Three notable players handled disappointment last Sunday at the Masters in different ways -- and, consequently, we learned something about each of them.
-- Kenny Perry is candid and accountable.
Perry did not offer excuses. He led the Masters by two shots with two holes remaining. He escorted Angel Cabrera to green-jacket glory by making bogey on the last two holes of his round, then again on the second playoff hole. Perry blew it and he knew it.
"Great players get it done," he said at one point afterward.
Perry earned admiration in this corner by praising Cabrera while scolding himself. Even when explaining the right side of his ball had mud on it during the decisive playoff hole, Perry did not strike a woe-is-me tone; he was matter-of-fact about it. He knew his approach shot would veer left and he still misjudged it.
"I've blown two majors," he said, referring to this Masters and the 1996 PGA. Harsh but accurate.
-- Tiger Woods' intensity has its drawbacks.
Woods geared his entire comeback from knee surgery around this tournament. He's always measured himself on majors, but that's the case even more as he reaches his mid-30s. By some accounts, he's also in danger of smothering himself in pressure.
Golf Digest's Jaime Diaz described a scene on the practice range Friday, where Woods retreated after his discouraging, second-round 72. He was so angry, caddie Steve Williams vanished for a while to let him cool off. Swing coach Hank Haney hung around and absorbed Woods' wrath.
Sunday's final round wasn't much better, even if Woods shot 68 and engaged Phil Mickelson in a compelling duel. Woods fought his swing all day, made sloppy bogeys on the final two holes and marched, steaming, off the premises.
"It was just terrible," he said before bolting. "I don't know what was going on."
-- Sergio Garcia is still a child.
Garcia seldom makes it through a major without whining. It happened at the 2002 U.S. Open, the '07 British Open and last year's PGA Championship. Then, after fading with rounds of 75 and 74 on the weekend, Garcia ripped Augusta National.
"I don't like it, to tell you the truth," he told Golf Channel. "I don't think it's fair. Even when it's dry, you still get mud balls in the middle of the fairway. It's too much of a guessing game."
His words might matter more if they didn't come from a player who once expressed his displeasure by spitting into the hole during a tournament.
Garcia's management company issued a corporate-speak apology Tuesday. "Out of frustration, I blamed the golf course instead of putting the blame where it belongs, on myself," his statement read. "I apologize to the members of Augusta National and the fans who rightfully treasure this course."
Nice try.
(E-mail Ron Kroichick at rkroichick(at)sfchronicle.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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