Garcia fought through adversity on the second nine in a way few imagined he could. He let a three-shot lead slip away on the first nine, was two strokes down after 12 holes and seemed destined for an even greater deficit after a terrible drive on the 13th hole. But Garcia made a saving par at the 13th with a one-putt after taking a one-stroke penalty for an unplayable lie, then he made birdie at the 14th from 6 feet and an eagle at the 15th from 14 feet.
“It was Sergio’s run around the 13th that put him back in the Tournament,” Rose said. “Other than that, I had it won.”
Beginning with Garcia’s eagle at the 15th and continuing to the par-3 16th, the golf and the drama reached epic proportions. It was a classic Sunday second nine at Augusta. Garcia hit his tee shot at the 16th to 6 feet. Rose stepped up and hit his to 8 feet. Rose made birdie and put the pressure on Garcia, who missed his putt. That sent Rose to the 17th tee with a one-shot lead. He drove into the right rough, hit his second shot into a bunker and failed to get it up-and-down.
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