Cabrera's Second in the Playoff: Best Break in Golf History?

[iacas]

From my perspective, considering the fact that Cabrera knew that Campbell had found the fairway and had the best angle into the green, meanwhile Perry was in the bunker, he knew he had to do something.

Small point of correction: Perry and Campbell were both in the fairway at that time. Perry was in the bunker in regulation.

[albatross]

I was standing right there on the ropes and I STILL can't believe that happened. To see in person how much of a window he had, was unreal.

So being there live I have to say, absolutely some luck in that shot.

[tm22721]

The crowd's response to Cabrera's win was delayed and muted, almost to the point of being rude. Obviously 95% were pulling for Perry.

[Divot Tool]

I was standing right there on the ropes and I STILL can't believe that happened. To see in person how much of a window he had, was unreal.

What was Cabrera exactly trying to do there? Punch it through? I was watching on HDTV but the camera angle didn't exactly illustrate his intentions. Would have loved to have been there though! Thanks for jogging my memory iacas!

[albatross]

The crowd's response to Cabrera's win was delayed and muted, almost to the point of being rude. Obviously 95% were pulling for Perry.

Again, being on the course it was definitely a Perry heavy crowd, myself included.

But Cabrera had a pretty big following as well. I had all kinds of people next to me on every hole screaming "Pato", which means duck in Spanish. I wanted Perry so bad but you've got to hand it to Cabrera. Perry and Campbell both looked SOOO nervous and Angel looked like he was all fired up and ready to kick ass and he did. He was so fired up before the first playoff hole, you would have thought he already won the tournament and the other two looked like they wanted to throw up.

[BASHERBAKER69]

...what about Larry Mize's chip in at Augusta to beat Greg Norman in a play off?....

Tiger has had many lucky breaks in tournaments, in fact there have been so many of them i can't remember any of them. What about his diabolical tee shot on the first at Augusta in his final round this year which was 100 yards off target..he found his ball in the undergrowth to make par!

[Ben]

I cannot believe I missed watching this Sunday! Is it posted to watch online somewhere maybe? From what I hear (and read here) I missed a great final day. But, I was having a good Sunday on the course for myself, so its alright I suppose. I can take the trade.

[Awsi Dooger]

Van de Velde's surreal bad fortune is not properly remembered as such because the ABC announcers were so inept. The second shot was everything, as others have already posted. Once it cleared the burn, and by that margin, it was probably at least 100/1 that it would be rejected and end up in front of the burn. And 100/1 is extremely conservative. It was the golf equivalent of the Franco Harris Immaculate Reception.

If he's over in two, he's the winner. But instead of focusing on the bizarre bad luck, unrivaled in major championship golf history, Mike Tirico preferred to launch a giddy mode and Curtis Strange quickly relied on words like stupid. Johnny Miller chided them for that months later during the Ryder Cup, saying the announcing team had botched the call with improper emphasis. I had posted that theme on several sites. Van de Velde's subsequent shots were poorly considered and executed. They should never have transpired.

Anyway, Cabrera's break is much more standard. How many times has a tree amended a shot into the fairway, in daily play or while watching on TV? When I'm on a roll I'm expecting it to spit out in perfect shape.

Freddie's break was amazing but that was so early, #12, it allowed recovery if the ball had plunged. Luck or chokes are certified at finality.

I've watched for 40 years and can't think of outrageous good luck deciding an outcome at the end of a major. Not unless it's defined as others giving it away.

[albatross]

Van de Velde's surreal bad fortune is not properly remembered as such because the ABC announcers were so inept. The second shot was everything, as others have already posted. Once it cleared the burn, and by that margin, it was probably at least 100/1 that it would be rejected and end up in front of the burn. And 100/1 is extremely conservative. It was the golf equivalent of the Franco Harris Immaculate Reception.

You make some good points here and I can't remember good luck having an outcome at a major either, but I definitely disagree with your view of Mr. Van de Velde.

The announcers said it was foolish for him to even hit driver before he hit his tee shot. That was mistake #1. For sure. There is NO reason to hit driver with a 3 shot lead on that finishing hole. By the way, I do agree that the announcers got a little giddy and didn't focus on exactly what was happening but I've heard Van de Velde say in an interview that he was aiming for the grand stand on his second shot because he knew he would get a drop. What? Your target should never be a grandstand. Period. So where he did get a very bad break and bounce, it was his poor decision to take that target line that led to the break. He caught his first break on the tee shot and he should have hit two nine irons after that and won the tournament. Bad breaks but I think the announcers were right on by calling them stupid decisions.

[mcfc_nick]

You make some good points here and I can't remember good luck having an outcome at a major either, but I definitely disagree with your view of Mr. Van de Velde.

a lot of players do this! i was reading through an interview that AK gave at one of his wins last year (cant remember which one), and he said he was doing the same thing seeing as he knew he could get up and down and had a comfortable lead!