Amateur Moore plays more like a pro to make cut
Web posted
Sunday, April 10, 2005
If they handed off the receiver to each other again Saturday, the message from Augusta National Golf Club would've been simple.
Moore made the cut at the Masters Tournament, playing steady at even-par through 47 holes.
Pass it on.
"I was cheering the guys on and they were cheering me on," Moore said, referring to the pep talk he shared with his teammates. "We have a great team with or without me. I'm really looking forward to the postseason."
So long as it's not today.
Moore and Luke List were the only amateurs to make the cut. Austin Eaton III, the 2004 Mid-Amateur champion, and British Amateur champion Stuart Wilson did not advance. They were cut after going a combined 34-over.
"I'm just glad to be here," said List, who finished at 7-over for the tournament with one hole left in the third round. "I'm glad to be playing tomorrow."
List, who was runner-up to Moore in the U.S. Amateur, recovered from being 4-over par entering Saturday morning's second-round continuation.
However, his momentum stopped in the afternoon. Five bogeys in the first 10 holes of the third round nullified his birdie streak. List rebounded with seven straight pars before darkness halted play.
"I parred the last seven holes I made," List said. "Not bad. I just didn't get any breaks."
Moore did not seem to need any. He was consistent, teetering between even and under par all day. A four-putt double bogey on No. 10 put him back to even.
He hit fairways in each of his nine third-round holes, drawing the attention of his playing partner, Phil Mickelson.
"He's a very impressive player," the 2004 Masters champion said. "If he were to turn pro tomorrow, he'd be one of the best ball strikers out here."
Maybe that's why the word amateur doesn't mean much to Moore.
"I don't know what amateurs are," he said. "I'm just being me. I'm just playing."
