't happen and its been overlooked by nearly everyone.

You've got to love a player who can pull that off. It gives all of the rest of us hope. Even though the everyman golfers out there were undeniably rooting for Kenny Perry they should have no problem embracing an everyman player from Argentina. The thing is Angel Cabrera is proving himself to be much more than a journeyman pro and a nice player. He is a real champion, winning on some of the toughest tracks and in dramatic fashion. Despite all the incredible and wonderful shots he played last week I for one will always remember the 2nd shot on #8 and wonder how he played so well after that. That's the question I would like to ask.