5 at 10: The Masters, Vols spring football and the Atlanta Braves

We're going to move very quickly today, we've got an 11:20 tee time at Augusta National. Hey, if we write about the experience, maybe they'll let us count it as a work day. We'll see.

It was a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by on the our first Saturday-Sunday 5-at-10s.

Here we go, and you guys and gals play nice...

Charl's in charge - eventually

photo Former champion Phil Mickelson, back, helps Charl Schwartzel of South Africa with his green Masters jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament Sunday. AP Photo by Charlie Riedel

Great Masters, simply great.

It's funny how everyone - the 5-at-10 is big-time guilty of this, too - wanted drama Sunday, but then felt bad for Rory McIlroy.

His meltdown on Nos. 10-12 was quick and non-compromising.

Amazing how golf more than any other game can get away from you so quickly.

How he responds to this will be what shapes his career.

Does he go Vandevelde or does he turn this into a teaching tool, like knowing where to play your tee shot on No. 16? We'll see

photo Former champion Phil Mickelson, left, shakes hands with Charl Schwartzel of South Africa after Schwartzel won the Masters championship golf tournament Sunday, April 10, 2011, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Let's not forget the winner (s)

As much as most folks will say McIlroy lost this Masters, Charl Schwartzel did make birdies on each of the last four holes.

Dude was money coming in and made a strong impression as a future star.

And let's not forget Cowboy Joe, who won the 5-at-10 Masters challenge by adding Luke Donald to Tiger Woods.

well played sir.

photo Florida QB John Brantley (AP)

Spring football

Did not see much of any the spring games at South Carolina, LSU or Florida.

Don't put a lot of stock in them anyway.

Let's face it - if your talking about how good your offense looked in the spring game, then the next sentence better be about how bad the defense looked.

The only thing that can be telling is how quarterbacks look - John Brantley, please report to the white "It's now or never" courtesy phone, Mr. Brantley to the courtesy phone please. And even then, it's hard to know - Cam Newton was less than stellar in Auburn's spring game last year, and we all know how that turned out.

The 5-at-10 does expect, however, that the quarterback issues that those three schools will play into the summer - and if they play into the fall, that could be troublesome for three of the league's more talented team.

photo Staff Photo by Patrick Smith Tennessee coach Derek Dooley talks with players on the sideline during Saturday's game against Georgia. Georgia won 41-14.

Weakness to strength

The UT Vols are speeding into their final week of spring football practice, and the 5-at-10 was accurately called out last week about failing to update the Vols' progress.

We're embarrassed. How did we ever win eight? It's a miracle. Alas.

Anyhoo, the Vols entered last year with more line questions than a first-time fisherman hangin' with Bill Dance. Now, at least on the offensive side, those unknowns are becoming knowns - and they'll be stars in the not too distant future.

The UT offensive line is talented, and they're still really young. In a lot of ways the core group that will be sophomores this year is somewhat similar to the four seniors that just left Auburn.

That group of Tigers started for most of their careers, endured a strange mix of success and struggle and then gelled as seniors into a strong group for a national champion.

photo Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward is introduced before the Braves took on the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game Monday, April 4, 2011, in Milwaukee. The Braves won 2-1. (AP Photo/West Bend Daily News, John Ehlke)

This and that

- The judge is telling the NFL and the players to talk. This is childish. Hope no one uses the "Dog ate our proposal" excuse when the side get back together.

- The Braves lost two of three to the Phillies. Not a huge concern for two reasons - first they roughed up Cliff lee, which is a good sign, and second when the "er" months get here, Brandon Beachy is not going to be in the mix. If he is, well, then all bets are off.

- Hey the Red Sox won another. Great news, now the greater Boston area can breath again.

Until tomorrow, when we'll share our Augusta National score (over/unders are welcomed):

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