Friday, October 11, 2013

LPGA: Lewis' No. 1 ranking on line at season's first major


LPGA: Lewis' No. 1 ranking on line at season's first major










The Sports Xchange April 3, 2013 10:40 AMThe SportsXchange



Stacy Lewis enters a major championship as the No. 1 player in the world for the first time this week. It just so happens to be at the site of her first major title - the Kraft Nabisco Championship at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where she won in 2010.

Lewis will tee off at 8:22 a.m. on Thursday in a group with South Korea's I.K. Kim, who finished second in the first major of the season last year when she lost a one-hole playoff to Sun Young Yoo. Lewis has a pair of victories already this season, but her grip on the top spot in the world is tenuous with former No. 1 Yani Tseng less than a point behind and Na Yeon Choi and Inbee Park not far behind.

Tseng and Choi have an opportunity to unseat Lewis this week - Tseng with a victory and Choi if she wins and Lewis finishes fourth or lower.

"Well, I think the first question I was asked when I became No. 1 is, 'How long are you going to stay there?' I can't even think about that," said Lewis. "There are so many things that I can't control. I can't control how Yani plays, how Inbee Park plays. If they go out and play better than me, then I lose the No. 1 ranking. If I go out there and take care of myself, I'll be at that No. 1 ranking."

Yoo begins her title defense having missed two cuts in the United States already this season. Meanwhile, Kim said she has learned from the experience of watching her putt on the playoff hole agonizingly lip out.

"I learned a lot," said Kim. "I think last year was big turning point of my life of learning and what's really important. It just gave me different view of it.

"Well, so, look back, it was tough to handle at first, but I think it's important not only to the viewers and the people, but to let other people, younger generation, to know that it's not always going to be glorious and like victory."

Paula Creamer enters the week ranked No. 10 in the world, and said the depth of the tour and the style of the Mission Hills Country Club gives a slew of players an opportunity to be in contention come Sunday.

"It's a tournament where you can be right out in the lead the first couple days, and when the weekend hits you never see the leader," said Creamer.

"It's a golf course that really doesn't fit one person's game. You can be long, and some of the holes it doesn't really matter. I think it's more about your short irons. You're obviously making putts, things like that, but it's harder to say five players that are going to be in contention just because of the way the golf course is."

The opening two rounds features several interesting pairings. Tseng will play with Jiyai Shin, who won the season-opening event in Australia, while Creamer is paired with fellow American Brittany Lang. Choi will play with Norway's Suzann Pettersen, and Park will be with rising American Jessica Korda.

Another interesting pairing features Michelle Wie, who has struggled mightily thus far this season, with Lydia Ko, an up-and-coming amateur star from New Zealand who was in contention throughout the Australian Open.

Three-time Kraft Nabisco champion Annika Sorenstam agreed to host this week's pro-am, as LPGA commissioner Mike Whan has made a point of emphasizing the importance the tournament's tradition plays for the LPGA. And there is no image that resonates more on the tour than the tradition of the Kraft Nabisco champion jumping into Poppie's Pong along with her caddie.

"I think every player loves the major championships," said Sorenstam. "There's something special about it, especially an event like this that's been going on for over 40 years. There is so much tradition. We are in the same venue, which makes it even more special. It's kind of like the Masters. We all come here and remember shots that the champions have hit. We remember the famous leaps into Poppie's Pond.

"It's the history I think that means a lot. You look at the trophy, at the paths on the 18th and you see all the names of the players that we all look up to and that we all try to copy one way or another. I think it's very, very special."

Players admit the potential leap into Poppie's Pond creep's into their mind - as much for style as what it means to win the first major of the season.

"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but obviously it's very easy to think about it," said Creamer. "You talk about it every day. I don't think I would be very graceful. I think I would go for a cannonball. That would be a great moment. Hopefully that will come one day."

PGA REACH: Improving lives through golf


PGA REACH: Improving lives through golf











PGA.COM April 3, 2013 1:59 PM

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What is PGA REACH -- "Beyond 18"? St. Louis and Bellerive Country Club are honored to be hosting the 74th 2013 Senior PGA Championship in May, 2013, and the 100th playing of the PGA Championship in 2018. In conjunction with these Championships, a community-wide initiative -- PGA REACH - has been created. Through this initiative the PGA of America, the Gateway PGA Foundation, and the St. Louis golfing community will combine their strengths and resources to effect meaningful change and improve lives in the St. Louis area through the game of golf. Our program will secure, support, and extend the REACH of local organizations that help keep kids in school so their health, wellness, and career prospects are improved now, and Beyond 18 years old.


