AUGUSTA – Well, at least he didn’t spit the bit.
Long Island’s Chris DiMarco, the unlikely Masters rookie who led after rounds one and two, yesterday went spikes-to-spikes with Tiger Woods, the best player in world, and didn’t flinch.
Well, not really.
DiMarco, who entered yesterday with a two-shot lead over Woods (10-under to 8-under) did, however, relinquish the lead as Woods shot 68 to his 72. Tiger enters today’s final round with a one-shot lead, with DiMarco two strokes behind.
“Of course I was nervous,” the likeable DiMarco said afterward. “Best player in the world. I’d never played with him. In the Masters. Sure I was nervous. I’m not going to lie to you and say I wasn’t.
“But it was fun, it really was.”
Impressively, DiMarco didn’t shoot himself out of the tournament by any means. He enters today’s final round two shots behind Woods and one shot behind Phil Mickelson.
And, best news yet, DiMarco will be paired with friend and fellow Florida Gators alum Mark Calcavecchia, who’s tied with him at 10-under.
DiMarco, who called Woods “great to play with, very cordial,” conceded that today’s pairing might suit his game a little more than yesterday’s.
Asked if it’s a blessing in disguise that he fell out of today’s final pairing with Woods because of Mickelson birdies on 17 and 18, DiMarco did nothing to deflect the question.
“Probably,” he straight shot. “Why not? Sure. I get to play with ‘Calc.’ He’s a Gator. I’m a Gator. We’ll be out there clawing together. ‘Calc’ is a free-going guy. He’ll be swinging for the fences. My goal is to be a little more aggressive on the par 5s (today).”
DiMarco looked as if he might slip into a free fall when he bogeyed the par-5 15th as Woods birdied it. It was a two-shot swing, with DiMarco falling to 10-under and Woods catapulting to 12-under.
But DiMarco responded by stamping a 7-iron inside of five feet from the pin on the par-3 16th, which he birdied to get back to 11-under.
“Sixteen was awesome,” said DiMarco, who was showered with a thundering ovation after the shot. “It told me, ‘Hey, let’s keep going.’ That’s what’s been great – almost every time I’ve made a bogey this week I’ve come back with a birdie.”
DiMarco seemed amused by Woods’ statements that he “plodded” through his round yesterday.
“He hits it so far, it’s literally par 68 for him,” DiMarco said. “Par 5s are just long par 4s for him. Two or three times he had sand wedges in his hand while I was hitting 7-iron. That’s why he’s so good, because he doesn’t look like he’s doing much and he still shoots 68.”
