ON APRIL 13, somewhere near Johnson City, Tennessee, Fred Warren couldn't peel his eyes away from the television. The former East Tennessee State head golf coach watched as Rory McIlroy, the curly-haired firecracker of a golfer he had first seen at just 13 years old in Ireland, was now trying to hang on to a lead on Augusta National's second nine.
Birdie. Bogey. Par. Double Bogey. Bogey. Birdie. Par. Birdie. Bogey. Playoff. Twenty-one years after Warren nearly got McIlroy to play for him, McIlroy was taking the old coach's emotions for another ride.
"He's got a five-shot lead after 10 holes and you think he's going to cruise in," Warren said.