When Nick Faldo attends Sunday evening's green jacket ceremony, he needn't bother wearing golf attire. Indeed, the defending Masters champion might prefer to brown bag it, all the better to cover his hot head.

``I'm shellshocked, flabbergasted,'' said Faldo, who shot a heinous 81 Friday to miss his first cut at Augusta National. Now he must hang around to hold somebody else's coat.

At least Greg Norman, the forlorn figure whom Faldo hugged after last April's dogwood dramatics here, got out of town. It's 50 minutes by private jet from here to Norman's mansion, otherwise known as the Florida White House. And if you're curious as to whether Norman will tune in this venerable tournament on the weekend, the answer is, next question.

My fellow psychics, do you sense an imminent happening? It generally is assumed the Next Great Golfer will be none other than Nike's very own Tiger Woods. And the 21-year-old phenomenon is stalking this 61st Masters with a three-shot lead after 36 holes. Or is it merely coincidental so many legends and luminaries are vacating the premises, scattering in fire-drill fashion?

If it is to be Tiger's prize and Tiger's party, many from golf's Who's Who will have excused absences.

- Bob Verdi,

Chicago Tribune

As Tiger Woods stood on the first tee peering up the fairway at his future Friday, Jack Nicklaus - who is the past by which Woods will be measured - was sitting inside talking about kids and birthdays and old friends.

As Nicklaus talked, Woods was going to work on Augusta National, hitting his howitzer tee shots and his feathery approaches. Nicklaus saw a lot of himself in Tiger's game.

``I'm sitting down there hitting 9-irons and 8-irons and wedges,'' he said of those sweet, misty days of his prime, ``and everyone else is back there with 3-irons and 2-irons. And I'm sort of laughing and snickering and saying, `Boy, this is a tough golf course, huh?'

``The year I shot 64 (1965) and set the record (271 for 72 holes), that round of golf was just like walking down Main Street. It was nothing. I think I hit 10 wedges. Tiger has the ability to do that. That's why this young man is so special.''

Ah, Tiger. How he is fascinating us, going out there shooting 30 on the back nine Thursday and shooting 66 Friday and running out in front of the field at the halfway mark. Much as the young Nicklaus used to do.

Killing a golf course that killed Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, our Open champion Steve Jones, our PGA champion Mark Brooks.

Making the golf course nothing.

- Ron Green,

The Charlotte Observer

A tired Arnold Palmer looked at the imposing climb up the 18th fairway and decided to give his worshiping fans a show.

Starting with a thumbs up, he lurched his bone-weary body into gear and dug his cleats at full gallop into the difficult hill rising to the clubhouse of Augusta National.

The crowd broke into loud cheers and applause.

He figured his fans deserved something extra because of what he put them through for the second consecutive day. This time, it was a 15-over-par 87 to go with his opening 89, his highest score ever in the Masters.

``It was hit the ball, drag Arnie ... hit the ball, drag Arnie,'' Palmer said.

On the 18th tee, he cracked a perfect drive down the fairway, then saw a spectator behind the ropes with a chair.

``You got another chair?'' Palmer said. ``I want to sit with you.''

- Denne H. Freeman,

Associated Press

Most young golfers stare blankly into the majestic pines and rolling hills at Augusta National and eventually get overwhelmed and crushed by the rich history of the Masters Tournament.

Instead, Tiger Woods seems to be traveling a pathway of destiny this week to enrich the glowing tradition of the Masters.

``He could be the first player to ever win the Masters who doesn't shave,'' joked Woods' playing partner, Paul Azinger, who shot 73 on Friday, and, in his own words, ``got smoked.''

``He's going to be hard to beat. (But) nobody runs away here ... I think.''

Asked if he spent much time looking at the leaderboards on the course, Woods said he did not. He said it was only Friday. And he said he does not focus on what other players are doing until he reaches the back nine on Sunday.

Funny Woods should say that, actually. Because hours before a weekend sun was expected to dawn at vaunted Augusta National, all eyes already were on the Tiger.

And he didn't seem to mind one bit. Too caught up in destiny, perhaps.