By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer
April 8, 2010
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Two
old rivals swatted ceremonial tee shots Thursday to begin the Masters,
where all the focus was on a four-time winner trying to rebuild his
life.
Tiger Woods was playing for the first
time since a Thanksgiving night car wreck led to revelations of
numerous extramarital affairs.
Officials at
Augusta National insisted that no one player -- not even the world's
best embroiled in scandal -- would overshadow their tournament. For a
few moments, at least, that was the case as Jack Nicklaus joined Arnold
Palmer at the first tee.
"He dominated the
Masters like no one before or since," said club chairman Billy Payne.
"Please join me in welcoming back, Mr. Jack Nicklaus."
"Keep your eye on the ball," someone cracked as the Golden Bear went through a couple of practice swings.
The 70-year-old Nicklaus, a record six-time champion who last played at
the Masters in 2005, agreed to return this year to hit the opening
shots with Palmer. They both knocked it down the right side, just off
the fairway. Two security guards hustled out to pick up the balls.
"I hit a rookie tee shot," Nicklaus said with a smile. "I didn't put my
contacts in, so I had no idea where it went. As long as I didn't hear
it land, it's OK."
Now, time to begin the tournament for real.
Nathan Green, Heath Slocum and Louis Oosthuizen followed in the first
group. Woods was scheduled to tee off with K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar in
the next-to-last threesome at 1:42 p.m. EDT.
That will begin what figures to be one of the most scrutinized opening
rounds in golf history -- not a day for winning the tournament, but
surely a chance for Woods to show he's still an intimidating presence
on the course, if not the same man off it.
"The fact that I haven't really played at all, that's a little bit
concerning," Woods said early in the week. "I'm hoping I get my feel
back quickly, my feel for the game, my feel for shots, feel more how my
body is reacting and what my distances are going to be. I hope I get
that back, you know, relatively quickly. Maybe, hopefully, the first
hole. But if not, please hope it's the second hole."
Before he went out, Woods had to endure another critical assessment of his double life from Payne.
"It is simply not the degree of his conduct that is so egregious here,"
Payne said Wednesday in a surprisingly frank dressing-down of Woods at
the annual state of the Masters news conference. "It is the fact that
he disappointed all of us, and more importantly, our kids and our
grandkids. Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role
model we saw for our children."
They were
the strongest words from a Masters chairman since Hootie Johnson's
famous "point of a bayonet" reply to Martha Burk in the summer of 2002
when he defended the club's right to an all-male membership.
Payne was one of the Augusta National members who stood among the
Georgia pines to the right of the first fairway on Monday, the first
time Woods played before a gallery since being caught cheating on his
wife.
"Is there a way forward? I hope yes.
I think yes," Payne said. "But certainly, his future will never again
be measured only by his performance against par, but measured by the
sincerity of his efforts to change."
A few
hours after Payne spoke, Nike released a stark, black-and-white TV ad
that showed a solemn Woods, looking directly into the camera while the
voice of his father is heard, speaking about taking responsibility.
"Did you learn anything?" says Earl Woods, who died in 2006.
"I hope," Payne said, "he now realizes that every kid he passes on the
course wants his swing, but would settle for his smile."
Woods appeared to be as interested in his behavior as his performance
during the practice rounds. He was smiling more, making eye contact,
even signing autographs.
Payne declined to
discuss what type of security was in place, nor was he overly concerned
that the return of Woods might overshadow a tournament that attracts
the largest golf audience of the year.
"We
are very secure in who we are, and the Masters has almost now a 74-year
history," Payne said. "We just kind of do things our way. We are not
threatened by other big news stories or things like that."
Even so, there has been little attention on anything else this week.
Ernie Els, the only player with multiple PGA Tour victories this year,
was not invited to the media center for a pre-tournament interview.
Steve Stricker is No. 2 in the world, with four victories over the last
year putting him among the best players who have never won a major. He
was introduced at a news conference Tuesday as an eight-time PGA Tour
winner who has played on three Presidents Cup and one Ryder Cup team
and is making his 10th appearance in the Masters.
Anything missing?
"A major," he said. "Is that the way I'm supposed to answer that?"
There are four teenagers in the field, and three Italians, but only one
60-year-old. Most of the old champions have faded away, with Raymond
Floyd heading to the sideline two days before the start of the
tournament. The 67-year-old didn't even bother with a couple of
farewell rounds.
Not that anyone would have noticed.
This tournament is all about Woods, and the chance to start anew.
Payne certainly hopes he takes it.
"We at Augusta hope and pray that our great champion will begin his new
life here tomorrow in a positive, hopeful and constructive manner, but
this time, with a significant difference from the past," he said. "This
year, it will not be just for him, but for all of us who believe in
second chances."
