 Pate was not sure he would ever compete again at the highest level.He did return to the PGA Tour and in 1999, he finished T-4 in the Masters, setting the record, which holds today, of seven consecutive birdies in his third round (later to be tied by Tiger Woods).Finishing 13th on the 1999 money list, Pate was named the PGA Tour's "Comeback Player of the Year".