The premise of the league is structured and formatted of the PGA tour. What I find fascinating and intriguing is the symmetry of the events of the tour are often replicated in our league. The 2017 PGA Masters Tournament was a corban copy of our Master's Tournament at Tour 18 and as both tournaments concluded its final round two players was dead even Rose and Garcia on the PGA and Rizzo and Villarreal in the league. Also, in the mix was newcomer Ronnel Calixterio and Mike Garcia who and just won Saturday on the I-Tour. Garcia got off into trouble at amen corner going 3 over in that stretch and that was the difference in him walking away with the white jacket. Ronnel may have got a little nervous entering the back 9 with 2 doubles, bogeys on 11 and 16 giving a third place tie with Garcia. So, as the smoke cleared Rizzo and Villarreal was headed to a playoff and the format was simple low man wins on the first hole but the pressure was over the top there was no dramatic stare down in the middle of the ring. Mike Rizzo and Jaime Villarreal did not even want to look at each other as they headed to the 9th hole, par three at 17 at Sawgrass, yes Sawgrass 17, the inland hole- water, water, water. Truly diabolical set up by the tournament coordinator with the high wind blowing and the high blood pressure flowing there was no telling where that ball was going. Rizzo drew the short straw he hit first. Middle of the green was his target and his objective, but when you are nervous you get quick and have a tendency to come over the top and that is exactly what Mike did long and left, but he was dry. Villarreal’s ball was on the same line as Rizzo, but hit a little harder and did not hold the green to find itself in the water. Villarreal chip up and runs it by 10 ten passed. Rizzo tee shot pretty must in the same spot when he first played the hole but, he 3 putted so you know that was racing through his head. All he needs to do is two putt and the White Jacket was his. He was looking at a 45 foot downhill across the green with a few different breaks to go over if he hit it too hard could easily find the water. So, he laid it down and ended up three-putting again, applying the pressure on Villarreal to make his 10 footers. That was child play for the Greatest, he knocks that in right between the eyeballs. The next hole was a step into amen corner right in the soul of Augusta National hole 12, Par 3-155 yards. The shortest hole is a bear to play because of swirling winds. It’s usually a medium or short-iron shot to a narrow green that is protected by Rays Creek in front and azaleas behind. Rizzo hits first again and his tee shot clears the creek by two feet leaving him with a difficult par save. Villarreal hit his ball right at the stick but with adrenaline flowing he lands in the trap behind the flag, impossible to get up and down even for the Greatest. That’s why he is AKA the Greatness he manages to trickle it out of the bunker and almost holding it out leaving him a makeable five foot and more importantly inside of Rizzo chip applying the pressure right back to Rizzo. Mike was up to the challenge he buried that 6-foot slider right in the heart, now again Villarreal another must make. He knew if he could push one more time the victory would be his in a scorecard playoff. Jaime just a cool and calm knocks it right in the hole, but it lips out and the ball does not go in, the ball does not go in, down goes the Greatness, Mike Rizzo is the 2017 Houston Golf League Masters Champion. Congratulations Mike on a very exciting Masters Championship. Well played- Well played.

MIKE RIZZO

Tiger has been there, Jordan has been there, all our us great athletes have been there at some time in our career, where everything slows down and you get locked in on your target and your objective is as clear as glass. Nothing and no-one can stop you, everything you meticulously practiced is now free flowing and effortless this is called The Zone and Mr. Glenn Green you were definitely in the zone. You lead the field in putting, fairways, low gross, low net and second in GIR an outstanding round of golf. The only player to be under par on both flights and by the way A-flight and B-flight played the same tee box. You 64 tied Lloyd Hart 2014 lowest round ever at the Masters. Your Master's win was similar to Tigers Woods historic win back in 1997, 20 years ago. Tiger won by 12 shots and Glenn was on pace to beat that, if not for his meltdown on 18 with a 9. The field was packed with past Masters winners; 2016 champion Jarrod Ballou, 2015 Barry Barnett and 2014 Lloyd Hart, not to mention two-time PGA Champion E.B. Flores and 2016 PGA Champion Joe Hart. Glenn knocked them all down as if they were not even playing the same course. At the turn, the field was playing for second place that went to newbie Ron Barber and the I-Tour biggest fan Mike Starghill, who valued to return because it's quite apparent that no other league, no other tour does it better HGL, write up, pictures, interviews, format, live scoring, bigger percentage of the purse 67% for the I-Tour compared to 79% of HGL and as of today through the first 6 tournaments HGL is averaging one more player per round. With that being said, I want to personally congratulate 9 players you have not missed a single event. Jaime Villarreal, Jon Brazeal, Rob Barber, Patrick Allen, Gabe Ramos, Hal Gregory, Jose Sanchez, Anthony Lemons and Vincent Gilmore, and also Lonnie Knowles, George Vasquez and Roland Turner only missing one. That strong base gentleman an excellent job. Well with that being said nothing left do to put congratulate the 2017 Masters Champion Glenn Green. You kicked ass!!!!!!!!!!!

GLENN GREEN