News Archives for 4/7/2011 | The Masters 2012

Strong start still holds
Rory McIlroy knows he has to limit his mistakes to shoot a low score at Augusta National Golf Club.

McIlroy, Quiros lead foreign contingent at Masters
Rory McIlroy roared to an opening 7-under-par 65 in the morning and finished the first round of the Masters Tournament tied with Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, who closed with three birdies down the stretch.

Media Picks
We polled media members from across Augusta and around the world to see who their picks were for 2011 Masters champion.

Masters chairman wants to make sport more accessible to youth
When the video game was complete, Billy Payne had to try it out.

Villegas shows consistency
Camilo Villegas picked a great time to grind out one of his best rounds of the year.

Kuchar in another high-profile group
Matt Kuchar was grouped with Tiger Woods in the first two rounds of the Masters last year, dealing with the accompanying media hoopla surrounding Woods' first start of the year after revelations of his extramarital scandal.

Kim is looking for consistency in four rounds
Anthony Kim thinks his game fits well at Augusta National Golf Club, setting him up nicely to win the major championship he wants most. Kim proved his point with a Sunday charge last year, using a 7-under 65 to finish alone in third place a year after he set a Masters Tournament single-round record with 11 birdies en route to a second-round 65.

Mercedes-Benz launches performance center tour in Augusta
This week, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta customers can take a look at the company's latest luxury vehicles and get some advice on their golf swing.

Ga. business prospects enjoy Masters
Georgia's "soft sell" marketing program reached the Augusta National Golf Course this morning with 23 prospective economic development clients aboard its buses.

At least 11 charged with ticket scalping
Practice rounds for the second day of the 2011 Masters Tournament are under way and already at least 11 people have been charged with ticket scalping.

Masters Insider: Peter Uihlein
The amateur from Oklahoma State is making his first Masters appearance. The 21-year-old won the U.S. Amateur to earn his invitation.

Mickelson and Woods make final preparations
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson did plenty of talking Tuesday. They spent their Wednesday's doing more of the walking.

17 charged in Masters ticket sales
Richmond County sheriff's deputies have charged 17 people with illegal sales of Masters Tournament badges over the first four days of golf at Augusta National and confiscated 79 tickets.

Jackson poised for 50th Masters
It was at the 2001 Masters Tournament that Carl Jackson did the math and set his goal.

After some work on the back 9, it was time for fun
One of the surprise success stories of 2011, Jhonattan (pronounced Jonathan) Vegas is the first golfer from Venezuela to compete in the Masters Tournament. Jhonny Vegas will share his rookie Masters experience with The Augusta Chronicle.

Fan notes
On his first trip to Augusta National Golf Club, George Brown 's attention immediately went to the grass.

What they're writing
The Super Bowl has evolved from a funky little football game to a national carnival featuring $1,200 seats.

Tiger's revolutionary style influenced younger players
AUGUSTA - Tiger Woods played a different brand of golf than anyone had ever seen when he exploded onto the scene in the mid-1990s. The "Tiger Craze" that brought unprecedented attention to golf in the last 15 years attracted players who might otherwise have played different sports, and their arrival has revolutionized the game

Crowded tournament should change qualifications wisely
Triple digits are a typically unwelcome reality in the South every summer. It is a particularly unpopular threshold in the spring at Augusta National Golf Club.

Masters notebook
Lee Westwood knows it isn't always best to go for the flags at Augusta National. Westwood, the world's No. 2-ranked player, said he has come to understand it takes patience to play the course correctly. It's about discipline and sometimes playing away from the flag and being happy with a 25- or 30-foot putt up the hill.

Player notes
Tim Clark 's right elbow is hurting -- to the point that his status for tournament golf is day to day.

All pros must make downtime decision
With the possible exception of Rory Sabbatini, who played 10 weeks in a row this season on the PGA Tour, pros in the Masters Tournament try to keep their consecutive weeks on the road to a minimum. Once golfers determine how many weeks in a row to play, then comes the other question: how long to stay away from the tour. What is too little time and what is too much?

ESPN adds more 3-D, lengthens broadcasts
A portion of the Masters Tournament's television coverage has included ESPN the past three years. This year, the network will offer an extra hour of live play today and Friday and more 3-D coverage.

An Interview With: Nick Watney

Extra driver becomes constant companion
It would be unwieldy for golfers to travel to tournaments with a full backup set of clubs, but carrying an extra driver is another story. Many do that, including Hunter Mahan, Zach Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Bill Haas and Ryan Palmer. They like to have a backup in case their driver is damaged in transit or during play.

