NOTEBOOK

AUGUSTA – Smiles and an appreciation for competing in the Masters were absent for Jonathan Kaye, who shot a 2-over-par 74 yesterday.

Kaye, playing with Franklin Langham, the former Augusta-area native who used to man the 16th scoreboard at Augusta National as a teen-ager, was steamed as he walked off the 18th yesterday after being put on the clock for slow play by tournament officials.

“It was pretty fun until today when we got timed out there on the course,” Kaye said. “I find that kind of appalling. You’re playing in your first Masters, the wind starts blowing and you can’t possibly take one look on these greens and expect to play [quickly].

“We finished in the exact time we were supposed to (3 hours, 46 minutes) and yet we were rushed around the whole golf course just because we had one bad hole (No. 5, where Kaye double bogeyed and Langham bogeyed) and fell behind for a second. We were running around like chickens with our heads cut off. That’s not too enjoyable.

“I played in the U.S. Open last year and they didn’t worry about pace of play out there. I got to the third hole and had to wait an hour and 15 minutes to hit my next shot.

Kaye qualified for the Masters by finishing 40th on the PGA Tour money list in 2000.

“I guarantee the last group [Tiger woods and Chris DiMarco] won’t be timed,” said Langham, who shot 75 yesterday. “Being timed all day left a sour taste in our mouths.”

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Rocco Mediate made an impressive move yesterday, carding a 6-under 66 to move to 8-under entering today’s final round. Mediate, who’s made the cut in all five tries here, has finished no better than tied for 22nd. Yesterday’s round was his lowest by three shots.

Mediate, who uses a long putter, had only 27 putts for the round yesterday. “I haven’t putt like this all year,” he said.