Is PGA REACH just a St. Louis local initiative? PGA REACH was created and developed here in St. Louis by a coalition of members from Bellerive Country Club, and the Board and leadership of the PGA Gateway Foundation. Since its founding here, the PGA of America has decided to adopt this program as a national program, and a similar PGA REACH program will be affiliated with each one of their future Championships throughout the country.

What are the Goals of PGA REACH?PGA REACH intends to measurably improve and advance opportunities for St. Louis area youth to succeed in life. Success will be measured through programs that have demonstrable outcomes to positively impact youth by:

A. Increasing classroom attendance B. Lowering the high school dropout rate C. Enhancing the long term health of young men and women through education, activities, and recreational programs D. Improving the career options available to these youth

Do all these goals have a common focus?All of our plans, programs, and support are focused on "keeping kids in school." That's how we know we can make a difference in St. Louis.

How does PGA REACH intend to achieve these goals? We have determined that we can have the most impact by partnering with existing organizations, in the form of funding and/or volunteer support, that have effective programs already in place to achieve these goals. PGA REACH will assist the following organizations and initiatives to expand their own "reach."

a. ABCToday!, an "early warning system" of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (BBBSEMO), was designed to collect, track and respond to individual student performance measured through Attendance, Behavior, and Classroom success in reading and math. b. Urban K-Life (UKL), a Christian based organization operating in the inner city of St. Louis, has a proven track record of working with the St. Louis Public Schools to improve the academic performance and dramatically lower the dropout rate of the participants in their programs. c. Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis (BGCGSL) is a long established facility offering programs whose mission is to inspire and enable youth to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. d. Site investigation is proceeding whereby a multi-acre golf site, either a driving range/fitness facility, or a multiple hole golf course, or both can be secured and developed. Aspects of all three of the UKL, BGCGSL, and BBBSEMO programs include a fitness and wellness element that will be enhanced with this golf site.

How will PGA REACH raise the necessary funds to assist these partners? Funding will come from multiple sources. On October 8, 2012, the National Car Rental/PGA REACH Pro-Am was held at Boone Valley Country Club. Over 80 golfers participated in this event, and along with the generous sponsorship of National Car Rental, $80,000 was raised to support the objectives of PGA REACH.

On Memorial Day, 2013, PGA REACH will host the "Play it Like the Pros" at Bellerive Country Club, staging a celebrity pro-am that will be played exactly like the Senior PGA Championship was played...same length, same tees, same conditions. 34 4-man teams are expected at this event and the objective is to raise over $200,000.

In an unprecedented and generous decision, Bellerive Country Club has informed PGA REACH that 10% of its proceeds from both the 2013 Senior PGA Championship, and the 2018 PGA Championship, will be donated to PGA REACH to assist with its programs.

In addition, the Gateway PGA Section will host events annually to raise money, and a portion of the proceeds will go directly to PGA REACH and its St. Louis partners.

Who receives and manages the contributions destined for PGA REACH, and what kind of governance oversight is provided? All contributions for PGA REACH will be received and distributed by the Gateway PGA Foundation. Its governing board will oversee all funds. In addition, an Executive Steering Committee for PGA REACH has been created, consisting of 12 St. Louis business and civic leaders, including Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, President of the Gateway PGA Foundation.

Is the only form of support needed for PGA REACH monetary support?No. In addition to the monetary contributions, we will support our partners through volunteer assistance and with staff support from the Gateway PGA Section. For example, at Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, the activity based programs already being conducted there utilize both volunteer and Gateway PGA Section staff support. Many of our future planned initiatives will require extensive volunteer assistance.

Are the activities supported with each of the PGA REACH partners planned and managed on an informal basis? No, the activities of our partners and support by PGA REACH are detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) mutually signed by both parties, after being approved by the governing boards of both parties.

Can you give us some further information about what is being planned with the partners you support?Sure. Our initiative at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri includes funding for a staff position to help implement a program called ABCToday. That program allows for early intervention with Little Brothers and Little Sisters experiencing medical issues that prevent them from fully attending school. Through coordination and medical intervention, the program will improve Attendance, Behavior, and Classroom success measured through progress in reading and math.

At the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, our focus is on supporting PGA Sports Academy activities, designed to provide physical and emotional development utilizing golf related activities. Those activities can be done both indoors and outdoors, and are led by a PGA of America golf professional and a Gateway PGA Section staff member.

The needs of Urban K-Life's participants can be best addressed by adding staff members to extend the relationship model with high school aged youth to additional participants. Through support of that, we will be able to supplement after school activities. With the benefits of relationships and activities, together we will measurably improve the graduation rate.

