Notes and Quotes from the Masters
Watson gave it a try, but won’t get to party – The Masters Tournament
AUGUSTA, Ga. – They’ll be throwing a great party in the final round of the Masters Sunday, and it will come as no great news to anyone, and least of all to Tom Watson himself, that he won’t be part of it. He’s 60 now, the two-time winner, and the roars are no longer for him. Well, there were in the first round, when his 67 left him a shot out of the lead, and the faithful figured he might put on a great revival, as he did in the British Open last year. That was some party, in that opener. Fred Couples, 50, a rookie on the Championship Tour – and fresh from three straight wins there – grabbed that first-round lead with a 66. It looked like old times might be coming back. But that, of course, was an illusion.
Watson faded just enough, and a 73 Saturday put him at 2-under 214, 10 shots off Lee Westwood’s lead. Still, it can be his best showing since a tie for 40th in 2001, the only other time he made the cut since 1998.
“I don’t play all that great anymore, especially this week,” Watson said. “But it’s always a nice pleasure to go around the golf course. And there were a lot of people who remember what I was in the ‘70s.”
TEEN TITAN – Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, fresh from setting two Masters records, faltered on the back nine and posted a 1-over 73 Saturday, holding steady in his first visit to Augusta. Manassero, at age 16, is the youngest player ever to play in the Masters, and with his 71-76 – 147 became the youngest ever to make the cut. He was the only one of six amateurs to make the cut. It was his last chance as an amateur. He plans to turn pro early in May, and try for the European Tour.
Do you think you’re ready? came the question.
“Yes.”
What makes you believe that?
“Because I’m comfortable playing with those guys and playing OK. I think I’m ready.”
WOODS AND THIRD-ROUND LIGHTNING – Tiger Woods, with 70-208 and tied for third, is in excellent shape to win this Masters, his record shows. Of his 71 career wins, he’s come from behind 21 times.
The picture is dimmer for Lee Westwood, who leads by a shot going into the final round. In 48 major championship appearances before this week, he never led after any round.
OPEN AND CLOSED – Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open last year, but has been having his troubles ever since. The state of his game? “Everything’s a little squirrely,” he said. “I’m just not hitting it where I’m looking, not making any putts.” Prime evidence: His 71 Saturday. He bogeyed three of the first five holes, birdied the 8th, 9th, 12th and 13th, eagled the 15th, then bogeyed the 16th and 18th. He’s out of the running at 2-over 218.
NICE AND COMFY – Jerry Kelly, whose best Masters finish was a tie for fifth, cruised his way around the course, and when he pulled into the scoring tent, someone informed him that his 67 was his best ever in seven visits. “Is it?” a surprised Kelly said. “Good.” He had three birdies and a bogey on the front, and four birdies and a bogey on the back. “I was just trying to get comfortable, and I was pretty comfortable out there,” he said. The 67 left him at 3-under, out of the running but on his way to a good finish and high hopes for the immediate future. “I’m excited,” he said. “I told my wife, one of these weeks, something really good’s going to happen. So it’s working in the right direction – I think.”
LACK OF SPEED KILLS – Hunter Mahan, in the running with his 6-under 210 total, thanked good putting for his third-round 68. “If you have the speed, then you can … focus on making some putts,” Mahan said. “But if you don’t have the speed, it’s going to be a long day.”
NO FIRST-TIMER BLUES – Bill Haas, 27, son of Champions Tour star Jay Haas, is making a nifty debut in the Masters. With his 72-70-71 –213, 3 under, Haas needs a 65 Sunday to tie the low start by a first-time player, the 278 by Japan’s Toshi Izawa in 2001. So far, he’s avoided the blues and blahs most first-timers suffer at the Masters. “I’m just trying to hit good golf shots and hit in the right spots so that I don’t make any big numbers,” Haas said. “The par-5s are gettable, which I haven’t really gotten them this week. Maybe tomorrow, if I can play three holes 3- or 4-under, I can shoot a good score.”
NO. 11’S NO. 1 -- The 505-yard par-4 11th (4.301) is playing the toughest on Augusta National, with only nine birdies in three rounds. The 575-yard par-5 2nd (4.633) is the least difficult.
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