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A dry run at Augusta Posted: Monday March 25, 2002 11:59 AM
Masters rookies are like snowmen. Remember the line in the animated Christmas classic Frosty the Snowman when an agitated policeman has a brush with Frosty and says something like, "Ah, when these snowmen come to life, they don't know nuttin'!" After a double take, he says, "Snowman? Come to life?" Then he swallows his whistle. Ah, these Masters rookies come to Augusta, they don't know nuttin'. Kevin Sutherland, the reigning World Match Play champion, will play in his first Masters in a few weeks at the age of 37. So he hitched a ride in Mark Calcavecchia's jet on the Monday prior to the Players Championship and flew to Georgia for his first look at Augusta National Golf Club. Sutherland's rookie move? Sitting in the back of a van, he was so busy talking that he forgot to look at Magnolia Drive, the tree-lined club entrance landmark, on the way in. "All of a sudden, we were at the clubhouse," Sutherland said. "I missed it." What, you missed Magnolia Drive? "Well," Sutherland said defensively, "I'll be back in a few weeks." He didn't miss much else. Calc, a seasoned Masters vet who came up one shot short of a playoff with Sandy Lyle in 1988, gave Sutherland a nice tour of the course. Both players' caddies accompanied them on the trip, although they had to use Augusta National caddies for their rounds. "Calc was showing me where Tiger [Woods] and Scott McCarron were hitting flip wedges into 18 -- I hit a 3-iron," Sutherland said. "That hole seems very long. Calc showed me where all the old tees used to be, although you can't tell where they were. Everything looks like it's been there forever." The players enjoyed a fun round, with. Calcavecchia making nine birdies. "Actually, I was very fortunate we didn't make any bets before the round," Sutherland said. "Calc said, 'Do you want to do anything?' I said, 'No, I just want to enjoy the day.' That was the best thing I did all day." The second-best thing Sutherland did was to hit a good drive and a 5-iron to 10 feet on the opening hole and make the putt for a birdie he'll long remember. Sutherland shot 69 but said, "Calc shot practically nothing and my 69 next to Calc's nine birdies looked like nothing. But we did a pretty good job of making a birdie at almost every hole." Some of Sutherland's other first impressions: Because they were two hours late arriving (fog at the Augusta airport), Sutherland and Calcavecchia didn't have time to play nine holes on the par-3 course. They stopped for refreshments in the clubhouse, looked around the golf shop and left. "The clubhouse is smaller than you expect, but it's perfect," Sutherland said. "The people who work there are all so nice. It was neat. The only gloves they have in the shop say AUGUSTA NATIONAL on them." Sutherland was glad he made this preview trip because now when he arrives for the tournament, he'll have some idea of the landscape. And there's one other thing he's going to do that week in April. "I'll look at Magnolia Drive on my way in," he said, grinning, "because I've only seen it going out." MailbagI find it difficult to fathom why there is so much angst over how far the players hit the ball. The best solution at the moment seems to be to limit how far the ball flies. Is this really necessary? Why not just make the fairways narrower and grow the rough? Then let 'em hit it 300-plus if they want ... but they'd better hit it straight or suffer the consequences. Is it just me, or is this solution merely so simple or self-evident that no one has given it much thought? Also, why is it that guys like Fred Couples or Seve Ballesteros think they no longer can compete on tour? Surely they don't hit the ball all that much shorter than other tour players. Could it be that they lack the fire in the belly after so many years of soaking up rich paychecks and large endorsement dollars?
You're right on, Keith, but there are a few problems. If you narrow fairways and grow lots of rough, what happens if your tournament gets high winds for four days? The course setup becomes a joke -- in other words, Carnoustie at the 1999 British Open. Also, clubs that host tournaments may not allow the growth of high rough in the weeks leading into the event in deference to its members or, in some cases, resort guests. So it's not always feasible. Freddie and Seve don't think they can compete anymore mainly because ... they can't compete any more. Seve sprays it all over while Fred has a bad back and can't spend enough time practicing to sharpen his short game enough to win. In Couples' case, his putting has disappeared, which is why he's gone to the belly putter. I saw on the shelves of my local bookstore Arnold Palmer's latest, Playing by the Rules. (Except for Rule 4 and Appendix II.) Have you read it? Is it really a book that can help readers lower their handicaps through the correct application of the Rules of Golf? I don't know if I should read it. At first glance, the hypocrisy of the author-title combination makes me wish for Bonnie and Clyde on Personal Finance.
I just got a copy the other day, Victor, so I haven't had a chance to peruse it yet. I've picked on Arnie in this column enough for his ERC II stance, but you're right: His book title cries out to be mocked. Even duffers should get answers to fundamentals. My questions: A $2 Nassau means what to the uninitiated? Can it be properly scored either as medal or as match play?
A Nassau, Mel, is a three-part bet. You're playing the front nine for $2, the back nine for $2 and the match total for $2. You can play it either match play or medal play; it doesn't matter. Just don't forget to pay up. You guys have been mistakenly attributing the invention of the claw to Chris DiMarco. DiMarco himself calls it the Gator grip, so who do you think invented the grip and coined the term "the claw"? My father, Warren Chancellor, did. Warren Chancellor is a former tour pro and All-American who is now the head pro at Lochinvar Golf Club. The old man had a nasty case of the yips, so he decided to do something about it, and the claw resulted. If you do not believe me, footage from the 1983 or '84 Isuzu Open or a number of photos should convince you.
Thanks for the history lesson, Walt. I'd like to shake your claw. What's your opinion on Seve Ballesteros? How come the best golfer in the '80s can't make a cut anymore? Is he done? Will he bounce back?
Time may stand still in Paris, Carlos, but the '80s ended more than 12 years ago. Seve has played poorly for seven or eight years. Yes, he's done -- and he has been done for quite a while. If he bounces back, it will be the biggest comeback story in the history of golf ... although we'd all love to see it. Let's suppose Tiger Woods and a buddy of his (similar to you in ability) challenge you to a big-money match. Whom would you choose as a partner and why?
I'd take Bill Murray. We've got no shot against Tiger, so maybe Murray can distract Tiger so much he'll play poorly. And if we lose the match, we'll have laughed our way through 18 holes. If Murray's not available, I'd consider Phil Mickelson, who'll make tons of birdies. I'd love to hear your opinion about where the golf industry is headed given the obvious intent of Nike to be a dominant player. Golf is a game of immense tradition and history, and I can't help wondering what possible negative effect Nike's unmatched financial and marketing strength will have. I would hate to see a sports shoe company buy the game.
There's the game of golf, Paul, which can't be bought, and there's the business of golf, which can. Callaway and TaylorMade similarly came from nowhere to become industry giants in the last two decades. Nike will survive in golf only if it produces good products. No amount of marketing hype can sell a bad product for long (such as Nike's early forays into golf balls, shoes and shirts). Consumers may be dumb, but they're not stupid. Sports Illustrated senior writer Gary Van Sickle writes for the magazine's
Golf Plus section and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send him a question or comment.
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