There's never a dull moment at Amen Corner.
Remember Tom Weiskopf's record 13 on No. 12 in 1980? How about Larry Mize's amazing sudden-death chip-in on No. 11 in 1987? Or Tommy Nakajima's record 13 on No. 13 in 1978? Even Greg Norman losing his ball on the hillside behind No. 12 last year, only to have it discovered by CBS announcer Bobby Clampett and USA Today's Christine Brennan a couple of hours later.
Now, add the bizarre case of Tiger Woods on Saturday in Round 3. Woods was the hottest golfer as the field returned to play after a two-hour rain delay in the early afternoon. His approach to the par-3 12th hole carried just over the green into a precarious lie where he had to place his left foot out and right foot in a back bunker to get to the ball situated between pine straw and rough.
Just as Woods prepared to address his 8-iron chip-and-run at approximately 2:45 p.m., he stopped and pointed up into the woods behind the green. A golf ball had come flying out onto the right side of the 12th green from neighboring Augusta Country Club's par-4 ninth fairway, which runs perpendicular to Augusta National's 12th and 13th holes.
``One of the guys from Augusta Country Club sprayed one,'' Woods said. ``It just went splat on the right side of the green. That would have been a good shot to tomorrow's pin (placement).''
A Masters official came from behind the green and picked up the ball, which Woods thought from 20 feet away was a Precept brand. Woods' caddie, Steve Williams, even fixed the invading ball's pitch mark.
``We never saw a cart; we never saw anybody,'' Woods said. ``I guess he was embarrassed and didn't want to come get his ball.''
A chain-link fence separates the two courses. The 12th green and 13th tee are the only places at Augusta National where the gallery cannot go. From the vicinity of where the ball came, someone would have to hit a cold shank or ricochet the ball off a tree next door on their second shot. Two carts headed toward Augusta Country Club's ninth green, which sits behind Augusta National's 13th tee, a few seconds after the ball flew into the Masters.
``You've got to be kidding,'' Augusta Country Club head professional Tommy Brannen said at mid-afternoon when informed of the shot. He said later in the day he hadn't heard of any members owning up to the incident.
By the way, Woods chipped to 8 feet and made the par putt with his signature fist pump.
Wind sends ball over fence