AUGUSTA, Ga. — If Martin Kaymer had to play Augusta National every week, his No. 1 world ranking might turn into No. 1,000.
Kaymer, who has been No. 1 in the world for a little more than six weeks, would appear to be vacating that position unless he can reverse his fortunes at Augusta.
After missing the cut at his first three Masters, Kaymer shot a 6-over-par 78 yesterday, and barring a major turnaround he appears to be headed toward a fourth missed cut.
After the round, Kaymer sounded utterly perplexed.
“I think that I don’t really know how to play the golf course,” Kaymer said. “I can think about it for another hour or two hours and I just don’t really find a solution. Maybe I’ve got to sit down with [fellow German and former Masters winner] Bernhard Langer later and ask him. He won here twice.”
Kaymer is now a combined 18-over par in his seven rounds at Augusta.
“Every day that I’ve played here has been a tough day so far,” he said. “It’s disappointing because there are just some golf courses that suit you and some that just don’t. It’s just a shame that, obviously this is such a huge tournament here, and if it doesn’t suit your eye and you know it . . . it’s a little frustrating.”
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CBS analyst Peter Kostis yesterday recalled his awkward on-air interview with Tiger Woods after Woods finished tied for fourth last year.
Woods was outwardly rude and condescending to Kostis in the post-tournament interview.
“I tried to ask open-ended questions that would give him an opportunity to go wherever he wanted to go with his answers,” Kostis told Golf Digest’s John Huggan. “He chose, in my opinion, incorrectly. I first asked him to put the week in perspective. . . . He was angry because he hadn’t won.
“Maybe if the interview had taken place 20 minutes later after he had had a chance to calm down, I would have gotten different answers. But I think it would have been appropriate for him to say the fans were great, that Augusta National is wonderful and that the Masters is his favorite tournament and that he did his best. Whatever.”
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Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, who combined to win 10 green jackets (Nicklaus six and Palmer four), hit the ceremonial first tee shots.
“I guess it’s still kind of fun to lop it off the first tee and be part of a great event,” Nicklaus said. “People enjoy it. It’s Augusta’s way of honoring its past champions and people such as Arnold and myself. It’s really quite nice they allow us to do this.”
The 81-year-old Palmer hit his shot to the base of the hill in the fairway then Nicklaus outdrove him by about 30 yards.
The two iconic players combined to play in a total of 108 Masters. The honorary starter tradition has been in place has been in place since 1963. Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead and Byron Nelson once were the honorary starters.
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Nathan Smith, an investment advisor from the Pittsburgh area playing in his third Masters as the U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, shot a 75 that was highlighted when he his approach shot on No. 18 landed in a spectator’s lap.
“It was kind of like a ‘Happy Gilmore’ situation,” Smith said. “I gave him the ball and he gave me the beer, so that was good.”
Not as good as Smith getting up and down to save par on the hole.
This is Smith’s third Masters. In his first in 2004, he was paired with Palmer in Palmer’s final competitive Masters.
“The first time is a blur,” he said. “You blink your eyes and the week goes by. You’re kind of in awe, floating around. This time at least I know what I’m supposed to be doing. I had a 75 today, which was pretty solid and gives me somewhat of a chance to make the cut.”
Smith missed the cut in his first two Masters.
