Mediate makes point with his first-day 68
As one player after another voiced complaints and reservations about the changes made to Augusta National Golf Club, Rocco Mediate had a brief and pointed message: Go home.
"Someone will be glad to take your place," he said.
That kind of attitude probably explains why Mediate shot a carefree 68 on Thursday to finish one shot off Vijay Singh's pace in the Masters Tournament. The 43-year-old Mediate, who has been plagued with back problems for most of his 21-year PGA Tour career, was one of three players who did not make a bogey, and he rocketed up the leaderboard with consecutive birdies on Nos. 13, 14 and 15.
"I was very excited to play this week," said the five-time PGA Tour winner, who qualified for a Masters invitation by tying for sixth in last year's U.S. Open. "I knew I was striking the ball like I used to, because my body is feeling better. That was fun. I had a blast today."
Mediate has been candid about his assessment of Augusta National's changes, and his opinions have run counter to most player reaction. Mediate said it's better to accept the fact that the club owns the course and the tournament, and can make changes when it wants.
"Guys are complaining about this hole is too long or you shouldn't have done that to this hole. ... It's their tournament. If you don't want to abide by what they do, don't come," he said. "This is a major. It's supposed to be tough."
After opening with 10 consecutive pars, Mediate kick-started his round with a birdie at the most difficult hole on the course, which featured some of the most controversial changes, the par-4 11th. Mediate's drive caught the left rough, and he had 207 yards to the hole. He selected a 5-iron and picked the ball out of the rough, and it rolled within 10 feet of the cup.
He made the putt for one of only two birdies all day on the 505-yard hole.
"You're not supposed to do that on that hole," he said. "I actually kind of apologized to the hole as I left."
After parring No. 12, Mediate birdied No. 13 on a 10-foot putt, No. 14 on a 30-footer and No. 15 on a 15-footer. Mediate grinded over a par only once, a six-foot putt at No. 5.
Playing partner Raymond Floyd, who won the Masters in 1976, knows a good day at Augusta when he sees one.
"I watched a really, really good round," Floyd said. "He shot 68, and it could have been lower."
MEDIATE HOPES A GOOD week will keep fueling a comeback attempt. With back pain continuing to flare up since his last victory in 2002, Mediate has finished 114th and 176th in the past two years on the PGA Tour money list, and entered the week having missed four of six cuts this season.
Last year, he shared the first-round lead in the U.S. Open, but followed with a pair of 74s to finish six shots behind winner Michael Campbell.
But his back could stop him cold at any time.
Mediate has tried countless methods to alleviate the pain and is resigned to the fact that each morning is an adventure until he knows he can crawl out of bed pain-free.
"When the body goes away, you can't do anything with the golf club," he said. "I do a lot of pilates now, and that's about it.
"It's been good since Doral, and I've hit the ball really good since then."
