Loren Roberts hits out of a sand trap on the 11th hole. Roberts was at 3-under par and four shots behind Vijay Singh when Saturday's rain-delayed third round was suspended because of darkness. (Michael Holahan/Augusta Chronicle)
'Boss of Moss' relies on putter
Web posted 04/08/00
Roberts has some theories to why he shot a 1-under par 71 on Saturday to keep himself contending in a major where he has one top-10 and three missed cuts in six previous appearances.
He's kept the ball in the fairway, hitting 78 percent of them, although he's among the field's shortest hitters.
He's had only 80 putts, second-best of those who've completed three rounds.
``I think I've only had one three-putt, and that was today on 17,'' Roberts said. ``That was more Mother Nature than anything.''
And Roberts is very complimentary of the course set-up, one that he believes keeps the greens receptive enough for 5-irons and pitching wedges.
``You don't have to be Tiger Woods to hold some of these greens,'' Roberts said. ``I can go in with a longer iron and still come up with the same results. They've made this golf course very playable for us short hitters.''
Roberts found himself tied for the lead Saturday when he birdied No. 7. A fat shot from a side-hill lie at No. 11 led to a bogey, and then came the three-putt at No. 17. He sits at 3-under par, four strokes behind leader Vijay Singh.
``I hit an 8-iron on 17 to the front edge and had about a 30-footer,'' he said. ``I hit it and I thought it would lag up there nice, and when it was about 2 inches from the hole, the wind picked up and pushed it by 3ยด feet.''
Putting has always been the 44-year-old Roberts' strength. He dropped a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 3 to get his round going.
Fellow tour member David Ogrin dubbed Roberts ``the Boss of the Moss'' in 1985, and the nickname stuck. His silky-smooth putting has always made up for his lack of length.
``The putters have always done well here, but you do have to have some length,'' he said. ``I've been keeping it in the fairway, giving myself some chances. That's all you can ask for.''
A six-time winner on the PGA Tour, Roberts' best success in a major came at the 1994 U.S. Open, when he tied for the 72-hole lead with Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie. Els won the 18-hole playoff.
That year also saw Roberts' best finish in a Masters, when he tied for fifth.
