Capelle On Golf

2008 Masters Coverage - thru 4/15

Is Trevor Immelman for real? Could be. He finished 5t at the 2005 Masters, then posted a 6t in the brutal heat at Southern Hills in the 2007 PGA. After opening with a big fat 75, he settled down and played the final 54 holes in five under. He led the tournament in GIR with 54 to Woods’ 50, and he tied for seventh in fairways hit. So it appears that his ball striking at Augusta was no fluke. When he gets his swing in the groove, he’s deadly accurate.

Immelman’s been grooming himself for greatness since early childhood. He seems grounded, having a terrific family and a 15 year relationship with his wife. His mentor for the mental game is Gary Player, one of the toughest competitors of all time.

He’s 28, so he should be entering into his prime. With the 2008 Masters under his belt, as fine a swing as there is in the game, and the fighting spirit of his fellow South African, the Tiger Era could have its first Lee Trevino type player, one who could knock a couple of more Ws off Tiger’s majors count before he’s done. Indeed, Immelman could step out from Tiger’s shadow long enough to be recognized as something more than just a side man for one the game’s greatest players ever.

Before this year’s Masters began, I thought that if someone other than Tiger had won, they wouldn’t have chance at winning the second leg. But the way Immelman’s capable of driving the ball, you’ve got to think that his game could be well suited to the narrow rough strewn fairways of Torrey Pines. I can hardly wait for June.