Europeans turn in solid performances
Players put best face on day of missed opportunity
The strongest bids to break Europe's major championship drought ended Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club with a wild drive by Justin Rose, a water ball by Padraig Harrington and too much spin from Luke Donald.
Overall, it was a strong performance in the Masters Tournament by the Europeans, especially those from Great Britain and Ireland.
But the continent will go to the U.S. Open in June still seeking its first victory in a major championship since Paul Lawrie of Scotland won the British Open in 1999.
In addition, a player from England hasn't won a major since Nick Faldo won his third Masters title in 1996.
The contenders put the best face on their situation, and they had the right.
Rose, the 26-year-old Englishman who burst onto the golf scene at the 1998 British Open at age 17, finished in a tie for fifth after being within one shot of the lead with two holes to play.
Harrington, from Ireland, eagled the par-5 13th hole to get within two shots of the lead before settling on a tie for seventh.
Donald was within two shots of the lead after an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole.
"I surprised myself with how calm I felt and how in control of my emotions I felt," said Rose, who shot 73 and finished at 4-over-par 292, three shots behind winner Zach Johnson. "I believed all day I was going to do something special."
"I walked away from this tournament knowing that I'm capable of winning the Masters," said Harrington (73), who ended his week at 5-over. "I felt great all day. This is fantastic. You can't beat playing in these tournaments."
And Donald (73), who was two more shots behind, added: "I am encouraged by my play here, and the fact that I came here today with a chance to win."
Each of their bids ended in disaster with one swing - or, in Donald's case, two swings.
Rose got within a shot of Johnson when he executed a beautiful swing at the par-3 16th hole and tapped in for birdie. But he sliced his drive so badly at the par-4 17th that he had to play his second shot from the middle of the 15th fairway. His second shot went into the crowd to the left of the 17th green, and he eventually made double bogey.
After Harrington's eagle, he hit his second shot at the par-5 15th into the water. He bogeyed that hole, then bogeyed the 16th.
Donald also got into contention with an eagle, at No. 8. But at the ninth hole, he hit two shots that spun off the green and back to his feet, and he ended with triple bogey.
"That is Augusta for you," said Donald, who admitted to misjudging the wind on his approach at No. 9. "Sometimes it's a matter of putting for birdie or making a seven pretty easily without making too many bad shots."
They weren't the only European players with solid finishes. Paul Casey of England shot 71 to reach the top 10, and Ian Poulter of England shot 70, shaking off bogeys at Nos. 10 and 11 to play his final seven holes at 2-under, with no bogeys, to tie for 13th.
Henrik Stenson of Sweden, the fashionable pre-tournament pick because of his distance off the tee and putting touch in winning the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play, shot 72 to tie for 17th.
