US MASTERS: THE VERDICT

IT was one finish to the US Masters last night but what we learned for next year?

Adam Scott, who went off at 30.0, ticked all the boxes both before the event and in-running.

At 32 he was bang-on the right age to win his first Green Jacket. He'd made the cut in the previous year's event, he'd come into the event in fair form but had done nothing exceptional in 2013 and he had bags of course form under his belt. This was his 12th appearance at Augusta and his third top-10 in a row.

In-running, having been three off the lead after day one and two and one back after day three, he'd been up with the pace all the way but he hadn't had the stress of being bang in-contention until day four.

At last we don't need to roll out the obligatory no Aussie winner stat that meant nothing anyway but here are a few that do still stand.

It was mighty close thanks to Angel Cabrera's magnificent effort but it's now 16 years since anyone in his 40s has won.

We still haven't seen a debutant winner, since Fuzzy Zoeller victory in 1979, and it's that long since anyone won without making the cut in the previous year's renewal.

And it's now 21 of the last 22 winners that have shot at least one round at Augusta in the 60s.

Get involved early. Played at the same venue every year and with some very strong trends to go by, it makes sense to get stuck in from early on.

It didn't quite pay off this year, but a number of shrewd judges held great positions on Brandt Snedeker after he'd shown he was in fine form back in January.

Of course, he may not have made it having suffered a rib injury, but injuries in golf aren't commonplace and you'd be unlucky to back someone in January who doesn't make it to Augusta in April.

It's stating the obvious to say Marc Leishman and Jason Day both caught the eye but its well worth considering how well they contended on what was a relatively benign week weather wise.

There was an ever-present steady breeze all week but it never really howled and if it ever does I'd be looking to this pair. Both are exceptional wind players and I couldn't help but wonder how much they'd have been advantaged by a hard-blowing final day rather than a damp rainy one.

I've been a huge Thorbjorn Olesen fan for a long time now and if the young Dane doesn't reach the very top and win multiple Majors I'll be very surprised. You have to be pretty special to go 68, 68 over the weekend on your Augusta debut!

Much is made about the difference between a Major and a regular event and the difference in pressure experienced. Some big names have never won one and there are plenty of lesser lights who have.

Cabrera is an incredible example of someone capable of raising their game to extraordinary heights on the biggest occasions. He very nearly won his third Major on American soil last night, having failed to win a single regular PGA Tour event.

Nerves of steel, patience and of course, golf of the very highest order are all required but one thing we all need at some stage is luck.

The Golfing gods perhaps felt they'd been a tad severe on poor Scotty at Lytham because things certainly levelled out this week. Twice he avoided water on the par fives over the weekend and that was the difference between triumph and disaster.

On Saturday his approach to the 15th somehow stayed on the bank instead of rolling back into the water and the same thing happened last night on the 13th.

So that's it for another year and thankfully Scott and Cabrera have provided us with the fondest of memories because we were nearly left with something very different. Up until the final hour last night, this was looking like an event to forget.

Firstly, there was the dreadful decision to punish the 14-year-old Chinese amateur, Guan Tianlang, for slow play – the first player since 1995 to be penalised on the PGA Tour for such a misdemeanour, despite its prevalence.

Secondly, there was the furore surrounding Tiger Woods' drop on the 15th hole on Friday and then, prior to the utterly compelling finish, we had what compared to most years, was a fairly dull final round.

But now we'll all just remember two courageous sportsmen duelling at the very top of their games, showing each other the utmost respect, demonstrating to the entire world how magnificent sport can be, and in particular, what a truly great game this is.

I'll be back tomorrow with previews of this week's two events – the Open de Espana and the RBC Heritage, which both start on Thursday.

Milesey (Betfair)

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