Golf Capsules: Golf Capsules: Commentary - Finding the 2 players in Tiger's group at Augusta
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dean Wilson was in his hotel room getting ready to practice one Tuesday afternoon seven years ago when a PGA Tour official called to let him know the pairings were about to be released.
Wilson didn’t understand why he was being contacted until he heard the names.
One was a fellow rookie, Aaron Barber. The other was a sponsor’s exemption, Annika Sorenstam.
"Someone from the tour contacted me and said, ‘The draw is coming out and you’re paired with Annika. We want you to talk to the media when the tee times come out, rather than it coming out when you’re on the course,"’ Wilson said last week. "I knew it was going to be a big deal. I didn’t know it was going to be a giant deal."
Imagine how massive the Masters will be.
The two situations are nothing alike. Colonial was a celebration of Sorenstam becoming the first woman in 58 years to compete on the PGA Tour. The Masters could be a circus when Woods returns to golf for the first time since being exposed as a serial wife cheater.
Even so, not since Colonial in 2003 has there been so much interest in tee times.
Wilson’s name essentially came out of a hat, thrown in with other rookies and players with the lowest level of status. Augusta National has no policy with its pairings, other than the defending champion traditionally plays with the U.S. Amateur champion.
How will they decide who plays with Woods?
"With great care," said Colin Montgomerie, who is not eligible for the Masters this year. "You’d almost have to ask for volunteers. There’s a number of players that will be looking at the draw sheet — I believe it comes out on Tuesday afternoon — and will be delighted if they are not playing with Tiger on this occasion."
So who gets him? Perhaps the better question is who wants him?
"I would say it would be a tough pairing, to tell you the truth," said 49-year-old Kenny Perry, who lost in a playoff last year. "I’m old enough to maybe handle that. Maybe you need some hillbilly like me to do that. But it will be different, because I’m sure the players will be focused on Augusta, yet focused on what’s going on with him and paying attention to what he’s doing out there."
Since his first Masters as a pro in 1997, Woods has played with only two American pros — Stewart Cink in 2000 and 2009, and Tim Herron in 1999. In eight of his 13 trips to Augusta, Woods has played with an amateur the first two rounds.
"I’d be OK with it," Cink said. "I’ve known him for a long time. You have to remember this: At the Masters, playing with Tiger Woods is always a little different than it is anywhere else because there’s always more of the people that want to see him play there than anywhere else.
"This year, I don’t expect it to be a whole lot different than other years just because it’s always a little different. There would be more scrutiny, but I’d be fine with it."
It’s unclear whether the men in green jackets have asked for a show of hands.
The prevailing thought is they will put Woods with two players not expected to contend, such as a former Masters champion. Where’s Doug Ford when you really need him?
Mark O’Meara comes to mind. Few players have been closer to Woods since he first turned pro, although the relationship is not as strong as it once was. Tom Watson is another possibility. If nothing else, he can supervise Woods for any salty language.
Another thought is for the Masters to put an Asian player with Woods as a payoff for its Far East television deals. Then again, that opportunity was around before Woods got into trouble. The only two Asian players to be in his group the first two rounds were Jeev Milkha Singh of India last year and Toshi Izawa of Japan in 2002.
Phil Mickelson volunteered, perhaps because he thrived playing with Woods in the final round a year ago. And when Mickelson won the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last year, it was the first time he had won a tournament while playing in the last group with Woods.
To be sure, some players might want to be in that group just out of curiosity.
They also want to win.
"There’s a part of me that would be like, ‘That would be a good show to be a part of to just watch.’ The best seat in the house," Geoff Ogilvy said. "Then there’s a part of me that if you truly, truly, truly want to win the golf tournament, surely you want to stay as far away from it as you can."
Despite all the interest in the pairing, it might prove to be of little consequence to the players along for the ride.
Augusta National is different. The fairways are wider than other majors, meaning the gallery is farther away. No one is allowed inside the ropes except for caddies and a television camera.
Paul Casey likes playing with Woods. Most players do. And while players may grumble about the movement of the media and the gallery, any athlete prefers playing before a full house.
"The sort of scrutiny will be on a level we’ve never witnessed before," Casey said.
Then he spoke for whoever gets thrown into the group with Woods by adding, "But they won’t be watching me."
Doug Ferguson covers golf for The Associated Press.
