Tiger sets up camp in the Champions Locker
Room
By RON SIRAK / AP Golf Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Two years ago, Tiger Woods walked through
the Augusta National clubhouse, turned left and went up steep,
narrow stairs to the Crow's Nest, the cozy quarters where amateurs
stay during the Masters.
A year earlier, a teen-age Woods and fellow amateur Trip Kuehne
eased down those steps and sneaked into the Champions Locker Room
to take a look around.
This year, sneaking will not be necessary.
Woods will walk past the Crow's Nest stairs and into the private
Champion's Locker Room, where he will see "Tiger Woods"
engraved on a gold plate on the first locker on the left, right
above the name "Jack Burke Jr.," the 1956 champion.
"I've thought about it because actually I snuck in there
one night when I was in the Crow's Nest," Woods said. "Tripper
and I were just hanging out and we got bored and decided to walk
down there and check out the Champions Locker Room."
He was surprised to find a computer there, "you know,
with the average age being kind of old."
Woods brings down that average age.
At 22, Woods will be the youngest champion ever to walk into
the room where Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Davis Love III and Colin
Montgomerie can't go unless invited.
With his Masters victory, Woods gained not only one of the
most coveted titles in golf but also access to an exclusive club
with benefits for the rest of his life.
Don't underestimate how much it means to players to win the
Masters.
"If there was one tournament Greg Norman could pick to
win, it would be the Masters without a doubt," said a confidante
of Norman's who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"It kills him that he can't go into the Champions' Locker
Room. It kills him that he can't go to the Champions' Dinner.
It kills him that (Nick) Faldo can play in the Masters for the
rest of his life and he can't."
"It kills him that he does not have a green jacket."
In his first try as a professional, Woods joined a group including
Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen
who have worn the green Masters champion jacket.
When the tournament begins Thursday, Woods will try and join
an even more exclusive group. Only Nicklaus in 1965-66 and Faldo
in 1989-90 have won consecutive Masters.
"This year will be different in the fact that the big
spotlight will be on me," Woods said. "It was on me
last year but I think the intensity ... will be a little more
than it was last year."
That's because of what Woods accomplished at Augusta -- winning
by a record 12 strokes at a record 18-under-par and doing it all
on a course that for years symbolized racial separation in golf.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in there and do
it again," said Nicklaus, who thinks Woods could win 10 Masters,
surpassing the record six he won.
Despite not having won on the PGA Tour this year, Woods is
playing better than he did last year. Certainly, he is more consistent.
"It's all a maturing process," his coach, Butch Harmon,
said. "He is so much more patient, so much more mature than
last year. And he is only going to get better."
Topping last year will be difficult. After opening with a 40
on the first nine, Woods played the next 63 holes 22-under-par.
He never had a three-putt on the dangerous Augusta greens in 72
holes.
"That was because of how well he placed his iron shots,"
Harmon said.
The one difference over last year is that Woods will take no
one by surprise. Not only do the best players believe how good
Woods is, most have responded by raising the level of their own
games.
Ernie Els, in particular, appears to relish his rivalry. At
28, Els already has two U.S. Open championships and he and Woods
are virtually deadlocked for No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings.
"I feel like my game is there," Els said.
The silky smooth South African, known as The Big Easy for his
fluid swing, also is playing with more intensity than ever.
"I just have to keep it going," said Els, who is
among the many players who started exercise programs to get fit
enough to meet the Tiger challenge.
"This is the best I've played going into Augusta,"
he said.
Woods also will have to worry about Love, the PGA Championship
winner; British Open champion Justin Leonard; Montgomerie, who
is seeking his first major championship, and the under-30 crowd
of Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and David Duval.
"It's good to go into Augusta with some confidence,"
Leonard said after coming from five strokes back in the final
round to win The Players Championship. "That place can eat
your lunch."
A compelling dark horse is John Daly, whose length and delicate
short game is a perfect match for Augusta. Daly didn't even see
last year's tournament on television since there were no sets
at his alcohol rehabilitation center.
Daly is playing the most consistent golf of his career. Asked
if he could beat Woods at Augusta, Daly said: "It's hard
enough just to beat Augusta."
Two question marks are Faldo and Norman, who crossed paths
here in 1996 when the Englishman overcame a six-stroke deficit
to catch the Australian on Sunday.
While Norman never has won a major championship in the United
States, Faldo is looking for a seventh major professional title
that would tie him with Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer,
Bobby Jones and Harry Vardon.
"I don't think of wanting a seventh major," Faldo
said. "I think of wanting another major."
The way Faldo has putted for nearly two years, he would appear
to be an illogical choice on the slick greens of Augusta. But
he plays with such concentration, it would not be surprising if
he raised his play for just that one week.
Certainly, if Faldo is anywhere near the lead on Sunday, he
is as dangerous as anyone in the field. Just ask Norman.
Norman comes into the Masters with only 17-1/2 competitive
rounds this year, and only six rounds on the PGA Tour.
But all of those challengers for Woods' Masters title will
have one advantage this week: All eyes -- and all the pressure
-- will be on him.
That could mean someone else will sneak off with the green
jacket.
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