KIM FINALLY DEBUTS: Anthony Kim arrived last week at Augusta National Golf Club for what he hoped would be his first round at the site of the Masters Tournament.

Greg Norman checks his lie on the second fairway during Monday's practice round. Norman is CBS announcer Jim Nantz's sentimental dark horse candidate to win the Masters. (Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff)

Heavy rains washed away any chance for the 23-year-old to play the course, though. About the only thing he was able to do in Augusta was eat at an IHOP.

Kim's first chance to play Augusta came Monday. His first impression?

"Windy," he said. "I just got back from (the Shell Houston Open), and we played in 30 mph gusts. So I thought that was done with, and now I get to come out to green grass and calm. ... I've heard that it (can be) pretty gusty out here at times (with) swirls through the trees, but I didn't expect this."

Kim, ranked 14th in the world, said last fall's Ryder Cup singles match against Sergio Garcia , which he won 5 and 4, increased his confidence.

"It did wonders," he said. "Not just playing Sergio, but being a part of that, and playing some good golf and making some key putts, when there was some pressure on the line; I want to say that's the most people I've ever played in front of."

Kim said he planned to play a practice round today with either 1998 Masters champion Mark O'Meara or two-time winner Phil Mickelson .

TEEN DRAWS CROWDS: Some of the largest clusters of patrons Monday were following Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy .

McIlroy, 19, is ranked 17th in the world and has been hailed as the sport's next phenom.

He said he remembered watching the Masters on television as early as 1996, but it was the following year's tournament that gripped the youngster.

"(In 1997), I could probably tell you every shot Tiger hit," McIlroy said of Woods' record-setting score of 270.

Now that he has arrived here, McIlroy said he already has a favorite hole on the course: No. 13, the 510-yard par-5.

"I've got quite a high ball flight, so I can take it over the tree on the left ... It gives me a bit of an advantage there," he said.

McIlroy said he hit a great drive in Monday's practice round on No. 13 and had only 170 yards to the front of the green.

"Pin was all the way in the back, so I hit four (iron)," McIlroy said.

CASEY SIZES UP WIND: Paul Casey , who survived blustery conditions over the weekend to win in Houston, was greeted by more strong winds in Augusta.

He said the windy weather would favor the players who can best control the ball.

"When it's windy like this, it plays into the hands of the ball-strikers," Casey said. "Putting is obviously key around this place, but guys like Tiger and Sergio and Phil, guys who have supreme control of the golf ball, are the guys you are going to see at the top of the leaderboard."

Casey said he could see himself changing clubs several times this week on the tee at No. 12, the testy, 155-yard par-3.

"It's going to be about the good golf this week," he said. "You just have to knuckle down one shot at a time -- the same, simple stuff, that's all it is. ... You just have to suck it up and do that."

TAKE YOUR PICK: On a conference call to discuss their weekend broadcast of the tournament, CBS personalities Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo were asked to pick a dark horse who has a chance to win the Masters.

Faldo, the network's lead analyst and a three-time winner at Augusta National, declined to select one because, he said, he is certain the tournament will be won by one of the top players, the obvious choices.

"The way the leading players have been playing, I think it's going to come ... from a name player this year," he said.

Nantz, the broadcast's host who is covering his 24th consecutive tournament, answered: Sergio Garcia and Greg Norman .