Crenshaw's group gets moments to remember

There was some drama on the 18th green at Augusta Na­tional Golf Club, and it wasn’t even Sunday yet.

The group of Jonas Blixt, two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw and 2009 PGA champion Y.E. Yang all had their moments at the last hole, starting with the ovation Cren­shaw received when he walked onto the green, a prolonged reception that has become a tradition at Augusta for past champions.

Yang, who had hit his second shot long and left, got to the green first. Crenshaw and Blixt were walking together, and when Blixt saw the patrons standing, he patted Cren­shaw on the back and let him and caddie Carl Jackson walk onto the green first.

Before Crenshaw finished off the bogey that would give him 85, Yang made some excitement of his own. His chip required a delicate lob to the middle of the green, with the ball having to die at the top to have a chance of rolling down the hill with enough pace to get close to the hole.

At first it appeared Yang’s chip was going to stop at the top of the shelf. But rolling one dimple at a time, it eventually reached the slope, then sped up, breaking about 6 feet to the right and dropping into the hole for birdie.

Crenshaw jumped when the ball went in and rushed over to pat Yang on the back and offer some encouraging words.

Yang probably needed them. The birdie gave him 77, and he missed the cut at 10-over 154.

Blixt then took care of business, making a good par from in front of the fringe to close out a 71 that left him at 3-under-par 141 and tied for third.

Crenshaw expressed his appreciation for the ovation and said one of his fondest Masters memories is his second start at Augusta when he played in the first round with Arnold Palmer, then in the second round with Jack Nicklaus.

“It’s very special, the way the patrons remember the guys who won this tournament,” Crenshaw said. “That was very nice out there.”