The results are in ... and the best par-3 is?

As we sit on the eve of The Players Championship, a look back at last week's poll closing shows the TPC Sawgrass track as having the best/most memorable par-3 in golf.

The tournament is often considered the game's fifth major, and the memorable hole is the daunting 17th - noted for its island green.

The Pete Dye-designed hole edged out Augusta National's famous 12th, which is part of the Amen Corner stretch where many Masters tournaments have been decided.

So as golf fans await several water-soaked balls on No. 17, it's time for another poll.

Check it out on the right-hand corner of the blog - what's the toughest course in Manatee County?

The Monday Recap: Masters Reaction

Charl Schwartzel won the 75th Masters on Sunday/provided by McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Wow, what a Masters Sunday.

Not even a Hollywood screen writer could have scripted Sunday's final round any better than what transpired at Augusta National's hallowed grounds.

So without further adieu, here's some next-day observations after such a thrilling Masters Sunday:

• Tiger's sort of back - Tiger Woods morphed into the pre-scandal version with a Sunday charge, albeit on the front nine, that kept the series of roars going throughout Augusta. Woods carded a 31 in heading to the back nine, briefly held the lead and gave a glimpse into how close he is to being back. However, Woods missed some short putts and until he wins a golf tournament - he finished in a tie for fourth for the second straight year - he's not back. Not yet, at least.
• The meltdown - Rory McIlroy looked like a 21-year-old kid on Sunday. He held it together on the front nine, before he went all "Tin Cup" on the 10th hole. The roars that began with Charl Schwartzel's early fireworks were unavoidable to the Northern Irishman's ears. McIlroy showed some class in his post-round interviews after blowing up to an 8-over par 80 that left the 54-hole leader in a tie for 15th. He actually had the lead heading to that fateful back nine, but he could never recover from the triple bogey on the 10th hole. He doubled the 12th hole and was finished before you could say "green jacket."
• Australian jinx - Greg Norman is often considered an influential force on Australian golfers and came so, so close to grabbing a Masters title on more than one occasion. Like McIlroy, Norman blew a final round lead - his was six shots - during the 1996 Masters. Fast forward to 2011 and the crop of young Aussies were looking to give their country its first-ever Masters champion. Adam Scott took charge first with a birdie on No. 14 for the lead. An ill-timed second shot on the par-5 15th left him with a difficult up-and-down. He left with par, but recovered with a tap-in birdie on the par-3 16th hole. At that point, it looked like Scott's title to lose. Jason Day, playing alongside Scott, made a couple late birdies - including the 18th - to tie Scott at 12-under par. If not for Schwartzel's late magic, Scott or Day would be getting fitted for the green jacket. Instead, the Masters remains the lone major that an Australian golfer has not captured, begging the question if there is an Augusta curse?
  
• The birdie barrage - Schwartzel joined Trevor Immelman and Gary Player as South Africans to win the Masters. He chipped in for a birdie on No. 1 before holing-out for eagle on No. 3 and did nothing until becoming the first player to birdie the last four holes en route to a Masters title. It came on the 50th anniversary of Player's ground-breaking major victory, where he was the first international player to win the Masters.
  
• America denied - Look at the current titleholders of golf's four major championships and no American players are listed. World No. 1 Martin Kaymer won the PGA Championship, South African Louis Oosthuizen took the British Open and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open last year. The last American to win a major was Phil Mickelson at the 2010 Masters.

The next major isn't until the U.S. Open. Hopefully we all get the theater and drama that came with this past week's Masters.

Rory McIlroy's blow up similar to a movie

Rory McIlroy at the Masters. Courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Services.

Watching the drama unfold at Augusta National on a crazy Masters Sunday made me realize something - Rory McIlroy turned into Roy McAvoy.

Yes, the 21-year-old Northern Irishman gave us all a showing of how the fictional character from "Tin Cup," would play that same 10th hole, where McIlroy began his fateful fall from the leaderboard.

