MASTERS NOTES
AUGUSTA – Lurking as a possible stunning winner of the Masters today is little-known Argentine Angel Cabrera, who sits just three shots off Tiger Woods’ lead entering the final round.
Cabrera, who was brought along in the game by fellow Argentine Eduardo Romero, actually looked like he’d carry the lead into the final round before be bogeyed No. 15 after putting his approach shot into the water, falling from 12-under to 10-under. He later bogeyed 18 to fall to 9-under.
“These are things that happen in golf,” said Cabrera, who won the Argentine Open last week for his first victory.
Ernie Els called Cabrera “a hell of a ball striker,” adding, “He hits the ball as long as anyone and has a beautiful touch around the greens, so he’s a very dangerous player.”
Speaking of dangerous, Mark Calcavecchia, who’s two shots behind Woods’ lead, has the Masters record for then lowest score on the back nine when he carded a 29 in his 1995 final round.
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There were no smiles, no appreciation for competing in the Masters yesterday for Jonathan Kaye, who shot a 2-over-par 74.
Kaye, playing with Franklin Langham, the former Augusta-area native who used to man the 16th scoreboard at Augusta National as a teenager, was steamed as he walked off the 18th yesterday after being put on the clock for slow play by tournament officials.
“I find that kind of appalling,” Kaye said. “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.”
Kaye qualified for the Masters by finishing 40th on the PGA Tour money list in 2000.
“I guarantee the last group [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. These are the toughest greens in the world and you can’t be rushed. You can’t play well if you’re being rushed.”
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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, four shots off the pace. Mediate, who’s made the cut in all five tries here, has finished no better than in a tie for 22nd. Yesterday’s round was his lowest by three shots.
Mediate, who had only 27 putts for the round yesterday, credited his putting for his success, saying, “I haven’t putt like this all year.”
One of the first on Tour to use the long putter (since 1990), Mediate said he used to hear “people making comments about it” since it was so unconventional.
“I said, ‘I’ve got to make as living.’ My comment was always, ‘Kiss my [butt].’ No one really bothered me after that, and then other guys started using it. It doesn’t matter how, it’s what makes you most comfortable. Now, when I miss [a putt] I’m shocked, while before I was shocked when I made one.
“I feel like no one knows more about the long putter than I do. For me, it’s the only way to do it. It’s easier on my back.”
Mediate enters today’s final round trying to exorcise demons from his past performances in majors. His best Masters finish was a tie for 22nd in 1991. His best U.S. Open finish was a tie for 25th in 1993. His best British Open finish was a tie for 18th in 1996. And his best finish in the PGA was a tie for 16th in 1991.
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The winner of this year’s Masters will earn a tournament record check of $1,008,000, though considering the circumstances, it might be more of an afterthought than any other million dollar purse in sports history.
Woods hardly needs it or cares compared to the prospect of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive professional Grand Slam. Nor do major championship-starved players such as Phil Mickelson, David Duval, DiMarco and Cacavecchia.
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Interesting stat No. 1: Greg Norman putted 30 times while shooting 82 on Friday; Woods putted 31 times while shooting 66. The difference: Norman, who missed the cut, hit only four greens in regulation while Woods hit 16 of 18 greens. Interesting stat No. 2: Mickelson has either birdied or eagled the 13th hole at Augusta in 27 of his 33 Masters. . . . Defending champ Vijay Singh’s out of the mix at 3-under after a 1-over 73 yesterday, meaning Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo will remain the only players ever to defend a Masters title.
