The jacket for Immelman

Trevor Immelman won the 2008 Masters. On the route of Augusta, the South African has not trembled at the last round face the return of the Tiger.
By Guillaume Serres, 14-04-2008

Immelman resists
If the first three days of competition had been a delight for Trevor Immelman, the South African knew even before the start of the last lap the tough mission that was waiting. First, face the back of the Tigris, never more dangerous than when he is hunting his prey behind. Then, fighting the elements and the strong wind which had swept through the journey of Augusta. Immelman had gathered in front of him all the conditions to fail in the quest for his first Grand Slam. But a student of Gary Player, triple winner of the Masters in 70 years, has not trembled, even if by a bogey that began its journey towards success. Car subsequently was of a very high standard. Thus, Immelman attacked return to the clubhouse to only by +1. An exploit while the Georgian zeff had left behind many candidates (+6 Casey at midterm, Snedeker in +3). And when the pressure was greatest, as on hole # 12, with another bogey, or about 16 with a double bogey (and shot in the water), Immelman managed to recover the helm (birdie at 13, by at 17 and 18). And finally calmly that the South African ended his journey.

Woods too short
A serenity drawn from "failure" of Tiger Woods. If the man with 13 Grand Slams had the inlet pressure to his rival, including a birdie on the par 3, 6, it could not however make sufficient returns, the fault to a faulty putting. A conceded bogey on 10 and then another on 14 anéantissaient the chances of ultimate victory of the Tigris. "I did not putt succeeded this week. I was not well enough to hit the ball expect to prevail, "conceded, clearly, the world number 1, which therefore rate from the first Major of the year 2008 its objective, namely to win the 4 major tournaments of the season. Immelman, it is far from all that. Never in the first 40 of a tournament starts in 2008, unable to pass the cut on two of the last four tournaments in which it was recorded, the bearer of the famous green jacket offered is the greatest success of his life. "It was so difficult… I can not believe I arrived," said Green, moved, the winner of the 72nd Masters history.

Davis Cup: France hangs in the quarter and is no longer block

The fourth consecutive elimination from the Davis Cup team at the quarter-final can not allow regret forever. Victorious 4-1 in their room now fetish of Winston-Salem, the United States was undoubtedly stronger and more united.

Obviously, the realization of one of the two bullets obtained Friday by Paul-Henri Mathieu faces James Blake would have changed the situation, but what hardest hit, is the lack of dialogue within the team, which culminated in the relentless success of Andy Roddick (6-2 6-3 6-2) on a Paul-Henri Mathieu drained of all energy after his fight on Friday.

Rather than provoke a war council on Saturday evening, Guy Forget chose individual discussions to get an idea of tactics to be adopted. Apparently, the captain is not tricolour emerged with great certainties of his first interview with Richard Gasquet.

"I did not run on Richard Roddick because he felt rather against Blake to play the decisive fifth match," said Guy Forget. This choice I made there and I assume. That's the way! "

What is more baffling is how the master french then presented it to Paul-Henri Mathieu.

"Saturday evening, I was warned that I was a little less physically but Guy said to me: 'I have confidence in you'," said Paul-Henri Mathieu.

"When the captain tells you this, we believe it had to think about all the possibilities. I do not know the contents of the discussion between Guy and Richard. But if Richard did not want to play against Roddick, it will take that 'he explains why because if Guy had no choice and somewhere, I was sent to the slaughterhouse, "he continued.

Questioned on this hot topic, Richard Gasquet said his thinking: "I would have been ready to play if Roddick Paul-Henri had said he was tired," said Richard Gasquet. Myself, I felt Paul-Henri was a lot chance of beating him. was much more developed than I am. There is no controversy. "

Forget: "It serves no purpose to point the finger at Richard."

Guy Forget does not deny that the management of Richard Gasquet is quite complicated. This is not new. Gêné by a light bulb to the right hand and a left knee tendinitis, the Tenth World was withdrawn on itself, building with great difficulty in the group. Friday, on the bench, he spent much of his time in his nose phone, textoter. This behavior has shocked members of the French delegation, especially when we know that the past epics were based on a flawless cohesion.

"Richard does not do this knowingly, pleaded Guy Forget. It has a different function. He had his head at times but also a team that is made up of differences. My role is that everybody lives. Whether the boys are in solidarity and tolerant. As has already said his coach Eric Deblicker, Richard has sometimes two sides. time to time to hear crossings empty holes. Now, we can not rush things. must be patient and wait until this tremendous potential can be expressed at the highest level. Nowadays, it's useless to point the finger. "

These words were uttered before debriefing at the hotel on Sunday evening. Where it is possible that some abscesses were gouged out.

Arnaud Clement, who gave his court Saturday at the face of the double winning Bryan brothers, asking questions. "Moi, the Davis Cup me feel extraordinary, he said." I want to believe that yes, everyone has the same love for this test. "

This is the price of a cohesion found that the French team can once again smell the odor of a Davis Cup final. Hoping also as a boy Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has the soul of a leader, is again operational after his meniscus injury. It was time for the next campaign is scheduled for February 2009.