In Masters, Tiger will try Tiger
By Jack Saylor / Knight Ridder Newspapers
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Superman has returned to Augusta National to
see whether he missed any records a year ago, when he terrorized
the course and field in his runaway Masters victory.
And guess what?
Tiger Woods thinks he can do better.
It seems almost unfathomable that the 22-year-old wunderkind
could improve on his 1997 performance, in which he:
Played 72 holes on greens as slick as Mt. McKinley and didn't
three-putt one time.
Averaged 323 yards of driving distance.
Made only seven bogeys.
Missed no putt under 10 feet.
Shot 18-under 270 -- after playing his first nine holes in
four-over 40.
Beat an elite, international field by 12 shots, setting 20
tournament records along the way.
"I was really frustrated because I made three really bad
shots that led to bogeys on the front," Woods said Tuesday.
"Throw in a loose bogey and you have the 40. Then I had three
or four more chances to make birdies coming down the stretch.
"I definitely think 18 under can be broken. Guys are just
better athletes, better players. The equipment helps. I know records
are meant to be broken, and that one will fall. It's just a matter
of time."
After shooting the front-nine 40, El Tigre was perfection in
his first Masters appearance as a professional. He shot 30 on
the back to salvage an opening 70 -- and got only better.
Everyone points to the way he overwhelmed the par-five holes,
playing the collective 16 in 13 under par. But there are other
little things to look at, such as: (a) he played only three sand
shots all week; (b) he didn't make a bogey all week on the frequently
terrifying back nine; and (c) he played Amen Corner in seven under
par.
"He had a dream week," said Ernie Els, the 28-year-old
South African who is second to Woods in the world rankings.
So how good can it get?
Woods shrugs, but he points to reasons he's better this year.
"I feel I'm hitting the ball much more consistent than
I did last year," Woods said. "I feel pretty good. My
game's coming around and I feel more comfortable every day. Overall,
it's all a better package this year."
Woods was relaxed, loose and confident as he parried questions
from the press Tuesday.
"I'm close to playing real good golf," said Woods,
who hasn't won in this country this year but has four top-10 finishes
in six events. "My last six scores are par or over so you
might think I'm struggling, but I'm not. I'm still low-stroke
average on tour (69.81), so that says a lot."
Nothing dramatic was done to make Augusta National tougher
after Woods' record score. It's essentially the same track it
always has been.
A few more trees at the dogleg on the par-five 13th are designed
to prevent bailing out right, and three greens have been altered
to provide new pin positions. But this is mere tweaking that occurs
annually at Augusta.
Woods' opposition? Basically the same.
Asked who the major competition was in the Masters, veteran
Tom Watson quipped: "We've got to beat Ernie Woods."
Tiger and two-time U.S. Open champion Els generally are rated
a notch above the rest, but Els pooh-poohs efforts to create a
Hogan-Snead or Palmer-Nicklaus type of rivalry.
"I don't think there's too much to speak of right now,"
Els said. "It will only come if we can play well together
in major championships. When you go toe-to-toe in majors, that's
when you can talk rivalry.
"I lost to him in the Johnny Walker in Thailand when I
played badly on the weekend. Then at Bay Hill, he played poorly
on Sunday and I played well and won.
"Maybe this is the start, but we're only two of 20 or
so really good young players out there, so we'll just see how
we go."
Indeed, the twentysomething stars -- Woods, Els, Justin Leonard,
David Duval, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk -- are now joined by
Lee Westwood, a 24-year-old British Ryder Cup standout who burst
into U.S. prominence by winning Sunday at New Orleans.
And it would be unwise to write off some of their elders, such
as Tom Lehman, Davis Love, Nick Faldo, John Daly, Tom Kite, Tom
Watson and Greg Norman.
But Woods exudes confidence.
"This year it should be easier because I've been here,
I know what it takes," he said. "As the years go on,
it'll get even easier as I learn all the nuances of the golf course."
Els provides the biggest factor: Tiger's prodigious length.
"Where my ball finishes, that's where his ball lands,"
Els said. "A guy like Tiger can play this course aggressively
all the time because he's hitting short irons into almost every
hole. So he's in a different situation than myself and the rest
of the field."
But it's just talk until Thursday.
"It's up for grabs," Woods said. "We're all
at even par."
DIVOT DIGGINGS:
Loren Roberts, who suffered a broken rib while sneezing last
week, made his Masters withdrawal official. . . . Tuesday was
officially Jack Nicklaus Day at Augusta National to celebrate
the Golden Bear's 40th Masters. A plaque was dedicated to honor
Nicklaus. . . .
Fuzzy Zoeller warmed up for Tuesday night's Champions Dinner
by nailing a hole-in-one at the 180-yard sixth hole.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE:
Woods, on Nicklaus' salute for his 40th Masters: "I can't
fathom being that old."
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(c) 1998, Detroit Free Press.
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