An Interview With: Louis Oosthuizen

Golf's governing bodies address violations with rules change
With cutting-edge technology allowing television viewers to scrutinize every golfer's shot - and any potential rules violation - the sport's power brokers came together to announce a change that went into effect Thursday morning before the first round of the Masters Tournament.

Player retired but not resting
Gary Player is retired from the Masters Tournament, but he's not resting on his three green jackets. Player continues playing golf, designing courses and supporting his foundation. To remain in top shape for his worldwide ventures, he performs 1,000 sit-ups a day (when he's not traveling). Also, Player doesn't smoke or drink. Never has.

Sustained charge carries Yang toward the top
Sitting about 240 yards away from the hole at 13, Y.E. Yang was thinking eagle.

Golf by the book
Recently released books on golf and the Masters include sports editor John Boyette's The 1986 Masters: How Jack Roared Back to Win.

Villegas shows consistency
Camilo Villegas picked a great time to grind out one of his best rounds of the year.

Kaymer looking to break streak of missed cuts
There's never been so much uncertainly surrounding the world's No. 1-ranked player's ability to contend in the Masters Tournament as there is this year. Germany's 26-year-old Martin Kaymer, who is in his sixth straight week as the world's No. 1 player, understands. He's never made the cut in his three Masters appearances.

Pick 5
Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Nick Watney, Luke Donald and Tiger Woods are among sports columnist Scott Michaux's five top picks.

Nicklaus celebrating 25th anniversary of Masters victory
Jack Nicklaus was late and no one faulted him. He had a good reason. The 71-year-old Nicklaus arrived a few minutes tardy Tuesday afternoon after spending some time at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta. The six-time Masters Tournament champion then made his way to the Augusta National for his press conference and then the annual Champions Dinner.

Quick Quotes

Golf breakfast draws large crowd
Two-and-a-half hours before tee time, Ben Crane and his caddie arrive at the course, spiral-bound notebooks in hand. Every day of the 2011 season opens with a devotional, Crane told an early morning crowd of golf fans gathered for the Augusta Golf Breakfast, a Masters Week tradition at Warren Baptist Church.

Fan notes
He's not sure if it's true, but there is a rumor that Barry Cooper was waiting to see play out during the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday. "I heard no player who won the Par-3 has ever won the tournament," said Cooper, of Snead Island, Fla. "I wonder if you're leading, would you throw a shot just to keep your chances to win the tournament?"

Masters insider: Rickie Fowler
PGA Tour player Rickie Fowler is making his Masters Tournament debut. Fowler won the PGA Tour rookie of the year award for 2010, and his campaign included two runner-up finishes.

Augusta National layout rated best
Golf Digest has confirmed what many players already knew: Augusta National Golf Club is the greatest golf course in America. Augusta National topped the magazine's list of the 100 greatest courses in the country.

Rounds with champions unveil strategy, power
One of the surprise success stories of 2011, Jhonattan (pronounced Jonathan) Vegas is the first golfer from Venezuela to compete in the Masters Tournament. Jhonny Vegas will share his rookie Masters experience with The Augusta Chronicle:

Europeans on cusp of world domination
Once upon a time in the 1980s and '90s, Augusta National Golf Club was a European playground. Will it be again? "We have got enough world class players now from Europe that we ought to be contending and winning more I guess," said Lee Westwood, No. 2 in a world ranking that currently counts five Europeans among the top six.

Neighbor sends McIlroy inside, but he comes out with first round lead
Four kids from Northern Ireland were tossing a football in the streets of a quiet Augusta neighborhood, until the cranky old neighbor yelled at them to keep it down.

An Interview With: Peter Uihlein

Furyk, Love are not feeling clock tick on Masters hopes
Is time running out for Jim Furyk and Davis Love III at the Masters Tournament? Are they getting impatient, knowing there might be more starts behind them than ahead of them? "That should never cross your mind," said Furyk, 40. "But I can't say that it hasn't."

For some, practice made pointless by soggy course, winds
Augusta National Golf Club is known for its fast greens, but on Tuesday players were fighting a different nemesis. A steady wind blew golfers and their shots around the course, causing many in the field of 99 to change their plans. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were among the golfers who bagged their practice rounds altogether.