McIlroy triple bogeyed the hole after sending his tee shot toward Butler Cabin, rather than the fairway.

A bogey on No. 11 sandwiched in between a double bogey on No. 12. He also hit his tee shot into a tributary of Rae's Creek on No. 13 during the famed Amen Corner stretch (Nos. 11-13) to fall out of contention.

There's still time left, but it's not looking good for McIlroy. The title is up for grabs with a resurgent Tiger Woods in the mix alongside Adam Scott, Jason Day, Charl Schwartzel and Geoff Ogilvy.

Here's the famous "Tin Cup" clip:

Peter Uihlein misses cut at Masters: UPDATE

Peter Uihlein hits from the second hole on Thursday at the Masters. Provided by the Associated Press.

Peter Uihlein's stay at the first major in 2011 is over.

Uihlein opened his first-ever Masters tournament with an even-par 72, but ballooned to a 77 in Friday's second round.

The Oklahoma State University standout and former IMG Academies student recorded just two birdies en route to hitting nine greens during his second round trip around the famed Augusta National layout.

Uihlein finished at 5-over par, while the last spots to make the weekend was the group sitting at 1-over par.

Still, though, the experience of playing with defending champion Phil Mickelson and former U.S. Open champ Geoff Ogilvy was a thrilling time for the reigning U.S. Amateur champ.

Rory McIlroy leads the tournament at the halfway point, with Tiger Woods lurking three shots behind.

And one final interesting tidbit from the first two rounds - the last three major winners (U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell, British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen and PGA Championship winner and the world's No. 1-ranked player Martin Kaymer) all missed the cut.

In Kaymer's case, he has yet to make a cut in four appearances at golf's youngest major

Peter Uihlein looks like a missed cut at Masters

Peter Uihlein hits from the second hole on Thursday at the Masters. Provided by the Associated Press.

Peter Uihlein's stay at the first major in 2011 look like they are over.

Uihlein opened his first-ever Masters tournament with an even-par 72, but ballooned to a 77 in Friday's second round.

The Oklahoma State University standout and former IMG Academies student recorded just two birdies en route to hitting nine greens during his second round trip around the famed Augusta National layout.

Uihlein is at 5-over par for the tournament, while the current projected cut lies at 2-over.

Still, though, the experience of playing with defending champion Phil Mickelson and former U.S. Open champ Geoff Ogilvy was a thrilling time for the reigning U.S. Amateur champ.

Peter Uihlein plays well in Masters first round

Peter Uihlein at last year's U.S. Amateur/courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Former IMG Academies standout Peter Uihlein is tied for 31st after the first round at the Masters.

The reigning U.S. Amateur champion and current Oklahoma State University golfer is tied with two other players for low-amateur honors.

Uihlein nailed 13 greens in regulation en route to an even-par 72 on Thursday.

He played alongside defending champ Phil Mickelson and former U.S. Open champ Geoff Ogilvy.

Lefty opened with a 2-under 70, while Ogilvy is in the top 10 after a 3-under 69.

Uihlein hit 11 of 14 fairways and birdied No. 18 to bring his round in at 72.

He tees off Friday's second round at 10:30 a.m.

The field wins Masters poll

So, the majority of votes (75 percent) say the rest of the field will don the green jacket after a victory in this week's Masters.

Here's who the other choices were:

• Phil Mickelson is a popular pick among the experts, especially after his win last week in Houston. He's using two drivers like he did to win the Masters in 2006.
  

• Martin Kaymer is the top-ranked player in the world, but has never made the cut at Augusta National.

• Lee Westwood finished runner-up to Mickelson last year. The No. 2 player in the world has come close to picking up his first-ever major championship on many occasions.

• Tiger Woods can never, ever be discounted as a threat to regain the his 2000-09 form. Counting the two majors he tallied before the breakout 2000 season, Woods has 14 in total and could awake from the post-scandal hibernation that's left him searching for a victory in any tournament.

Of course, the rest of the field choice includes Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, past U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and everyone else. There was a time when it was just Woods vs. the field. Those days are over, but it should be an exciting week.

