Legend has it the Masters Tournament doesn't begin until the leaders reach the final nine Sunday.

The Augusta National Golf Club members who set up the course for Sunday's final-round play made sure that legend would grow.

They watered the greens. They placed the pins in accessible spots. They moved tee locations to the front of the tee boxes.

In the words of Ben Crenshaw, they made it so patrons could "see some fireworks."

And indeed they did.

Only one player to finish in the top five shot even par on the second nine. The leader heading into the final nine holes, Retief Goosen, shot 1-over and lost. The player least likely to overpower the back nine and make eagles and birdies, Zach Johnson, shot 2-under and won.

The loud ovations, known as "Masters roars," returned. With each tee ball into Rae's Creek at No. 12 and risky approach shot into the well-guarded 13th green, the leaderboard changed.

"I think they want to see birdies and keep the patrons happy," said Stewart Cink, who shot 70 on Sunday, his lowest round of the tournament. "I don't think they like this over-par business. Playing the course today, you felt like something more was going to happen."

Something more did, again and again. Only two holes on the second nine, Nos. 12 and 17, played harder statistically Sunday than they did in the first three rounds. Five of the last six holes - the exception was No. 17 - played among the easiest in the final round, yielding six eagles and 66 birdies.

"They gave us a break, which was nice," Tiger Woods said. "And gave us a chance to go out there and score."

Not to mention build on a legend.

Reach Adam Van Brimmer at (404) 589-8424.