Morning Perk: A Tradition Unlike Any Other

Monday morning. Your alarm goes off for the first time in two days, you head back to the office and spend the first few hours of the workday planning how you’ll survive until closing time on Friday. Luckily, Poker Central and Death Wish Coffee have you covered. The world’s strongest coffee gives you a “Morning Perk,” recapping the weekend sports action on Monday and then the best from across the internet on Friday.

The National Basketball Association and National Hockey League are just over a week from the playoffs, Russell Westbrook broke a record that no one thought would actually ever be broken, then Russell Westbrook did this, Major League Baseball is in full swing but none of that mattered! The only thing that mattered this weekend was The Masters and while golf’s current World #1 had to withdraw before play began on Thursday, there was plenty to follow by Sunday afternoon.

“Arnold Palmer was more than a king … Arnold Palmer was my friend. He was your friend.” https://t.co/t5euUCbmmt

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2017

Before we get to Sunday though, we have to go back to Thursday. As long as I can remember, the Masters had opened with Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer teeing off to mark the beginning of the best weekend in sports. This year, that traditional threesome was missing Palmer, as he passed away last fall. This was the first Masters since 1955 that Palmer didn’t attend and the four-time green jacket winner was missed earlier this week and will always be, as he was one of the best to ever play the game.

Watch Matt Kuchar’s hole-in-one on No. 16 to move into a tie for third. #themasters pic.twitter.com/fyh44hVSuh

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2017

Coming into Sunday, there were plenty of big name players within touching distance of the leaders and no one would have been surprised if a handful of players ended the day in the winner’s circle. No one expected much of Matt Kuchar though, who came out of nowhere on the back nine to post a -5 on Sunday and eventually finish tied for 4^th. Kuchar’s late rush was helped by an awesome hole-in-one on the 16^th hole, one that just started the stretch of memorable shots going through Amen Corner.

This was a really cool moment between Jordan Spieth and his caddie: https://t.co/y18qCOqZRx pic.twitter.com/WtmuHLhAg9

— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 9, 2017

This memorable shot was from Saturday but we’ll include it in our Sunday wrap-up because, unfortunately for many, Jordan Spieth was quickly out of contention on the event’s final day. Spieth shot 4-under on Saturday and was two back, thanks to an Arnie-inspired second shot on the par-5 13^th. Spieth made birdie and many thought that shot and round would vault him towards another green jacket but instead, it was just another forgettable Sunday for the 23-year-old.

Masters Sunday at its finest.

BOOM! ??????  pic.twitter.com/WkDM9w4Q7W

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 9, 2017

It was almost another forgettable Sunday for Sergio Garcia, as he started strong and then went on a mid-round downswing that we’ve all seen time and time again. Then, Sergio did what he has never done before, he settled himself and didn’t let the wheels fall off on the back-nine. In fact, he did the opposite, with his eagle on the 15^th vaulting him in a tie for the lead heading into the final three holes.

The wait is over! ?????? #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/zF5TxCFlFI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 9, 2017

Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose remained tied through those final three holes and it was a replay of the 18^th that won Garcia is first major championship in a playoff. The wait, over 70 major starts, over 20 top-ten finishes including multiple close calls, was over and nearly 20 years after his first Masters appearance, as a 19-year-old amateur, “El Niño” finally broke through.

This was me telling @TheSergioGarcia he was going to win #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/LWKBwXI0Bz

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) April 9, 2017

Sorry Daniel, no more making fun of Sergio Garcia for not being able to win a major.

The “Morning Perk” is brought to you by Death Wish Coffee, the world’s strongest coffee. Order yours today and follow Death Wish Coffee on Twitter.