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Suspended round could be blessing


Web posted 04/09/99


David Toms of Shreveport, La., is compiling a diary on his experiences in the 63rd Masters Tournament. Toms, 32, finished tied for sixth place in his Masters debut in 1998. He is sharing his thoughts with staff writer David Westin.

I wasn't able to finish my first round on Thursday because play was suspended by darkness. I'll be coming back this morning at 9 o'clock

I'll be on No. 16 tee box and I'm 5-over-par for the round.

I'm kind of glad I didn't finish. I played so bad on Thursday, maybe I'll wake up on a different side of the bed today and get some things going.

I just didn't play well Thursday. I seemed to hit it over too many greens or in the wrong spot all day. I never really was in control.

I made an eagle on the par-5 13th hole and that helped. I hit a driver and a 3-iron in there about 50 feet from the hole and made it. It was getting dark and I really couldn't see the way the putt was breaking so I hit it pretty straight. It happened to track all the way down and went in.

I didn't make any eagles last year so that's my first one here. I know everyone who makes an eagle gets a crystal goblet, so that's a consolation for an otherwise not-so-good day.

I feel like I can get it going today. I know I can shoot some low scores on the golf course. I don't know whether I played too aggressive Thursday or my thought process wasn't there. My clubbing wasn't very good. I seemed to take the club that could get me in trouble every time. That's just not the way you play this golf course.

It started on the fifth hole, where I made a double bogey. I pulled my second and hit too much club. It went down the hill to the left and I had nothing. It just kind of snowballed from there.

I also made a double bogey on No. 10. I had 190 yards into the hole and I hit a nice, high, soft 6-iron. I couldn't believe it flew all the way to the pin and went over the back of the green.

I had an absolutely terrible lie. It was right where everybody walks off the green down there. I should have hit a bump-and-run shot. Instead, I tried to hit a half-flop shot. It didn't work and I left myself way short. Then I hit it to 2 feet and I guess I was still a little angry about the chip and I missed the putt. Those are things you can't do in a major championship. Obviously, I haven't quite learned that yet.

I'm not surprised no one shot lower than 69 so far in the round. The thing is, you can get it going but it's hard to maintain it because it's hard to be aggressive on this golf course. You have to pick your spots and hopefully every once in awhile you get it in the right spot and you can aggressively try to make a putt. As far as length, there are some holes that aren't that long, but it's hard to play them aggressively. That's why you don't see very low scores.

I'm not surprised about who's leading. All the guys are good players that are here. It's just whether or not you get in the right spot. You could literally hit the first nine greens in a row in regulation and not have a birdie putt just because of where you are on the green.

I'll finish my round this morning starting at 9, and then my second round will start at 10:49.

I'm not going to change anything, except maybe what I eat for breakfast.

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