An Interview With: Graeme McDowell

Former LPGA star recognized for charity work
Lorena Ochoa is still winning awards. They just aren't on the golf course, where she won 27 events, including two major championships in her short but brilliant career. Ochoa, the LPGA Tour star who retired from competitive golf at age 28 in late April 2010 to concentrate on her foundation helping impoverished children, received the Charlie Bartlett Award on Wednesday night.

An Interview With: Lee Westwood

Strong start still holds
Rory McIlroy knows he has to limit his mistakes to shoot a low score at Augusta National Golf Club.

Woods has no lack of confidence
Almost a year to the day after a much-ballyhooed Masters Tournament news conference at which a media ticket was required to enter the interview room, a much more relaxed Tiger Woods sat down for about a 20-minute media chat Tuesday. Much of the conversation focused on Woods' latest swing changes with his swing coach, Sean Foley.

Nicklaus, Palmer open 75th Masters
Arnold Palmer pumped his right fist in the air after striping his ceremonial tee shot down the left side of the fairway minutes ago. Jack Nicklaus followed with a blast down the middle. With 10 combined Masters Tournament titles between them, the two golf legends show they still have it.

After faltering in '09, Perry thinks about more than golf
Two years ago, Kenny Perry was one par away from the lifetime invitation that goes with winning the Masters Tournament. Now, he's not even in the field. "I had my shot and I blew it," Perry said at the Honda Classic in early March.

Golf trainer puts focus on mental game
If Dawn Grant can persuade Vijay Singh to believe he is the world's greatest putter, chances are she can help you with your golf game. Grant, who works with golfers through a combination of mental training and hypnotherapy, is in Augusta this week. She has worked with about a dozen players on the PGA and LPGA tours, including Cameron Beckman and Laura Diaz.

Vendors wait for sales as fans swarm to National
Most people come to Augusta during Masters Week to see golf. Freddie James came to sell barbecue sauce. James, a vendor from St. Louis, was set up this week across Washington Road from Augusta National Golf Club, offering Freddie Lee's Ghetto Sauce and something to eat with it.

Ga. business prospects enjoy Masters
Georgia's "soft sell" marketing program reached the Augusta National Golf Course this morning with 23 prospective economic development clients aboard its buses.

Storm lead to pimento panic attack
There was momentary panic for some patrons of Augusta National Golf Club as they arrived Tuesday. Shelves with one of the staples of the Masters experience, the pimento cheese sandwich, were empty.

Architect's work part of National
If you look closely around the grounds of Augusta National this week, you'll see several pieces of H. Lowrey Stulb's architecture. Along with the Eisenhower Cabin (also known as "Ike's Cabin"), Stulb designed the pro shop. He also designed one of the course's most famous landmarks, Sarazen Bridge.

An Interview With: Martin Kaymer

Masters chairman wants to make sport more accessible to youth
When the video game was complete, Billy Payne had to try it out.

Woods practices quietly; fans fawn over Mickelson
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson did plenty of talking Tuesday. They spent Wednesday walking. After making appearances in front of a microphone earlier in the week, the two Masters champions hit the course Wednesday, playing in front of patrons at Augusta National Golf Club for the first time this week.

Golfers share Tuesday on Twitter
The big storm that blew through Augusta early Tuesday morning also affected golfers in town for the Masters. Golfers tweeted as they practiced and prepared for Par-3 Contest and Champions Dinner -- and ate some Augusta cake.

Field breakdown
One line reviews of dozens of players' chances in the 2011 tournament.

No. 1 Kaymer wants to play past Round 2
There's never been so much uncertainty surrounding the world's No. 1-ranked player's ability to contend in the Masters Tournament as there is this year. Germany's 26-year-old Martin Kaymer, who is in his sixth consecutive week at No. 1, understands. He hasn't made a cut in three Masters appearances, and he is 12-over par for six rounds.

Atwal calm in first try
Coming off a morning practice round Wednesday, it was as if Arjun Atwal didn't have an entire country following his every move. Without dwelling on it, Atwal carries the weight of being the first Indian-born player to win on the PGA Tour, the second player from his country in the Masters Tournament and the reason many children in India have decided to pick up a golf club.

Where to go: Par 3 Tournament
Golfers get a chance to relax today before the 75th Masters commences Thursday. Since 1960, the Par-3 Contest has allowed players to have fun in a family-friendly atmosphere. Expect to see plenty of children serving as caddies, and for some children to get pulled out of the gallery to try a putt or two.