Brits take bets on Tiger’s 1st drive
LONDON — Forget about simply betting on Tiger Woods to win the Masters, British bookmakers are taking wagers on whether the No. 1 player in the world will hit a tree on his first drive or if he’ll kiss an anonymous blonde before teeing off.
Woods, who will make his return to golf next week at Augusta National after months of seclusion following revelations that he cheated on his wife, is shaping up to be a big market for bettors in Britain.
"We’ll absolutely certainly take a couple of million (pounds) on it ourselves," William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said Tuesday. "So far, people are sensibly reluctant to part with their cash until two or three days beforehand ... because once you place your bet you can’t cancel it."
Both William Hill and Ladbrokes have Woods listed as the 4-1 favorite to win, even though he has not competed since driving his vehicle into a tree outside his home in late November. The 34-year-old Woods has won the Masters title four times and has 14 majors overall. The tournament starts April 8.
Phil Mickelson is the second favorite behind Woods at 9-1, and Ernie Els is third at 10-1, according to William Hill. But besides the usual bets about making the cut or finishing outside the top 10, markets are open on whether he will hit the fairway on his opening drive, miss the fairway, or even hit a tree.
"We’ve got a whole host (of markets), the funnies around to the serious," Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said. "Obviously, (we’ve) priced him up to win the major, to miss the cut, to have a fight with a fan on the first tee, to kiss an anonymous blonde — which doesn’t include (John) Daly, we point out."
Despite any off-the-course problems, both Adams and Weinberg said that bettors will stand behind Woods with their money.
"He could have 10 years off the sport and there’d be punters backing him," Weinberg said. "Even a 50 percent-75 percent Tiger Woods should have more than enough to see off the field."
William Hill is already offering 26 markets on Woods, and Hill said they expect to open 10 more over the weekend.
"Things like: Will he have an argument? Will he throw a club? Will he break a club in anger? Will there be a streaker on the final green? Will Elin (Nordegren) be seen in the crowd?" Adams said.
But while Adams is expecting more money to pour in as the Masters gets closer, he’s hoping some of it goes against Woods winning his fifth green jacket.
"We don’t want to attract too much money on him," Adams said, "because the first rule of golf bookmaking is never take on Tiger."
-- Chris Lehourites
Notebook: Els sticking with caddie plan
ORLANDO, Fla. — Fresh off his second straight victory, Ernie Els headed to Augusta National for a quick practice round Tuesday and planned to take his caddie with him.
Only it’s not the caddie who has been on the bag for those two wins.
Els has been using two caddies this year — former NHL player Dan Quinn, whom he met in South Florida; and Ricci Roberts, his longtime looper from South Africa. Els plans to play 26 times this year, and each caddie gets half of the tournaments, including the majors.
Quinn was to caddie at the Masters. Even after two straight wins with Roberts on the bag, Els said that won’t change.
"I know a lot of guys said I should take Ricci, but we have made a decision," Els said. "I’ve spoken to Ricci and Dan about it, and they are happy and we’ll stick with it. I don’t think anybody can tell me anything more about Augusta than I already know. I’ve had local caddies take me through there. I’ve had everybody take me through there. So I know exactly where everything goes."
Els first used Quinn late last year, and he came within one 5-wood into the water of winning the HSBC Champions.
Quinn, a 44-year-old Canadian, spent 14 seasons in the NHL, scoring a career-high 40 goals with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1987. He took up golf when he retired and played on the Celebrity Tour.
Els met him a few years ago and started playing golf with him.
"Found out that he was a very good hockey player. I didn’t quite know that," Els said. "And he played for such a long time, but he was retired for a while. Pretty easygoing guy, although he’s serious about what he does."
Quinn caddied for Els before the Florida swing, and will work the Masters and the PGA Championship.
TIGER TIMES: There has been some speculation that Masters television coverage could miss Tiger Woods if he was given early tee times over the first two rounds.
ESPN will broadcast Thursday and Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. A group that plays at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday would start at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, meaning television would capture only the last few holes.
That would break a trend at Augusta National involving Woods, however.
Over the last 10 years, Woods has teed off Thursday in the early afternoon (from 12:57 p.m. to 1:52 p.m.) five times, and the other five years he has started around 10:30 a.m., giving him a late time Friday.
