EDITOR'S CHOICE NEWS 'I've been kicked in the teeth by Labour' Shoaib joins cricketing legends with six sixes Region’s latest work of art will honour the ‘often undervalued’ £300m film studio gets backing from authority NEWS IN VIDEO Undercover van to help catch benefit fraudsters Dogs do their bit for charity One man band School garden opens 'Great Escape' veteran visits region RACING PODCAST Racing tips and reports with Graham Orange of Go Racing FORMULA 1 News and Race Reports F1 Blog Circuit Guide Predictions THE HEADLINE GAME * Pit your wits against The Northern Echo and TFM in The Headline Game GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Moyes blueprint could be the way ahead for Keegan 2 Middlesbrough stun hapless City in 'nothing' game 3 Pressure off as Gunners and Cats leave worrying to others 4 Keane awaits blessing for spending spree 5 Academic warns of flooding not seen in living memory 6 It's advantage Quakers, thanks to Miller 7 Mixed reaction to face of North 8 Celebrations as Laura wins Miss Durham competition 9 Nissan 'production switch of new Micra' 10 Boro end their season in style - but it's a humbling for Sven Today | 7 Days 1 Election aftermath 2 Miss Durham - The Finalists 3 Wigan keen on Cattermole 4 Gordon Brown 5 Councillors line up for leadership challenge 6 'I've been kicked in the teeth by Labour' 7 Long lay-off for Viduka 8 Anger after women locked in car park 9 Keegan happy to talk 10 Henig elected to leadership role

AUGUSTA National used to be the place where Europeans could not stop winning. Now, though, it seems to be taking its revenge.

Twenty of Europe's finest were in the 94-strong Masters line-up and on the opening day nine of them had at least a share of the lead at some point.

But one by one they fell away.

Justin Rose led after the first round, just as he did on his two previous trips to Augusta.

Running up a triple-bogey eight on the 15th hole of his second round, however, began a slide all the way to 35th for the 27-year-old, who last April was only one behind before doublebogeying the penultimate hole.

Last year I putted great, but this year I struggled to read the greens,'' he said.

I lost a bit of confidence and it became tough. It was a weird week and I found it hard to grind it out once I slipped out of the tournament.'' Ian Poulter took over Europe's challenge on Friday. He was lying joint third at halfway, but then shot 75-78 to drop to 25th.

That closing round contained four double bogeys - and that after he had birdied the first two holes to reignite his bid.

Wow, what a day,'' he said.

How do you sum that up?

Every time I hit what I thought was a half-decent shot I finished on the wrong side.'' Paul Casey was joint third when he birdied the third hole of his final round. But he finished with a 79 for joint 11th place alongside Lee Westwood, another who just could not put it all together.

9:49am Tuesday 15th April 2008

Print

Email this