Donald takes on Par-3 challenge seriously, wins
Luke Donald came to the final hole of the Par-3 Contest with two options: hit a ball into the water or go for the win, knowing that no Par-3 winner has ever won the Masters Tournament in the same year. Donald is not superstitious. He made birdie and carded a 5-under-par 22, winning by one stroke over Raymond Floyd and Angel Cabrera.

At least 11 charged with ticket scalping
At least 11 people were charged with scalping Masters tickets Tuesday, a day after Richmond County sheriff's officers warned that they would no longer be issuing warnings for illegal ticket sales within 2,700 feet of Augusta National Golf Club.

What to expect: First round leaders
The Masters is famous for its roster of great champions. Though plenty of big names have done well in the opening round, there are a great many lesser-known golfers who have grabbed the spotlight on the first day.

Mickelson and Woods make final preparations
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson did plenty of talking Tuesday. They spent their Wednesday's doing more of the walking.

Field abuzz before start
There's something in the air at the 75th Masters Tournament, and it's not the pollen swirling around the pines. It's the feeling that something special is about to transpire over the next four days at Augusta National Golf Club.

Jackson poised for 50th Masters
It was at the 2001 Masters Tournament that Carl Jackson did the math and set his goal.

Golfers tweet about Wednesday practice
Wednesday is the last day of practice before tournament play. It's also the day of the Par-3 Contest, a Masters tradition. Golfers shared their perspectives through Twitter.

Mickelson steals Tiger's Augusta crown
There's been a changing of the guard at Augusta National Golf Club, but it's not what everyone thinks. With all eyes on a host of young players poised to supplant Tiger Woods as the next generation of green-jacketed superstar, an older gent has usurped the throne as Augusta's reigning untouchable. This is Phil Mickelson's tournament now. Check the betting line if you doubt that.

Where To Go: Honorary Starters
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus will start the 2011 Masters this morning as honorary starters. They are scheduled to hit the opening tee shots at 7:40 a.m. on the first tee. Gates are scheduled to open at 7:25 a.m.

Caddie sets record with 50th Masters
It was at the 2001 Masters Tournament that Carl Jackson did the math and set his goal. Jackson knew that if he continued caddying in the tournament for 10 more years, he would work his 50th Masters in 2011. And now it's here.

Langer's in town, but not to play
Two-time Masters Champion Bernhard Langer wanted to make history at this year's Masters Tournament, but he'll be sitting it out instead. The German golfer had surgery 10 days ago for a torn ligament in his left thumb, leaving him unable to compete. Langer was the special guest at an event at Mercedes-Benz on Washington Road on Tuesday.

An Interview With: Chairman Billy Payne

An Interview With: Phil Mickelson

92-year-old's golf tales date to first Masters, its founders
Not many people can say they saw Bobby Jones play in the inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament. Or that they dined with President Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie. Dan Yates can. The Atlanta native, 92, is one of the oldest Augusta National Golf Club members.

Chirkinian is remembered as pioneer of televised golf
Frank Chirkinian's 38th and final production of the Masters Tournament for CBS came in 1996. On Tuesday evening, the longtime CBS producer, who won multiple Emmy and Peabody awards, was honored by friends and family with a memorial celebration at West Lake Country Club.

Sustained charge carries Yang toward the top
Sitting about 240 yards away from the hole at 13, Y.E. Yang was thinking eagle.

An Interview With: Tiger Woods

Patrons applaud makeover of Gate 9
Augusta National introduced the newly renovated Gate 9 to Masters Tournament patrons this week. What used to serve as a parking lot is now a manicured pathway decorated with a pro shop and a checkpoint for bags.

An Interview With: Gary Player

Quick Quotes from The Big 3

What to Expect: State of the Masters
Billy Payne, the chairman of the Masters and Augusta National, will deliver his "State of the Masters" address at 11 a.m. today.

Payne seeks to make golf, Masters more accessible
Chairman Billy Payne talked about accessibility at his annual "State of the Masters" address the day before the tournament. He announced earlier in the week a new online ticketing system that would offer fans an opportunity to purchase a limited number of daily tournament tickets. The tournament already features a Junior Patron Program. Now a video game will try to attract more youths to golf.

An Interview With: Jack Nicklaus

National recovers from fierce storms
Masters Tournament spectators listened to the drone of chainsaws and chipper shredders Tuesday after a series of ferocious thunderstorms pummeled the Augusta area with high winds and lightning. At Augusta National Golf Club's famed Magnolia Lane, workers were out at dawn cutting up and removing one of the club's historic signature trees.

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