It's too bad Kenny Perry lost the Masters

I spent a good deal of Sunday afternoon lying on the couch watching the final round of the Masters. For golf fans, it was pretty compelling stuff.

For years, fans have wanted to see Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson paired together in the fourth round of a major championship. Of course, that happened Sunday, and both of them put on a show. Mickelson shot a 30 on the front nine en route to a 67. Woods started slowly but shot a 68. However, it was too little, too late for both.

I was pulling for Kenny Perry, and the way he lost was heartbreaking. He was playing in the final group, and after making a short birdie putt on the 16th hole, he had a two-shot lead with two holes to go. Given how consistent he had been all week, it looked good for him, but he faded. He lost in a playoff to Angel Cabrera.

Perry is from Franklin, Ky., and from what I understand, he has several ties to Middle Tennessee. I heard him on The Sports Zone 104.5 radio station before the tournament, and he appeared quite likeable.

I have heard several "experts" say that he choked. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but if somebody is going to say he choked, then it must be emphasized that he was not the only one who did. Woods bogeyed the final two holes and lost any chance to be in the playoff. Mickelson put his ball in the water on the 12th and missed painfully short putts on the 15th and 17th.

I don't hear anybody saying Woods and Mickelson choked, but if Perry did, those two certainly did as well.

It was a tough loss, but Perry has a lot to be proud of. Hopefully, the sting of this loss will fade, and he can remember all the good things he did in the tournament.