Marcus Hayes: Watson's Masters win elementary

WHEN IT ENDED, in the throttling grip of Bubba Watson, after 74 holes of uncertainty, the 2012 Masters rang more of what didn't happen than what did.

After winning the second playoff hole over Louis Oosthuizen, Bubba said he was nervous standing over every shot on the back nine. Believable, what with his future assured with a win. And, consider what - or, who - he had to go through to get there.

Tiger, for one, playing acceptably for a sustained stretch for the first time in 2 years. Acceptable golf from Tiger means everyone else is the underdog.

That includes world No. 1 Luke Donald, in his second ineffective reign, who finished at 3-over; lean Lee Westwood, tied for third at 8-under after a near-miss weekend; rippin' Rory McIlroy, who, when he learns the subtleties of Augusta, might Tiger-ize it, but until then will struggle to break par (he finished at 5-over, with Tiger); Phil Mickelson, of course, who used up six holes' worth of mistakes on just two holes; and, finally, lucky Louis Oosthuizen, whose second approach shot of the final day happened to go in.

But through them Bubba went, with four straight birdies on the back: all of Amen Corner plus Redbud, too.

His birdie on the 16th hole set up the playoff and eliminated the likes of Matt Kuchar, who again proved too nice and too careful to win a major; and Peter Hanson, who slept on the lead so badly that he gave it up almost immediately. Kuchar and Hanson finished two behind, with Mickelson and the aforementioned Westwood.

It seemed that the golf gods, in their fickle, cruel wisdom, ordained what was framed as Tiger's reascension to instead be Phil's coronation.

Instead, Mickelson's failure will stand as the one best remembered on a manic Sunday - a day tailored for twitchy, homegrown Bubba Watson.

Not surprisingly, Mickelson supplied the two shots that will herald this year's Masters, and both came Saturday. He flipped a trademark flop shot on 15, or the more challenging, sweeping hook on 17. Both pushed Mickelson to a 30 on the back nine and completed a run of 12-under from holes 11 to 54 after Mickelson opened the tournament with a 4-over streak of Day 1 nerves.

Even that magnificent stretch could not absolve the damages done by his triple bogeys.

Mickelson's triple on Thursday at the par-4 10th appeared to doom him early.

His triple on Sunday at the par-3 fourth hole - featuring two righthanded shots and zero unplayable lies - typified his style. Call it arrogant; call it aggressive.

Call it a triple, either way - the triple that cost him his chance to equal Tiger and Arnold Palmer with a fourth green jacket.

His Saturday move placed him in the final group with Hanson, who birdied 17 on Saturday, then knocked it stiff on 18 to enter Sunday at 9-under, one ahead of Mickelson.

It appeared that Hanson, in just his second try, would give the jacket a real run.

But that's Augusta, on Sunday: There to be taken, there to be lost.

Neither Mickelson nor Hanson seized Sunday.

Not like Bubba, fearless in his Boss Hogg outfit, driving his General Lee, swinging his pink driver.

Bubba was fearless. Oosthuizen was lucky.

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, found himself in the playoff thanks to a miraculous double-eagle on No. 2. But miracles don't win at Augusta.

Mastery wins at Augusta.

Tiger needed a miracle, but he faded on Friday and spun his tires on Saturday, when the leaders went nowhere.

McIlroy, meanwhile, collapsed on a very vulnerable Saturday setup. McIlroy tied Tiger at 5-over after McIlroy enjoyed a brief spate of relevance before the cut fell.

Hanson, a husky Swedish fisherman type who talks as straight and powerfully as he hits the ball, took advantage, as did Mickelson.

Boom boom did not.

Was it heartwarming or pathetic that Mickelson replaced Fred Couples as the geriatric favorite?

Couples' second-day lead, shared with laid-back tease Jason Dufner, put him in position to supplant Jack Nicklaus to provide the greatest elderly win at a major. Nicklaus won the Masters in 1986 at 46. Couples, 52, didn't even manage a Tom Watson effort.

Watson, at 59, in 2009 nearly won the British Open at Turnberry. Augusta is Couples' Turnberry.

Watson won the British Open there in 1977 and the Senior British Open in 2003.

Couples, whose only major is the 1992 Masters, delighted the faithful for 2 days, logging a 5-under 67 on Friday and hoping his balky back would hold out to help him win a second green jacket.

His back held up, but his hands did not. He faded from first on Friday to a respectable 2-under.

It was gallant.

Gallant does not win on Sunday evening at Augusta.

Aggressive wins on Sunday.

That was Bubba all over.