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An Interview With: Rory McIlroy
England's Fisher cards a relaxed 69
Days before one of the biggest tournaments of the year, Ross Fisher knew how to take it slow. He did so with a game controller in hand, two childhood friends by his side and the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters video game on the screen.
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.
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.
Journal: Excitement of Masters made for a fun round
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.
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 sit atop leaderboard
The international flags over the main leaderboard at Augusta National Golf Club are flying proudly after one day of the 75th Masters Tournament. On the 50th anniversary of the event's first international champion, Thursday's opening round was truly a global affair. Nine international players are among the 13 players in the top 10, including the top four.
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.
Byrds feel absence of late father
There was high emotion inside and outside the ropes Thursday as former Clemson golfer Jonathan Byrd played his first Masters Tournament round without his father in the gallery. Jim Byrd, who loved to watch his son play in the Masters, died in July 2009 at age 65.
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.
Putts hold Woods back
Long putts rolled close but rarely went in for Tiger Woods on Thursday. Still, the four-time Masters Tournament champion finished his opening round with 1-under 71 and a smile on his face. "I'm very pleased," he said. "I'm right there in the ball game. I'm only six back, and, like I said, we have a lot of golf ahead of us."
Villegas shows consistency
Camilo Villegas picked a great time to grind out one of his best rounds of the year.
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.
Kuchar steals limelight from top-ranked partners
Matt Kuchar was one of the American standard-bearers in the first round of the Masters Tournament. The St. Simons Island, Ga., resident was one shot off the lead with three holes to play and settled for a tie for fifth with 4-under-par 68, his best 18-hole score at Augusta National Golf Club as a professional. He is tied with American Ricky Barnes.
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.
Strong starts jumble leaderboard
Several golfers, including current co-leader, K.J. Choi used good starts on the back nine to make moves up the leaderboard. Among those making moves are 1992 Masters Tournament champ Fred Couples, who shot a 3-under 33 on the front nine. A birdie on No. 12 has him at 5-under par, three shots off the lead shared by Choi and Avaro Quiros.
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.
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.
New breed of golfers are bigger, more athletic
It was perhaps inevitable, but these guys out here are playing a game even Tiger Woods is not familiar with.
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.
Golfers focus on giving Japan reason to cheer
The hearts of the foursome from Japan were already heavy coming into the Masters Tournament. They hoped to use one of golf's biggest stages to uplift an earthquake-devastated country. Then came Thursday's jolt, forcing Ryo Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Fujita, Hideki Matsuyama and Yuta Ikeda to confront more bad news from the homefront.
Sustained charge carries Yang toward the top
Sitting about 240 yards away from the hole at 13, Y.E. Yang was thinking eagle.
Chinese group thrilled to experience Masters
They flew more than 8,000 miles and took time away from work and family just to walk across the grounds. Nine Chinese residents made the pilgrimage to Augusta this year through a contest exclusively for Mercedes-Benz owners.
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.
An Interview With: Rory McIlroy
Strong start still holds
Rory McIlroy knows he has to limit his mistakes to shoot a low score at Augusta National Golf Club.
First round facts
Alvaro Quiros led the field with eight birdies, one more than co-leader Rory McIlroy, en route to shooting 7-under 65 and earning a share of a two-shot lead. A look at other first-round leads at the Masters.
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.
An Interview With: Tiger Woods
Villegas shows consistency
Camilo Villegas picked a great time to grind out one of his best rounds of the year.
Koreans Yang, Choi take different paths to 67s
After a spectacular eagle on 13, Y.E. Yang used consecutive birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to move into a first-place tie with Rory McIlroy at 7-under before he bogeyed the last two holes to fall two shots back of McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros with 5-under 67.
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.
Korea's Y.E. Yang ends day where he starts it
Y.E. Yang climbed to the top of the leaderboard at the Masters Tournament early Friday with a furry of birdies, but back-nine bogeys ended his day right where he started it.
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.
Disqualification rule tweaked for technology
With cutting-edge technology allowing television viewers to scrutinize every player's shot -- and any potential rules violation -- golf's power brokers came together to announce a change that went into effect Thursday morning before the first round of the Masters Tournament.
