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Notebook: Hot shot Maruyama tames course with 67


Web posted 04/14/02


AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Shigeki Maruyama left Augusta National wondering what all the fuss was about.

Teeing off early, Maruyama shot a 5-under-par 67 in the final round of the Masters, Sunday's best score by three strokes.

"After I made the cut, I was only aiming for pins," Maruyama said. "I was attacking it today."

A great strategy, but one nobody else in the field could match on a day when Augusta National played long because the tees were back and the course was soggy. It was only the second time since 1972 that fewer than two players broke 70 in the final round of the Masters.

Of course, it's easier making all those shots when there's not much on the line. Maruyama was 4 over heading into the final round, and was never in the hunt for the title. He moved from 36th place to 14th, however, and earned an automatic invitation to next year's Masters.

Scott gets to come back

Australia's Adam Scott won't have to wait and worry about the world rankings or anything else. He's coming back to Augusta in 2003.

Scott shot 70 to move into the top 16, ensuring a return invitation to the Masters.

"I'm pretty rapped about it," he said, using an Aussie expression for "excited."

Also among the top 16 were Angel Cabrera, Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Jimenez, all of whom would have a good chance of getting in next year anyway because of their world ranking.

Daly's drivers

John Daly used three drivers this week, all in a quest to find the perfect replacement for the one he tossed into a lake three weeks ago.

"They say they make them all the same," Daly said. "But it's very difficult to get that exact same feel."

In a memorable scene at The Players Championship, Daly tossed the driver into the water on the 14th hole after pulling a drive in the drink, then looking at the club and realizing it was cracked.

A few holes later, he broke his 3-wood, too, forcing him to start over with the woods.

He had trouble driving the ball until the final round.

"But really, the best part of my game this week was putting," he said.

Daly shot 75 Sunday, and finished in 32nd place at 4 over.

Always a fan favorite, Daly got a standing ovation as he walked to the 18th green.

"I'm glad they've stuck with me," Daly said. "It gives me something to play for."

Two-putter Parnevik

Just before Jesper Parnevik's round began, his caddie ran into the clubhouse and came out with a putter.

Another putter, to be exact.

Struggling with the flat stick all week, Parnevik played the final round with two putters in the bag. On the first hole, he used the new one for the first putt, then tapped in with the second. He used that putter the rest of the round.

"The first hole was kind of a trial hole," said Parnevik, who needed 34 putts to shoot even-par 72.

He sacrificed his 3-iron to make room for the second putter.

"I wished I had the 3-iron about four times," Parnevik said. "But, oh well."

Howell's first Masters

Other than his score (291), the Masters was everything Charles Howell III hoped it would be.

He grew up in Augusta, and his father played golf in the shadow of Augusta National -- next door at Augusta Country Club.

It was always the 22-year-old Howell's dream to play in the Masters, and he traveled halfway around the world to make sure he'd get his invitation. He played in the Australian Open during Thanksgiving week to make sure he was in the world's top 50 at year's end.

"I said early in the week that I'd trade everything in the world for this tournament, and I still would," Howell said. "I'd trade in the other three majors in a heartbeat."

DIVOTS: Because of rain, groundskeepers weren't able to mow the fairways before Sunday's round, something most players said they had never heard of at Augusta. ... Mike Weir said the sight problems he had Saturday -- he couldn't see the ball for about four holes -- turned out to be a migraine. ... David Toms, who won the final major of 2001, the PGA Championship, was never a factor and finished at 6 over. ... Paul McGinley hit a fan in the head with his drive on No. 11. Richard Erenbaun needed stitches after getting hit on the left side of the head, but he was in good condition, course officials said. The ball hit Erenbaun so hard, it bounced back into the fairway. ... Woods tied Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, Gary Player and Nick Faldo with his third green jacket. Jack Nicklaus won six, and Arnold Palmer four.

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