By Ward Clayton
Sports Editor
Augusta Chronicle

After one day of practice rounds, 77 players in the 92-member field are at the Augusta National Golf Club. The 60th tournament begins on Thursday.

The day ended in joking fashion, with favorite Greg Norman and two-time U.S. Amateur champion Tiger Woods finishing at dinner time on the ninth hole. Norman dared Woods to drive left down the first hole after blasting his drive into the bottom of the first hole.

Woods responded with a humongous drive and nearly holed his second shot.


5:45 PM Update:

By late afternoon Monday, 77 players in the 92-player field had checked into tournament headquarters for this week's tournament.

That is an unusually high number three days before the 60th tournament begins.

The latest entry, last week's Bell South Classic winner Paul Stankowski, opted not to play a practice round upon arrival at midafternoon. Stankowski woke up in Atlanta Monday morning with a crick in his neck.


3:45 PM Update:

The majority of the field was already in town and on the course Monday afternoon at the Augusta National Golf Club in preparation for this week's 60th Masters Tournament.The highlight pairing was two-time U.S. Amateur champion Tiger Woods and Greg Norman.

On the course, David Duval, a first-time participant from Jacksonville, aced the 12th hole with an 8-iron. Duval was playing the hole from 142 yards, shorter than its normal 155 yards, because the back tee is matted during practice rounds to prevent extensive divots before tournament play.