Field breakdown
One line reviews of dozens of players' chances in the 2011 tournament.
Where to go: Amen Corner
There's no better place to soak up the atmosphere of the Masters than the spot where Nos. 11, 12 and 13 meet.
Pick 5
Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood, Nick Watney, Luke Donald and Tiger Woods are among sports columnist Scott Michaux's five top picks.
Amateurs deal with reality of Masters dream
Any pressure Lion Kim felt Thursday as an amateur in his first Masters Tournament was all relative. The University of Michigan senior, due to graduate in about six weeks, has a lot of work waiting for him back in Ann Arbor. "I'm missing about three exams and three papers," said Kim, 22. "It's going to be a terrible week once I get back."
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.
Ike's golf clubs being sold at auction today
A set of golf clubs used by Dwight D. Eisenhower sat abandoned in a shed behind an Augusta home for years.
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.
McIlroy leads pack
Rory McIlroy, with his second-round 69, leads by two shots after 36 holes of the Masters. The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland sits at 10-under-par and will be in Saturday's final pairing with 23-year-old Jason Day, who shot the day's low round, an 8-under-par 64. Day is alone in second at 8-under.
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.
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.
What to expect: Making the cut
Getting to the Masters is quite an accomplishment. Making it to the weekend is even more impressive. The field will be cut to the low 44 players and ties after today's second round. Anyone within 10 shots of the lead also makes it.
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.
Junior patron of the day
Catherine Senne, of Conyers, Ga., is visiting the Masters for the second time.
What they're writing
The Super Bowl has evolved from a funky little football game to a national carnival featuring $1,200 seats.
McIlroy in control at Masters
Rory McIlroy has taken control of the Masters Tournament leaderboard as the second round at Augusta National Golf Club winds down this afternoon.
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.
Golfers share Round 1 reaction
As the first day of tournament play began, golfers expressed their excitement for the day and their thoughts for Japan. Then they put down their smartphones and picked up their clubs.
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?"
South Africa's Schwartzel jumps into contention
With one successful eagle chip on the par-5 eighth hole Thursday, Charl Schwartzel pushed himself into the thick of the Masters Tournament race. After a solid drive, Schwartzel went for the green with his second shot on the 570-yard hole and fell a yard shy of the green. He cashed in the eagle to move to 4-under.
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.
Crenshaw, fans celebrate caddie's 50th Masters
Ben Crenshaw and Carl Jackson didn't exchange any words on the first tee about what was going to happen Thursday morning. They didn't have to. "We know what it is," Crenshaw said. That would be the 64-year-old Jackson's record-extending 50th Masters Tournament as a caddie. Jackson caddied his first Masters in 1961 at age 14 for Billy Burke and has missed just one year -- 2000 -- when he was recovering from cancer.
Media Picks
We polled media members from across Augusta and around the world to see who their picks were for 2011 Masters champion.
In the field
A relaxed attitude can go a long way on the course, and it helped Brandt Snedeker post 3-under-par 69 in his fourth Masters Tournament appearance. With three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year, the 30-year-old Vanderbilt product came to Augusta with confidence. It showed Thursday on the back nine when he birdied Nos. 13, 14 and 15 to finish the first round tied for seventh.
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.
'El Nino' appears to be getting his second wind
Of all the international faces that surfaced atop the first round of the Masters Tournament, perhaps none was a more welcome sight than the man formerly known as "El Nino."
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.
Goosen's hot start derailed by bogeys
Retief Goosen jumped to the lead of the Masters Tournament early Thursday when his ball dove into the cup on the first hole for an eagle. After a birdie on the par-5 15th, only Rory McIlroy stood between the two-time U.S. Open winner and the top. But Goosen stumbled down the stretch, bogeying the last three holes to card 70 -- five shots off the pace.
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.
Ike's golf clubs being sold at auction today
A set of golf clubs used by Dwight D. Eisenhower sat abandoned in a shed behind an Augusta home for years.
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.
McIlroy finds his footing on front nine
Rory McIlroy, the 21-year-old phenom who posted three third-place finishes in his past five majors, came to Augusta fresh off an extended holiday playing golf with his mates to shoot an opening 65 on Thursday, tying Spaniard Alvaro Quiros for the first-round lead.
