At the Masters: Tiger Woods’ wrist tweak and Bubba Watson’s close call

The most agonizing part of Tiger Woods’ Sunday at the Masters came midway through his final round. Right of the fairway on the ninth hole, with his ball in the pine straw, he took a rip at a somewhat awkward approach shot and appeared to catch a tree root beneath his ball.

Woods hollered after impact, his club flying out of his hand. He first shook his right wrist, then examined it.

His post-round WebMD diagnosis?

“A bone kind of popped out,” Woods told CBS. “And the joint kind of went out of place. But I put it back in.”

Woods never got his game back into a groove. He was erratic off the tee and ultimately made five bogeys as he backed up to a final-round 73.

Overall, Woods was encouraged by his play after a long layoff and drastic swing overhauls.

“I just wish I could have made a few more timely putts and moved up that board,” he said.

Woods couldn’t say when he’d compete next, saying he planned to take time off as he continues to work on his swing changes and get his health back.

The next major is the U.S. Open from June 18-21 at Chambers Bay in Washington.

A nod of approval

Phil Mickelson secured his first runner-up finish at the Masters, adding that to his three championships and five third-place finishes. Still, even with a final-round 69, Mickelson never truly threatened Jordan Spieth.

“I just simply got outplayed by a young player who just played some incredible golf,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson remained effusive with his praise of Spieth as a worthy new member of the green jacket club, commending the 21-year-old’s class, polished skill set and shotmaking swagger.

“He has no weaknesses,” Mickelson said. “He doesn’t overpower the golf course, but he plays the course strategically well. And he has that ability to focus and see things clear and perform at his best when the pressure is on.

“That’s something that you really can’t teach.”

Missed it by that much

Bubba Watson had the shot of the day — almost. After hammering a 338-yard drive on No. 2, he hit his 230-yard approach to two feet, barely missing a double eagle.

“I was just in between a six-iron and five-iron,” he said. “I was waiting for this gust of wind, so then we went with a five-iron, and I hit it perfect.”

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