Because many of the participants in these initiatives attend the St. Louis Public Schools, we are developing programs in partnership with those schools, and with the assistance of our partners.

Is all this in the future, or do you have activities and support underway now?Much has already been accomplished.

Two full sessions of the PGA Sports Academy programs have already been completed at BGCGSL. Last October, and in February/March of this year, sessions were run on each Tuesday and Thursday, with approximately 20 youth participating in each. The sessions were well received and enthusiasm is high. We recently hosted a "fun day" that was open to the entire club, and had 15 new participants come to that event.

At BBBSEMO, development of the tracking system mentioned above is the focus of activities, as is the designing of a trial and deployment for ABCToday on a larger scale basis, with the intent to deploy throughout an entire school and an entire school system.

Urban K-Life has moved forward, with our help, to hire an additional relationship manager. That has enabled 30 more youth to be a part of the Urban K-Life relationship model, providing new motivation, role models, and life skills. In addition, a Job Training and Education program has been designed for deployment at the UKL facility, and a very successful parent conference has been conducted to explain the program. On March 6, nineteen students and their parents attended a meeting and signed "contracts" to start and complete the education program.

Activities will include specific classes focused on educational skills, job skills, and golf skills, and participating students will be eligible to accept a paid summer internship position upon completion. Classes will be conducted on Tuesdays throughout April. They will also have the opportunity to participate on a Club Golf Team through UKL.

Already in progress with the St. Louis Public Schools, a pilot Pros in the School program at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy just completed, and it served to introduce students to the sport of golf and the advantages of participating in the Job Training and Education program. Classes were conducted on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

Do you contemplate any further activities beyond those described above?Since the inception of PGA REACH in St. Louis, several other possible avenues for "keeping kids in school" have opened to us, and right now we are limited only by our current resources. The possibilities are exciting, and we are committed to finding a way to implement them.

Right now no SLPS secondary schools have golf teams, or the related after school activities and character development attributes that go with such activities. PGA REACH has been asked to consider finding volunteers, equipment, and related support so that golf teams can be initiated at each of the SLPS secondary schools. Volunteer interest has been superb, and we are carefully planning how to implement this initiative in a productive and successful way, working with the athletic staff of the SLPS.

In our discussions with each of our partners, a common theme emerged, that being the dire need for a physical site where outdoor and after-school activities can be conducted on an ongoing and regular basis. Concurrent with that need, the possibility arose of a potential site near the locations of our partners, albeit a possibility that will take very significant planning, development, and monetary support. Much has already been accomplished relative to the possible configuration and utilization of the site, and fundraising talks are underway to find assistance for proceeding with this initiative. Considerable volunteer help has already been harnessed, and daily activities are proceeding to make this a reality.

How can I become involved if I'd like to help with PGA REACH and its initiatives? As indicated, we are in need of both monetary contributions, awareness of the needs, and volunteer support. Contributions can be made to PGA REACH, in care of the Gateway PGA Foundation. If you'd like to discuss volunteering, we'd be pleased to visit with you, and you can call the Gateway PGA Section at 636-532-3355 to let us know of your interest. You can also go to www.gatewaypga.org and click through to the PGA REACH link to learn more. We'd welcome your help.

Can you summarize what is really important?Yes. Keeping kids in school! That is really important. And we all can help.

Tom Watson among former major winners in Senior PGA field


Tom Watson among former major winners in Senior PGA field











PGA.COM April 3, 2013 3:23 PM

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(Getty Images)



ST. LOUIS - PGA of America officials announced Wednesday the new player commitments to the 74th Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, which will be contested May 21-26, 2013, at Bellerive Country Club. This is the first time Bellerive has played host to the Senior PGA Championship, the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf.

The additions are highlighted by 2014 United States Ryder Cup Captain and two-time Senior PGA Champion Tom Watson, who still calls the Kanas City area home. Other notable commitments are two-time PGA Champion - including the 1992 PGA Championship played at Bellerive - and British Open winner Nick Price, as well as two-time U.S. Open winner and current ESPN analyst, Andy North.

Of the 93 players committed to play, 23 participated in the 1992 PGA Championship, which was played at Bellerive: Nick Price, 1; John Cook, T-2; Jim Gallagher Jr. T-2; Russ Cochran, T-7; Dan Forsman, T-7; Jeff Sluman, T-12; Brad Faxon, T-15; Anders Forsbrand, T-9; Josh Huston, T-18; Bill Britton, T-21; Tom Kite, T-21; Peter Jacobsen, T-28; Joe Ozaki, T-28; Tom Wargo, T-28; Mark James, T-40; Bernhard Langer, T-40; Mark Calcavecchia, T-48; Steve Pate, T-48; Peter Senior, T-48; Andrew Magee, T-56; Tom Watson, T-62; Hale Irwin, T-66; and David Frost T-73.

