MASTERS NOTEBOOK

AUGUSTA – It was a magical day for Spain yesterday at Augusta National.

While Jose Maria Olazabal was winning his second Green Jacket, ballyhooed fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia shot a 73 and became the first foreign player to win low amateur honors at the Masters.

“That’s something for your first Masters,” said Garcia, who finished with a four-round total of 7-over 295. “[With] Jose Maria, it is a great thing for Spain. I learned to be patient and wait for the right time at this tournament.

“This tournament has been great for my career. I’m pretty happy. I shot 73 and it felt like a 69.”

Fellow amateur Tom McKnight, who shot 9-over, said of Garcia, “He has a lot of savvy. He has instinct you don’t teach.” McKnight defeated Garcia in the semifinals of last year’s U.S. Amateur.

Asked about turning pro, Garcia said, “I’ll speak with my family and we will discuss what I’ll do.”

Last year’s low amateur, Matt Kuchar, closed with a 78 to finish 11-over. There were players complaining about the treacherous course conditions yesterday that had players scuffling to stay at even par.

“It is a chamber of horrors,” said Tom Lehman, who shot 75 to finish the tournament at 5-over. “It is beyond tough. The golf course definitely won this week. I have to give it credit. No. 14 is nearly impossible and 17 is really tough. The 17th green is like concrete.”

Said Ian Woosnam of the greens, “They obviously didn’t put any water on them [Saturday] night. It’s so fiery out there it’s unbelievable.”