Jimenez leads Euros and seniors

photo Miguel Angel Jimenez, of Spain, acknowledges applause from the gallery following his fourth round of the Masters golf tournament Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Augusta, Ga.

A record six golfers over the age of 50 made the cut.

Only one finished under par.

Miguel Angel Jimenez tied for fourth leading the group of seniors at 4-under 284.

"I was playing very well, playing very solid all the week," Jimenez said. "Today my putting is a little bit too cold. But I was playing very well, very solid from tee to flags and that's it."

Jimenez said he will avoid the Champions Tour and concentrate on making Ryder Cup team. But most of the over-50 crowd will head to TPC Sugarloaf for Champions Tour event.

Yet, Jimenez and Bernhard Langer proved they can play alongside guys young enough to be their sons.

"I think everybody can figure that out," Langer said. "There's a lot of good over-50 players. We can compete at the highest level and even on a very, very long golf course like this one."

Langer won the Masters in 1985 and 1993 but missed the cut in six of his last seven trips down Magnolia Lane.

"I think the guys stay in better shape and they know that there's a great Tour with the Champions Tour waiting for them," Langer said. " In their late 40s they don't kind of quit and say I'm kind of done."

Fred Couples, who started the day at 1 under finished at 2 over.

Vijay Singh shot 7 over, Sandy Lyle shot 9 over, and Larry Mize shot 16 over.

Goss gets cup

University of Tennessee sophomore Oliver Goss earned the traditional silver cup for finishing the Masters as the low amateur.

He concluded the tournament at 10-over 298 after shooting a 3-over 75 on Sunday.

"I managed to play fairly average the whole week and still make the cut," Goss said. "It makes me realize that I can get there. And I still have a lot to learn, though."

Goss finished runner-up in the 2014 U.S. Amateur which earned him an invitation to the Masters and an exemption into the U.S. Open which will be played June 18-21 at Pinehurst No. 2.

He'll be playing there as an amateur. Then he may consider turning professional and forgoing his last two years at UT.

"After that I'm going to get together with my team and we'll talk about things and just see how everything is," said Goss, who grew up in Australia. If it's the right time, then it's the right time. But if it isn't then that's fine, too.

"I'm just looking to turn at the right time because that's really pivotal when you turn professional in your career."

Defending champion done early

Adam Scott, who won last year in a two-hole playoff, never found himself in contention on the weekend this year.

He finished in a tie for 14th at 1-over 289.

"It's been a week I'll never forget, the experiences I've had in playing a tournament as the defending champion, and as a champion, and all the ovations that you receive around here is amazing memories for me," he said. "I was really happy with where I put myself on Friday night, but a poor nine holes on Saturday stopped all my momentum and had me on the back foot."

McIlroy's best Masters finish

Rory McIlroy led the Masters with nine holes to play in 2011. He wound up tied for 15th after a back-nine collapse.

Three years later, he tied for eighth place after shooting an even-par 288 including a 3-under 69 on Sunday.

He credits improved play over the last two years to simple experience around Augusta National.

"I feel more comfortable here," said McIlroy who entered the week ranked No. 9 in the world. "I feel like I can go out and play my game and hit the shots. I'm definitely not as tentative around this place as I used to be. I'm becoming a lot more aggressive and hitting iron shots closer. I'm not as scared with some of the trouble, runoffs."

Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP

Upcoming Events