And since Augusta National is famous for a certain par-3 during Amen Corner, the latest poll asks which is the best/most memorable par-3 in golf.

Peter Uihlein in Masters Par-3 Contest

Peter Uihlein at last year's U.S. Amateur/courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

Former Bradenton resident and reigning U.S. Amateur champ Peter Uihlein will tee it up Thursday at Augusta National alongside Phil Mickelson.

The Masters has a tradition of pairing the defending champion with the current national amateur champ, and that continues this year.

Uihlein's first Masters appearance is slated to begin at 1:48 p.m. Geoff Oglivy, a former U.S. Open champion, rounds out the threesome.

Uihlein made the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational when he was on spring break from Oklahoma State. Uihlein received an invite for the PGA Tour stop at Bay Hill in Orlando, where he has a residence, and used it as a tune-up for the Masters.

On Wednesday, Uihlein took part in the annual Par-3 Contest and fared well - shooting 3-under 24 on the nine-hole layout.

Good news, though, as Uihlein didn't post the lowest score. The winner of the event has never backed it up to don the green jacket for a Masters triumph.

To read more about the favorites heading into the first major of the year, check out the Bradenton Herald's Thursday edition.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in poll duel

Take a look at the top right-hand corner and you'll notice a new feature to the blog.

Yup, it's a poll and in honor of the first men's major in 2011, it's time for the blog to roll out its first-ever one.

With the Masters set to begin Thursday, vote for who you think will don the green jacket come Sunday evening.

Voting closes Thursday morning just as the first round starts at Augusta National.

You can choose Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, world No. 1 Martin Kaymer, perennial major runner-up Lee Westwood or the rest of the field.

Let the voting commence!

Peter Uihlein at the Crow's Nest for the Masters

Peter Uihlein during last year's U.S. Amateur/courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service

From the Associated Press:


CROW'S NEST: Former IMG Academy student Peter Uihlein picked the wrong night to spend in the Crow's Nest, the upper floor cubicle at Augusta National where top amateurs in the Masters are invited to stay.

Watching the national championship basketball game with fellow amateur David Chung was fine. But the powerful storm that roared through the area later in the night caused Uihlein some anxious moments.

"I was up all night," the U.S. Amateur champion said.

There was no damage in the Crow's Nest, though Uihlein had already planned to move into a house with relatives and his girlfriend for the rest of the tournament.

Despite the storm, Uihlein was soaking in the experience of his first Masters, including hitting a tee shot on the par-3 12th hole for the first time.

Like his stay in the Crow's Nest, that was an adventure.

"I hit it in the water the first time I played," Uihlein said. "Right pin, I went for it."

Tiger Woods wins!

Tiger Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando's Bay Hill/provided by McClatchy-Tribune News Service

So a re-run ran late last night on NBC. It was Tiger Woods appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

Woods was there March 16 to promote the latest video game bearing his name.

That video game, as reported here, features Augusta National and The Masters and is due out March 29 on the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Despite Woods showing up for the PR spiel on the game, that didn't prevent Fallon from poking some fun at Woods and the scandal that followed the former world No. 1 ranked player after his 2009 car accident.

Woods also played Fallon and fellow guest Amy Poehler in the game on Augusta's famed par-3 12th.

El Tigre won.

Check out a recap from that night's show below (courtesey of Celeb TV):

Augusta National featured in new Woods' game

Tiger Woods at last year's Masters/courtesy McClatchy News-Service

Augusta National is that crown jewel most of us only dream of playing.

That's not the case anymore ... if you enjoy video games.

The venerable layout that hosts the Masters each year is lending itself to EA Sports for its annual Tiger Woods video game series.

The franchise's next installment is "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12" and is slated for release a week before the Masters.

It's the first time Augusta National has allowed itself to be featured in a video game.

And while Augusta National is still a male-only club, the move to the video game world looks like an attempt to gain interest from a younger audience.

