36-hole marathon
HONOLULU — Mark Wilson used to be a regular at Augusta National, just not on his terms.
He first went to the Masters with his father as a 14-year-old, following Fred Couples in a practice round. When he was in the area for mini-tour events, Wilson would try to get tickets from a friend. His last trip was 10 years ago, and he made a pledge not to return until he could drive down Magnolia Lane with the clubs in the trunk of his car.
“I get goose bumps thinking about it,” Wilson said.
He earned his first trip to the Masters by winning his first tournament of the year, surviving a 36-hole marathon Sunday in the Sony Open in which Wilson never made bogey and had rounds of 65-67 for a two-shot victory.
Rain that washed out the first round at Waialae turned the final day into a blur. Wilson was up before the sun rose over Waikiki Beach. He finished his third round in the morning with a one-shot lead, and had only six minutes — enough time to grab a chicken sandwich and a fresh box of golf balls from his locker — before he teed off for the next 18 holes.
About the only time he caught his breath was on the 17th green late in the afternoon. He had a one-shot lead, had not been able to reach the par-5 18th in two shots all week, and had a 12-foot par putt. That’s when he realized he had not made a bogey all day.
“I thought about that before I hit the putt,” Wilson said. “I haven’t made a bogey all day, so why start now? It entered my mind, but when I was over the putt, I didn’t think about it.”
Tim Clark had finished an hour earlier with a 64 and was one-shot behind, and was left waiting on the practice range for a playoff that didn’t happen.
Steve Marino made a late charge with back-to-back birdies to get within two shots’
