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AUGUSTA, GA. – The 12th hole at Augusta National usually has something to say about the Masters winner. The legendary par-3 was again critical Sunday afternoon, opening the door to Tiger Woods to claim his fifth green jacket.
Four players from the last two groups found the water of the start in the 12th, including Francesco Molinari, who was two strokes ahead of Woods at the time. Tony Finau, also in the running and playing with Woods and Molinari, also found the water, as did Brooks Koepka, who was part of the group ahead of Woods. All suffered a double bogey at the hole, while Woods drew a draw. He left the hole tied with Molinari at 11-under, while Koepka dropped to 9-under and Finau went from 10-under to 8-under.
After another birdie at the 13th par-5, Woods took his first lead on Sunday at the Masters since 2005, when he scored the birdie on 15th, breaking a deadlock that blocked the standings.
"This mistake from Francesco also allowed a lot of guys to come back into the tournament," said Woods. "There were so many different scenarios that could have happened on this new comeback. There were so many guys who had a chance to win. The ranking was complete and everyone was playing well. You could not have had more dramas than all of us. Now, I know why I'm bald. This thing is difficult.
Molinari, champion of the British Open in 2018 and leader of the 54-hole Masters, has accused an iron player 8 poorly executed to make his missed shot at 12.
"I think we picked the right shot and we just did not hit hard enough," he said. "It was a tough day with the gusts of wind. I managed to get along well on the first nine. I just have some mental problems on the last nine places that have cost a lot. "
Molinari, who led the 54-hole race by two strokes, also put the ball in the water at the normal 15, after cutting a tree. He ended up with a 74 double, Sunday, to finish at 11 under, two shots behind Woods. Koepka was 12 years old and Finau was 11 years old.
"I think it was not my day today," Molinari said. "That ball out of 12, if it's 1 yard away, she's probably going into the bunker." Clearly, I've done several things that I would have liked to do differently, but I'm going to learn from my mistakes . "
Finau said the 12th hole was the turning point. He played the toughest hole of the fourth round with an average of 3,338.
"I knew now that I had to play golf almost perfect," Finau said. "I could have done something in the future. But 12 was a kind of big swing. "
Koepka, who will be the 13th to par-5, said the wind had slammed his ball in the 12th.
"Once he passes over these trees, it's a guessing game," he said.
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