By Andy Johnston
Staff Writer
Augusta Chronicle

Carl Jackson knew the risks. He decided to tempt fate anyway Thursday.

Besides, what's the harm in grabbing a smoke during a quiet walk up the right side of the ninth fairway at Augusta National Golf Club.

One problem: He forgot John Daly was lurking nearby.

Daly's second shot on No. 8 landed about 10 feet from Jackson strolling on No. 9, giving Ben Crenshaw's veteran caddy a scare until he collected himself and realized what had happened.

``I was a little startled, but I halfway expected something,'' Jackson said. ``It was close. Not that close, but close. When you're walking down 9, you've got to watch out because almost everybody tries to go right (on 9). I knew that.''

With Crenshaw and Tiger Woods, playing directly in front of Daly and Nick Faldo, it was the equivalent of one of those great nights on television for the fans who lined the course during the first round of the Masters Tournament.

That one night a week when you plop down in the La-Z-Boy and watch good show after good show, without any urge to grab the remote control.

Crenshaw, the defending champion; Faldo, a two-time champ; and Daly and Woods, two of the tournament's longest hitters, grouped within minutes provided a golf doubleheader for the fans.

``I've got to go (to the bathroom) real bad, but I'm not moving until these guys go through,'' said Tim Herrmann of Marietta, Ga. ``This is great for any fan because Daly and Woods are great to watch. I'm going to suffer because I know Faldo's slow, but I'm not going to miss these guys.''

Unfortunately for the fans, the foursome provided few highlights. Except for the expected monstrous - and sometimes erratic - drives by Woods and Daly, there was little to cheer.

Sure, Crenshaw received the generous applause always reserved for the defending champ whenever he approached the next hole, but he finished with a 5-over-par 77, his worst Masters round since 1985.

``I sure wish (Crenshaw) was doing better,'' said Herrmann, who staked out a minute plot of land along No. 17.

Seventeen was perhaps the highlight of Daly's day, during which he missed four of the 14 fairways, hitting a few trees in the process.

After Woods pounded his drive 345 yards on the 400-yard, par 4, Daly bettered that a few moments later with a 355-yard drive that stopped just short of the second crosswalk.

He birdied that hole to move to 3-under, but then ran into No. 18, which he double-bogeyed after bouncing his tee shot off a huge pine to the right of the fairway. He then bolted for his car after that left him with a 1-under-par 71.

Being paired with Faldo, one of the PGA Tour's slowest players, didn't seem to bother Daly, one of the fastest.

He did spend a lot of time in a classic pose: Leaning on a club in his left hand, legs crossed and smoking a Marlboro in his right hand while Faldo lined up his shots, but they finished in about the average time of four hours.

Faldo was the best of the foursome, finishing the day with a 3-under-par 69.

Woods, a sophomore at Stanford and the two-time defending U.S. Amateur champ, also showcased his long drives, particularly on Nos. 1, 2, 5, 13, 14 and 17.

While his tee shots were long and true, he had trouble with his putting, however, and finished with a 3-over-par 75.

``I hit the ball well in spots,'' Woods said. ``I'm pretty upbeat with that. Putting is a different story. This is all part of the learning process, but don't get me wrong. Scoring is everything.''