No matter when he plays, the Masters offers live coverage on www.masters.com from Amen Corner and on the 15th and 16th holes for every player, and it picks a featured group for live coverage starting on the 10th hole.
Augusta National also has said it would have live coverage on its Web site of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer hitting ceremonial opening tee shots, and Woods hitting his opening tee shot.
SHANGHAI CHANGE: The HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the fourth World Golf Championship on the calendar, now counts as an official PGA Tour victory — as long as it is won by a PGA Tour member.
The PGA Tour’s policy board decided last week to count as official the only WGC event overseas. However, it will only count as an official win and offer a three-year exemption on tour if a member wins.
Phil Mickelson won the HSBC Champions last year, but only 24 players — just over one-third of the 67-man field — were PGA Tour members. PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said the decision is not retroactive, meaning Mickelson still has 37 tour victories.
Votaw also said prize money from the $7 million purse would not count toward the money list, even if a PGA Tour member wins. The HSBC Champions is held one week before the tour’s final event at Disney.
STRONG START: J.P. Hayes disqualified himself from the second stage of Q-school in 2008 when he realized he used a a prototype golf ball that had not been officially approved on one hole.
That gave him limited status last year, and he finally regained his PGA Tour card at Q-school in December.
At this rate, Hayes might not be going back.
The 44-year-old Hayes tied for seventh at Bay Hill for his third top 10 of the year. He tied for fourth in Mexico, one week after he tied for fifth in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
He is 40th in the FedEx Cup standing and has $596,230.
"Very encouraging," Hayes said. "I was looking for a good start on the West Coast, but I’ve never played well over there. To get off to a start like that is awesome. It’s quicker than I anticipated."
Hayes is probably about $100,000 away from locking up his card for 2011, and the season is only three months old.
"It definitely makes the rest of the year ... I wouldn’t say more enjoyable, but certainly from the standpoint of not having to play catch-up like I’ve been doing the last couple of years," he said.
PEREZ ON TWITTER: Pat Perez is on Twitter (PatPerezGolf), but he had only eight tweets in seven months until finding a new purpose in social networking.
"Going to start using Twitter for random phrases that make no sense," he posted a week ago, and he has not let up.
Among his questions:
—"What the hell does ‘lay it on the line’ mean? Lay what on the line and what line are we talking about?
—"I’ve been injured a bunch, but I’ve never ‘licked my wounds.’
—"I went to Arizona State. It’s in Tempe. Where the hell is the School Of Hard Knocks?"
DIVOTS: Every adult buying a ticket to the PGA Championship will be able to bring up to four juniors (age 17 and under) for free. That’s up from two free junior passes a year ago. The PGA said 40,000 juniors came to Hazeltine. ... Paul Goydos was looking at Fred Couples’ results on the Champions Tour — three victories and runner-up — when he came to this conclusion: "You know how you can tell you’re having a good year? When your earnings end in three zeros." Couples has earned $931,000 in four starts. ... Phil Mickelson failed to finish under par at a tournament for the first time all year at Bay Hill. He closed with a a 77 and was at 2-over 290.
STAT OF THE WEEK: There has not been a playoff on the PGA Tour this year, heading into the Houston Open. The last time there were no playoffs before the Masters was in 1974, and Lee Elder broke the string when he won the Monsanto Open a week later.
FINAL WORD: "I watch my friends play. I watch more Champions Tour golf this year." — Davis Love III, who turns 46 next month.
-- Doug Ferguson
Judge rejects golf lawsuit filed by Giuliani’s son
DURHAM, N.C. — A federal judge is dismissing a lawsuit filed after the son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was dismissed from the Duke University golf team.
U.S. District Judge William Osteen Jr. said in an order Tuesday that the offers used to lure Andrew Giuliani to the school did not constitute an enforceable contract. A magistrate judge had also recommended dismissal of the case last year.
Giuliani had argued that a former golf coach had promised him an opportunity to compete and a right to access Duke’s athletic facilities. He alleged that Duke’s golf coach manufactured accusations against him to justify kicking him off the team in 2008, when he was a junior.
An attorney for Giuliani didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
Golf Glance
LPGA TOUR
Kraft Nabisco Championship
Site: Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore Tournament Course (6,702 yards, par 72).
Purse: $2 million. Winner's share: $300,000.
