Quick 18: The Shark, fear factors and a major-less USA

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The young players didn't back down on Sunday -- even when Woods posted a 31 on the front.

1. Greg Norman says the Tiger fear factor is gone. He saw it evaporate Sunday when Tiger threw out a 31 on the front and the kids -- those young players who, basically, idolized Tiger growing up, kept coming. "This new wave of young kids aren't scared,'' Norman said. "At the end of the day, it's gone. You go back and look at Tiger in his heyday and if he had done that then, he'd have won by six.'' Norman's opinion? Seems to be the norm.

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2. Rory McIlroy's meltdown Sunday afternoon triggered so many flashbacks, not the least of which was Norman's collapse in 1996. But, honestly, Q-18 knows one felt worse. Norman was 41, no stranger to major -- especially Masters -- heartbreak and on his way to the Hall of Fame when his 6-shot lead turned into a five-stroke loss. McIlroy's collapse showed just how fragile a 21-year old can be -- no matter how talented, no matter how experienced. The pain on his face was palpable as he tried to pull it back together, but his body language -- especially putting his head down on grip at several points. No one has to tell him a thing. He knows he didn't handle it. It was character building, he said. And he's right. He led the tournament for 63 holes, but it was his first time in that situation. He'll learn and one day he'll win one.

3. A great line from CBS' Ian Baker-Finch somewhere around the 11th or 12th hole: "It's a brutal game. We're all a little fragile. We all feel for him."

4. Closing with four straight birdies to win the Masters? Seriously? Like player after player said, Charl Schwartzel reached out and grabbed it. It was magic, The quiet South African flew in under the radar and flew out with a Green Jacket. He got the best of the late draw, playing with another stoic player -- K.J. Choi -- and out of the glare of the final group and the three groups in front of him. Solid player, more than solid game.

5. Anyone's else's head still spinning? After 28 Masters, Q-18 was still trying to take in everything that happened Sunday afternoon. Jack's Masters still stands alone, as does Tiger's first. Ben Crenshaw's 1995 still the most emotional. This one? The most action we think -- after a Washington Road Starbucks stop for a triple venti non-fat latte to aid drive to Atlanta -- we can ever remember. Usually it's just a couple of players in the mix. This had a cast of the entire top 15.

6. To those pointing to what Tiger didn't do Sunday? You're right. He made the turn and had us thinking 62. He stabbed at some putts, missed some shots. But he lost a chance at that fifth jacket -- and 15th major -- with Saturday's 74. Two-under Saturday would have gotten him a playoff; 3-under a jacket. Blame it on the putting. The process continues.

7. One place where your celebrity status doesn't get you whisked to the front of the line? Yep. Augusta National. Bill Murray, who is a semi-regular here and seriously low-key guy away from the spotlight, was waved into press parking last week, but Dane Cook? Cook wound up in the public lot. 8. Early in the week, there was a rumor Doris Day, who lives a few par-5s away from Pebble Beach, would be on property. But no sightings. Que sera, sera.

9. Q-18 got a chuckle about this one because, well, it's happened to just about every journalist at the Masters. Radio 5 presenter Chris Evans was 25 minutes late for his live Saturday radio show that aired at 4 p.m. EDT. The show had to start without him because he'd gotten wrapped up watching golf and forgot what time his show started. "I apologize profusely," Evans told the BBC. "I ran in from where I was - well, I did the Augusta shuffle." He told his audience, "I've been watching the golf. That's what we came to do."

10. Norman also gave a shout-out to Faldo for his observation of Tiger when he missed the eagle putt at 15. "I was watching his shoulders and Nick said he saw Tiger's jaw tighten up. That was the most astute comment of the day and could only have come from a great player like Faldo.''

11. Will an Aussie ever win the Masters? Absolutely. Resilient Adam Scott -- more on him in Tuesday's column -- bounced back and showed us the stuff we expected out of him when he finished T-9 as a rookie in 2002. Jason Day, in his major stage debut and first Masters, was a ball of nervous energy, grit and talent. And Geoff Ogilvy? The thoughtful elder statesman of this trio knew when to step back and reassess last fall and that, in Q-18's considered opinion, made all the difference this week. He's got one major, but will get more. And, just for good measure, don't forget Stuart Appleby.

12. Hall of Famer, octogenarian and 1956 Masters and PGA champion Jack Burke, Jr., should take his show on the road. Or maybe TV. In accepting the William D. Richardson Award last Wednesday night at the Golf Writers Association of America Dinner, he quipped: "We used to have Donald Ross designing golf courses. Now we have Donald Trump designing courses. Which way are we going?"

13. One more Burke item: His name is misspelled in his Green Jacket. It reads Jack Burt. He said it's no big deal, but, as someone quipped, in 50 years people are going to ask who Jack Burt is. At least his locker nameplate is correct. And, oh, he shares a locker with Tiger Woods. Another interesting locker pairing? Texans Ben Crenshaw and the late Jimmy Demaret.

14. Could this be the week that jumpstarts 2011 for Bo Van Pelt? A T-8? An invitation back to Augusta next year? This could be a Bo Knows -- sorry, had to do it -- moment. It was about this time last year that he got hot and went on a run in April, May and early June last year. Q-18 isn't predicting anything, but ...

And, while we're on BVP, he thanked everyone last night on Twitter. Then added @bovanpelt: bovanpelt Can't wait to come back next year and have another crack at Augusta. What a place. He also tweeted about practice putting in his bathtub last week. Yep, Bo knows.

15 Hall of Famer Louise Suggs was reminiscing about Bobby Jones last week and said he would never assume someone knew who he was. In fact, every time he saw Suggs, he would say, ""Hi, Louise, I'm Bob Jones." She shook her head. One day she finally told him. "I grew up in Atlanta," she says. "I could say Bobby Jones before I could say mama and daddy."

16.Your eyes don't deceive you. No American has a claim on a major title at present. And, in case you haven't taken note, this Presidents Cup is getting very interesting. Aussies. South Africans. And don't you think Captain Norman isn't doing the same math.

17. Tweet of the week: Golf Channel's Frank Nobilo. @fnobilo: The ebb and flow so far is amazing. It's like Augusta's way of natural selection. Finally the back 9 on Sunday. Worth the wait

18. And finally ... Didn't know this until we were chatting with Nick Watney at 18 at Augusta but ... he's color blind. Can't distinguish red or green. He doesn't have a problem reading leader boards at PGA TOUR events, but Augusta? It wasn't easy. He knew the leader board figures were red, but he didn't know whether the players coming onto 18 were over or under par.

Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR. Follow her on Twitter @melaniehauser.