As of last year's U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Lee Janzen was not in the Masters Tournament field.
So the 34-year-old did the best thing he could to secure five more years at Augusta National: he rallied from six shots back to win his second national championship, the only golfer that week to shoot even par.
``The last round I pretty much figured I had top-16 sewed up, which is a relief to know that you're in the Masters and you don't have to worry about it,'' said Janzen.
``Once that's out of your mind, you can concentrate on the task at hand.''
The task at U.S. Open venues is quite different than that at the National, where the Masters is decided by an enormous risk-reward factor and the ability to make a string of birdies. There may be rough this year, but it isn't as brutal as the U.S. Open's 5-inch variety.
Controlled scores are a U.S. Open byproduct, as the USGA takes great pride in having par become the ultimate measuring stick. Fairways are narrowed, and rough forces players to pitch out, making accuracy a golfer's most necessary tool.
Only 13 men have won both the Masters and the U.S. Open in their careers, the last being Ray Floyd when he won at Shinnecock Hills in 1986. It shows that players adept at conquering one aspect may not be able to transfer those successes at another.
Jack Nicklaus is the only golfer to win a U.S. Open one year and the Masters the next, doing so in 1962-63.
Janzen has had some reasonable success at Augusta, but nothing to raise an eyebrow and take notice. He's much more of a controlled player, one whose success comes on courses that value par more than others.
The idea of adding some rough and tightening holes favors a player like Janzen. In seven years he's made seven cuts, his best finish being a tie for 12th in 1995 and '96.
``I've had good rounds there,'' said Janzen, who held the first-round lead in 1993 after shooting a 67.
``I've been close on Saturdays but never made it past that to be in contention. I think I know the course well enough, it's just a matter of how well I'm playing when I get there. Actually, I thought that would be one I would be most likely to do well in because it's iron play, putting and chipping, which usually are the things I do well. But who can explain why anybody does any good in anything?''
Janzen plans to be low-key his week, hoping not to burn himself out before his tee time Thursday, as he's done in previous events.
``I've gotten there early the last few years, very early, to take my time and work on all the side-hill lies, and chipping and putting,'' he said. ``I think my practice has been intense enough that I've used up some of my energy before the tournament and it catches up to you.''
So far in 1999, Janzen's greatest improvement has been his driving accuracy, which for now has improved by 10 percentage points compared to last season. He's carrying a new Firesole driver from Taylor-Made, and he feels comfortable standing over a shot with it.
He enters this championship with zero pressure on him to win. His Open win was his first victory of any kind since 1995.
``If I never win another golf tournament, I think what I've done in my life is all right and I'd be very grateful,'' he said. ``I think the pressure is less than anything. I think my goals are more realistically higher than a lot of people because I have it behind me that I've won a major. If anything, it's a bonus knowing that I know what goes into winning a major and how to get my game in tip-top shape.''
Chip shots: Lee Janzen
Playing 14 times since winning his second U.S. Open, Janzen has five missed cuts and one disqualification.
National's rough may help Janzen 