Here's a commercial from a previous version of the game:

Additional Masters TV coverage

The Masters is set to expand television coverage beginning with next year's tournament, according to the Associated Press.

The new plan calls for one extra hour for ESPN's coverage, the AP reports.

For more on this story, visit the USA Today's AP story here

An starts title defense strong; Mullhaupt slow out of the gate

Bradenton's Ben An got off to a good start in defense of his U.S. Amateur title.

An carded a 2-under 70 in Monday's first round at The Home Course in Chambers Bay, Wash.

An, a native South Korean, relocated to Bradenton to work on his game.

Last year he won the U.S. Amateur and received invitations to PGA Tour events including The Masters. He also played in the U.S. and British opens.

Despite missing the cut in all three majors he played this year, the experience is sure to give An a boost down the road, which includes his college game beginning this year at the University of Cal-Berkeley.

An had six birdies to offset four bogeys that gave him a spot in the top ten with many players still on The Home Course and Chambers Bay Golf Course.

Meanwhile, Bradenton's Nicholas Mullhaupt finished at 3-over, 75. He played The Home Course for his opening round, too.

Mullhaupt's 75 leaves him in a bit of a hole - tied for 111th as of late afternoon on Monday.

Following the second round of stroke play Tuesday, the field will cut down to match play for the remainder of the tournament.

An and Hampshire miss cut at Open

Ben An and Travis Hampshire both missed the cut at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links following second-round play in the 110th United States Open.

An, a Bradenton resident, carded a 4-over par, 75 on Day Two.

Hampshire, who is No. 2 on the local West Florida Golf Tour's Order of Merit, shot 77 Friday.

Both players missed their chance to continue on the weekend, which players 7-over par or better qualified for.

For An, the reigning U.S. Amateur champ, the result is his second missed cut in major championships this year.

The perks of winning the national amateur title meant An earned an invite to The Masters and automatic exemptions into both U.S. and British opens.

For Hampshire, a mini-tour professional, he earned qualification through the grueling local and sectional stages before exiting without a payday in his trip to California's crown jewel of golf courses.

Geminiani misses cut

Domenico Geminiani missed the cut this past weekend at the European PGA Tour's BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Geminiani is a 14-year-old Edison Academics student, who will graduate from high school this year, and became the youngest player in the tour's history.

The event was largely a coming out party for fellow boy wonder, Matteo Manassero, who captivated American audiences with his stellar play at Augusta National as a the then 16-year-old.

Manassero took home low amateur honors at The Masters and turned his sight toward Italy and his national championship to mark his pro debut.

The Italian shot 5-under, 283 to grab a 29th place finish in his European Tour debut.

So while Manassero grabbed the headlines early in the tournament, Geminiani had to settle for 36 holes and a missed cut.

The amateur carded rounds of 80-78.

However, there is promise.

The right-hander took Stewart Cink down to the wire in a match at Old Corkscrew in Naples.

Yes, the same Stewart Cink, who defeated Tom Watson in last year's British Open playoff.

"He had Stewart Cink one down through 13 holes," coach Jacques Panet-Raymond said. "And then Stewart Cink made a birdie coming in, and Domenico made a double bogey coming down the stretch. And he ended up losing by two or three. And it was just the whole point that ... Stewart is sitting there saying, 'This is nuts. I'm telling all my friends about you.'"

Ben An scores well at Verizon Heritage

Byeong-hun (Ben) An's first round at this week's PGA Tour stop in South Carolina was good enough to put the Bradenton Prep senior into a tie for 28th.

An carded a 2-under par, 69 at the Verizon Heritage Classic on Thursday.

It was the first time, An has cracked 70 on the PGA Tour, since making his debut two weeks before The Masters at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

An's ability to score well came off a quality day with the putter, as he needed just 26 putts during his opening round in the 72-hole event.

An had three birdies and an eagle to offset three bogeys.

He'll try to make his first PGA Tour cut, when he tees off Friday off No. 10 at Harbour Town Golf Links at 1:40 p.m.