Television: ESPN2 (Thursday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.; Saturday, 5-7 p.m.) and CBS (Sunday, 2-5 p.m.).
Last year: Brittany Lincicome won her first major title, hitting a hybrid from 210 yards to 4 feet to set up a winning eagle on the par-5 18th. Lincicome finished with a 69 for a one-stroke victory over Cristie Kerr and Kristy McPherson.
Last week: South Korea's Hee Kyung Seo won the inaugural Kia Classic at La Costa for her first LPGA Tour title, beating Inbee Park by six strokes.
Notes: Michelle Wie tied for fifth last week at La Costa. She was penalized two strokes in the final round for grounding her club in a hazard after hitting out of the water near the 11th green. ... Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa won the 2008 tournament. ... Morgan Pressel won in 2007 to become the youngest major champion in LPGA Tour history at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days. ... In 2006, Karrie Webb holed a 116-yard shot for eagle on the 18th, then beat Ochoa in a playoff with birdie on the same hole. Webb won in 2000 by record 10 strokes. ... The event, first played in 1972 as the Colgate Dinah Shore, became a major championship in 1983. ... Japan's Ai Miyazato tied for 39th last week after winning the season-opening events in Thailand and Singapore. ... The tour is off next week. Play will resume April 15-16 with the Mojo 6 in Jamaica.
On the Net: http://www.lpga.com
PGA TOUR
Houston Open
Site: Humble, Texas.
Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.
Course: Redstone Golf Club, Tournament Course (7,457 yards, par 72).
Purse: $5.8 million. Winner's share: $1,044,000.
Television: Golf Channel (Thursday, 3-6 p.m., 7:30-10:30 p.m.; Friday, 11-2 a.m., 3-6 p.m., 7:30-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11-2 a.m.) and NBC (Saturday, Noon-4 p.m.; Sunday, 2-5 p.m.).
Last year: England's Paul Casey won his first PGA Tour title, beating J.B. Holmes with a bogey on the first hole of a playoff.
Last week: Ernie Els won the rain-delayed Arnold Palmer Invitational in a Monday finish at Bay Hill for his second straight victory and 18th PGA Tour title. Kevin Na and Edoardo Molinari tied for second, two strokes back.
Notes: The Masters is next week. The winner, if not already exempt, will earn a spot at Augusta National. ... Els, Casey and Phil Mickelson are in the field along with Fred Couples, Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington, Geoff Ogilvy, Lee Westwood, Lucas Glover, Rory McIlroy and three-time winner Vijay Singh. ... Couples, the 2003 winner on the adjacent Members Course, is making his third PGA Tour of the season. Last week in the Dominican Republic, the 50-year-old former University of Houston star won his third straight Champions Tour title. He closed with a course-record 10-under 62. ... Mickelson is winless in six starts this season.
On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Next event: Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, April 16-18, TPC Tampa Bay, Lutz, Fla.
Last week: Fred Couples won his third straight Champions Tour start, closing with a course-record 10-under 62 for a two-stroke victory over Corey Pavin in the Cap Cana Championship in the Dominican Republic. Couples is the first player in Champions Tour history to win three of his first four career tournaments.
On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com
PGA EUROPEAN TOUR
Next event: Masters, April 8-11, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.
Last week: South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen earned his second straight trip to the Masters, winning the Andalucia Open for his first European tour title. Oosthuizen finished at 17 under for a three-stroke victory.
On the Net: http://www.europeantour.com
NATIONWIDE TOUR
Next event: Fresh Express Classic, April 15-18, TPC San Francisco Bay at Stonebrae, Hayward, Calif.
Last week: Argentina's Fabian Gomez won the Louisiana Open for first Nationwide Tour title, closing with a 7-under 64 in windy conditions for a tournament-record six-stroke victory over three players.
On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com
OTHER TOURNAMENTS
Men
NGA HOOTERS TOUR: Georgia Sports Orthopedic Specialists Classic, Thursday-Sunday, Chattahoochee Golf Club, Gainesville, Ga. On the Net: http://www.ngahooterstour.com
ASIAN TOUR: SAIL Open, Tuesday-Friday, Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi. On the Net: http://www.asiantour.com
Women
JAPAN LPGA TOUR: Yamaha Ladies Open, Friday-Sunday, Katsuragi Golf Club, Shizuoka, Japan. On the Net: http://www.lpga.or.jp
