Final-round Masters grades

— -- AUGUSTA, Ga. -- My final-round grades will be a bit of a hybrid, including some thoughts on the overall performance of the week. I'm not including Bubba Watson because he won, duh.

There were some highs and lows on Sunday and throughout the week. But when it all was said and done, we had a weekend with no Tiger or Phil and the apocalypse didn't happen. I think golf is going to be okay in the future, but am I greedy for wanting just a couple more Masters with them in contention?

Regardless, here you go:

Adam Scott    World Ranking: No. 2 | Score: 69-72-76-72

Never thought I'd call the defending Masters champion and world No. 2 golfer "scrappy," but that's what he was on Sunday. Eleven greens in regulation on Sunday and an average of 66.7 percent GIR for the week: Not how you're going to take over the No. 1 world ranking. But Scott did manage his third round of par or better on a course that finished with only seven men under par. Not terrible, but not great either.

Henrik Stenson    World Ranking: No. 3 | Score: 73-72-74-70

So why does the swede get a better grade than Scott? Because he shot 2-under on the hardest day of all. I will say this about Stenson: For all the winning and cash he made last year, he may just still have a hunger and desire to get Sweden's first major. It helps to have a young gun like Jonas Blixt getting so close too. Nothing motivates more than having someone trying to take what you want, and these two could be in major contention for a few years to come.

Jason Day    World Ranking: No. 4 | Score: 75-73-70-72

This was supposed to be his year, his Masters. A win early in the year and three more wins by Aussies after him -- along with the thought of countryman Adam Scott putting the green jacket on him -- proved to be too much pressure. A thumb injury that kept him out of competition the weeks leading up to the Masters didn't help, and by the time the weekend rolled around it was too late. Still, going 2-under for the weekend isn't horrible.

Phil Mickelson    World Ranking: No. 5 | Score: 76-73 (MC)

Two things I hope Phil learned from having the weekend off. One, he's too old to be jet-setting around the world. All the Tae Kwon Do and yoga in the world won't stop the birthdays from coming. As nice as those appearance fees are, if Mickelson wants a few more real shots at majors, it's time to hang home and chase the cash later. Two, golf survived without him. I hope that makes him mad enough to want to stay relevant.

Sergio Garcia    World Ranking: No. 6 | Score: 74-75 (MC)

One bad week at a major doesn't mean Garcia should throw out everything he was building toward this event. I hope he didn't spent the weekend "reassessing" where his game is because it's still just fine and if he keeps doing, he might just mess around and get in contention for the Open Championship.

Bernhard Langer    World Ranking: No. 919 | Score: 72-74-73-69

At 56 years old and ranked 919th in the world, the German with the broomstick putter dropped a 69 in the final round and tied for eighth! And everyone spent weekend talking about Fred Couples when we should've been watching this guy and the world's most interesting golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez. It was Langer who was the most consistent of all the Centrum Silver guys who made the weekend, never shooting worse than 74 in any round. Respect your elders, not because they know so much, but because they can still take you down on the golf course in majors.

Augusta National

First let me say I'm not bitter because for the third year in a row I didn't win the media lottery to play Monday. Okay that's a lie, I'm pouting like my five-year-old when he doesn't get dessert. But even with that being true, isn't doesn't take away from the fact that on Sunday only 14 of 51 guys shot under par. You know those back-nine roars we all love so much? They never happened because all the scoring was on the front nine. When It was all said and done, only seven guys were under par for the week! I love U.S. Open trainwrecks as much as anyone, but this is the Masters. Wasn't the winter harsh enough? Next year, please let the back-nine roars happen again. And where are the squirrels? Let them in too.

Rory McIlroy    World Ranking: No. 9 | Score: 71-77-71-69

Saved his best for last? Rory was one of only five guys to shoot in the 60s on Sunday, and if not for that one bad day (and he has had a few of them this year) McIlroy may have had a chance. I'm giving him an 'A' because he bogeyed both par-5s on the back nine and still managed to shoot 1-under on that side. It all showed me that McIlroy won't throw in the towel anymore, and that's big with three majors still to play this year and that little Ryder Cup thing later this Fall.

Fred Couples    World Ranking: No. 521 | Score: 71-71-73-75

Broke our hearts again didn't you! Dang it Fred, you're going to have to stop playing in these things, because rooting for you is like eating really spicy wings. Yeah it's awesome at first but in the end you're going be sorry. The worst part was making two birdies out the gate, but then you did exactly what you said cost you in the past: chasing it when you know you shouldn't. After the bogey at the 10th, making a double at 11 after hitting it in the water is just heartbreaking for everyone. Might as well throw another double in at the 15th for good measure to make sure there are no more hopes. Maybe next year, better yet, please don't, it hurts too much.