An Interview With: Chairman Billy Payne
Villegas' struggles gone during round
Camilo Villegas picked a great time to grind out one of his best rounds of the year. The 2011 season could hardly have started more poorly for the 29-year-old Colombian, who has a disqualification, a withdrawal and three missed cuts in nine PGA Tour events. He used a hot streak in the middle of his second nine in Thursday's opening round to finish with 2-under 70 -- tied for his third-best round this year.
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.
Lefty's accuracy lacking
Phil Mickelson walked off the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday and headed straight to the driving range. He had just made his only bogey of the day, giving him a 2-under-par 70. The three-time and defending Masters Tournament champion finished his first round five shots off the lead.
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.
75th playing starts with legends
Arnold Palmer pumped his right fist in the air after striping his ceremonial tee shot down the left side of the fairway. Jack Nicklaus followed with a blast down the middle. With 10 Masters Tournament titles between them, the two golf legends showed Thursday morning that they still have 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.
Fans corner
Even to a group of Auburn University students, some things can be better than football. "You can always go to an SEC football game, but this is something special," said Stege Wheeler, 22, about his first Masters Tournament.
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.
McIlroy leads pack
Rory McIlroy, with his second-round 69, leads by two shots after 36 holes of the Masters. The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland sits at 10-under-par and will be in Saturday's final pairing with 23-year-old Jason Day, who shot the day's low round, an 8-under-par 64. Day is alone in second at 8-under.
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.
New breed of golfers are bigger, more athletic
It was perhaps inevitable, but these guys out here are playing a game even Tiger Woods is not familiar with.
Sustained charge carries Yang toward the top
Sitting about 240 yards away from the hole at 13, Y.E. Yang was thinking eagle.
3rd time's charm for co-leader Quiros of Spain
Alvaro Quiros has just two thoughts entering today. First, he plans to hit driver on the opening hole. Second, he wants to make the cut. Both of those are doable, considering the Spaniard's career round at the Masters Tournament. Quiros birdied three of the final four holes Thursday to match Rory McIlroy atop the leaderboard with an opening 7-under 65.
Player notes
Tim Clark 's right elbow is hurting -- to the point that his status for tournament golf is day to day.
Greens not easy targets at National
It's one of the most difficult feats to accomplish in a Masters Tournament round: Hit all 18 of the slick and undulating greens at Augusta National Golf Club in regulation. "It is hard to do," said Jim Furyk, who hit every green in the first round of the 2009 Masters. "That doesn't happen very often here." No one hit every green in regulation in Thursday's first round of the 75th Masters. Heath Slocum came the closest with 16.
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.
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."
An Interview With: Tiger Woods
McIlroy in control at Masters
Rory McIlroy has taken control of the Masters Tournament leaderboard as the second round at Augusta National Golf Club winds down this afternoon.
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.
Korea's Y.E. Yang ends day where he starts it
Y.E. Yang climbed to the top of the leaderboard at the Masters Tournament early Friday with a furry of birdies, but back-nine bogeys ended his day right where he started it.
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.
Strong starts jumble leaderboard
Several golfers, including current co-leader, K.J. Choi used good starts on the back nine to make moves up the leaderboard. Among those making moves are 1992 Masters Tournament champ Fred Couples, who shot a 3-under 33 on the front nine. A birdie on No. 12 has him at 5-under par, three shots off the lead shared by Choi and Avaro Quiros.
Topeka's Woodland leads Masters newcomers
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Gary Woodland was the last of 20 newcomers to hit a shot Thursday in the first round of the Masters. The Topeka golfer was also the best finisher among that group, carding a 3-under 69 at Augusta National.
Woodland rallies late to finish at 3 under
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The walk from the practice green to the No. 1 tee box at Augusta National is not altogether long. Enough paces exist, however, to get the stomach bubbling. Gary Woodland, however, insists the nerves he felt playing in his first Masters did not churn Thursday until he noticed the short stroll was lengthening.
Masters Insider: Hideki Matsuyama
Hideki Matsuyama won the Asian Amateur to earn his first invitation to the Masters.
No other Web site provides more coverage of the Masters and the city of Augusta, Ga.