Ryder Cup captain Kite says Augusta too easy
for Woods
By DENNE H. FREEMAN
AP Sports Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - America's Ryder Cup captain Tom Kite struggled
for a a phrase to describe the play of Tiger Woods. He finally
settled on "Fantastic."
"He is doing some incredible stuff," said Kite, who
is happy Woods will be on his side in Spain this September against
Europe's best.
"He is doing some incredible stuff," Kite said. "He's
not 21 years old on the golf course. He's the next generation."
Kite, who had a brilliant 6-under-par 66 Saturday but was edged
for the day's best round by Woods' 65, said: "Tiger has leapfrogged
the field in distance. Maybe Augusta National will have to do
something to make the course harder."
HEART OF A LION: Tom Watson, who has won every major except
the PGA, knows something about golf courage.
He gives Tiger Woods an A-plus for grit.
"He's got the heart of a lion," Watson said."He
has what it takes to dominate a field. He has proven he is a winner.
He may be the type of player who comes along once in a millenium."
Watson was 4-under with a fine 3-under-par 69, 11 shots behind
Woods.
FALDO FRUSTRATION: Defending champion Nick Faldo didn't make
the cut but will be around Sunday to pass the green jacket along
to the next champion.
His instructor, David Leadbetter, said Faldo then will have
to make a serious decision about changing his putter, which let
him down.
"Nick is hitting the ball as good as he has ever hit it
but he's lost his confidence with his putter. His biggest goals
this year were to win the U.S. Open and the PGA, the two majors
he has yet to win. But he must start making the three- or four-footers
again. That's how you win majors."
ROCCA'S GAME PLAN: Italian Costantino Rocca will be trailing
Tiger Woods by nine shots on Sunday and doesn't have much of a
game plan to overtake the leader.
"I think it's too far," Rocca said. "Maybe if
I play nine holes, maybe."
Rocca played in the same group with Woods at the 1996 U.S.
Open when the American was an amateur.
Rocca's last chance at winning a major title came at the 1995
British Open when he made a 90-foot putt to tie John Daly, then
lost in a playoff.
DIVOTS: Woods' nine-shot lead after 54 holes is the largest
in Masters history. Ray Floyd had an eight- shot lead in 1976,
Seve Ballesteros was ahead by seven in 1980, and Greg Norman had
a six shot lead in 1996 before withering under Nick Faldo's charge.
... How good was Woods' 7-under-par 65? The field averaged 72.239
at Augusta National. ... Woods prepared for his 65 by eating a
hamburger and fries Friday night. Then for entertainment he played
pingpong and computer games. ... His coat size 42 long. ... The
U.S. Weather Bureau predicted an almost 100 percent chance for
rain Saturday afternoon. It rained early in the morning but the
afternoon rains never game.
|
