First-round leader stumbles

Dennis Paulson reacts to his tee shot going into the sand trap on the No. 4 hole Friday. Paulson parred the hole.Ron Cockerille/Chronicle Staff

By John Boyette
Chronicle Staff

Dennis Paulson celebrated his first-round lead in a funny way Thursday night.

He stayed home and gave his son, 2-year-old Dillon, a bath.

Paulson's stint as Masters Tournament leader didn't last for long Friday. Four bogeys on the front nine led to a 76, leaving him at even par for the tournament.

``I had a pizza and a few beers,'' Paulson said of his Thursday night activities. ``I had bath duty at home. Just another day at the office.''

The difference for Paulson, a Masters rookie at 37, was how he played the par 5s. He was 5-under, with one eagle and three birdies, in Thursday's round. Friday, he played them seven shots higher, makings bogeys at Nos. 2 and 8 and making pars at Nos. 13 and 15.

``Basically the difference in what I shot yesterday and today,'' Paulson said.

First-round leader Dennis Paulson hopes his ball slows down after hitting out of the sand trap on the No. 2 hole Friday.Michael Holahan/Chronicle Staff

After bogeying the first hole, Paulson had to chip out of the woods on the second hole. Complicating matters, he had to hit the ball left-handed using a 4-iron. He made bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 to shoot 40 on the front nine.

``I played really poorly today,'' Paulson said. ``I hung in there, had a great attitude.''

A birdie at the 11th put Paulson back in red figures, but a bogey on the 16th left him even par on the back nine.

``Nothing I did was correct today,'' he said.

Playing in the second group Friday, Paulson said the greens were a lot softer. And on a day when conditions were benign, he couldn't take advantage.

``I like the greens to be firm,'' Paulson said. ``I couldn't figure out what the greens were going to do. I don't like hitting it past the hole and spinning the ball back.''

Success by first-timers is unusual at the Augusta National Golf Club. Only three players have won in their first attempt, the last being Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

However, a handful of Masters rookies have led outright or shared the lead in recent memory. None have come close to winning.

``The slums are full of first-round leaders,'' Peter Jacobsen once quipped.

However, Paulson is taking it all in stride.

``It's just a round of golf,'' he said. ``If we try to make as big a deal as you guys (the media) do, we'd play like you guys do. We wouldn't be out here.''