Click here to see the entire field, as of April 1, 2013.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Day leads after second round, Guan makes cut


Day leads after second round, Guan makes cut











PGA.COM April 12, 2013 9:09 PM

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Jason Day shot a 4-under 68 Friday for a 6-under 138 total.(Getty Images)


By Doug Ferguson, Associated Press


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The 14-year-old from China isn't going anywhere in a hurry. And this Masters is still a long way from taking shape.

Despite being the first player at Augusta National to get hit with a one-shot penalty for slow play, teen sensation Guan Tianlang still made history Friday as the youngest player to make the cut in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.

And it came down to the last shot of a wild and windy day.

Jason Day could have sent the kid home early with a birdie from just off the front of the green on the 18th hole. But the Australian was wide left and tapped in for par, giving him a 4-under 68 and a one-shot lead over fellow Aussie Marc Leishman and the ageless Fred Couples.

The par meant that Guan, who had one shot added to his score on the 17th hole for his second bad time of the round -- made the cut under the 10-shot rule.

"If I can make it, I would be really happy for it," Guan said some five hours earlier. "But if I didn't make it, it's still a great week."

He's now part of a weekend at Augusta that should be as dynamic as ever.

Day was at 6-under 138, and 18 players were within four shots of the lead, including Tiger Woods.

Woods moved into a share of the lead with a two-putt birdie on the eighth hole, and his game looked to be as sharp as ever -- perhaps too sharp. Right when it looked like he might take the outright lead, Woods hit a lob wedge that was so perfect it hit the flag on the par-5 15th and caromed backward off the green and into the water. Instead of having a short birdie putt, he had to scramble to save bogey.

Woods posed over another shot on the 18th and was stunned to see it hop onto the upper shelf, leading to his second three-putt bogey of the week. He had to settle for a 71, though he was still only three shots out of the lead.

"My score doesn't quite indicate how well I played today," Woods said.

The 53-year-old Couples, who shared the 36-hole lead at the Masters last year, birdied the 18th hole for a 71 and will play in the final group.

Former Masters champion Angel Cabrera birdied five of his last six holes for a 69 and was in the group two shots behind, along with former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk (71) and Brandt Snedeker (70). Woods was at 3-under 141 with six others, including Adam Scott (72), Lee Westwood (71) and Justin Rose (71).

And still in the mix was Rory McIlroy, who turned his fortunes around with a 5-wood from about 275 yards that set up a short eagle putt. He added three more birdies on the back nine and had a 70, leaving him only four shots out of the lead going into the weekend.

"Anything under par today was going to be a good score," McIlroy said.

The hole locations were severe in spots, with one pin tucked on top of a mound toward the front of the fifth green. The par 5s played into an opposite wind on the back nine, and they were not easy to reach. Furyk got home in two on the 15th hole Thursday with a hybrid. He used that same club to lay up on Friday.

Such tough conditions made the performance of Guan that much more impressive. He had a respectable 75, which included the one-shot penalty.

And for the longest time, it looked as though it might be costly.

Guan, playing with Matteo Manassero and Ben Crenshaw, was informed his group was out of position as it left the 10th green. They were on the clock on the 12th hole, meaning players would be timed to make sure they hit their shots within the 40-second limit. The teen got his first bad time with his second shot on the 13th hole, and it was clear he was in trouble after his shot into the 17th when John Paramor, chief referee in Europe, walked out to speak to him.

Tianlang Guan still alive at the Masters despite being on the wrong end of a horrible call


Tianlang Guan still alive at the Masters despite being on the wrong end of a horrible call











Dan Wetzel April 12, 2013 9:30 PMYahoo Sports





AUGUSTA, Ga. – Tianlang Guan approached his soon-to-be infamous second shot on the 17th fairway of Augusta National and found company. Ben Crenshaw's ball was a few yards back and to the right. Matteo Manassero's was a little ahead and to the left.

Which ball was which was, perhaps, confusing. Guan appeared concerned about violating one of golf's key rules: You can only play your own ball. The problem was, his ball landed with its logo face down into grass, making easy identification impossible.

Since another rule says you can't pick up or move the ball – even slightly – he crouched down multiple times, even going to all fours, in attempt to look under the ball and make sure he had the right one. Then he did it again, even if Crenshaw and Manassero expressed no such concern over where they landed.

The 14-year-old from China, the youngest player to ever compete in the Masters, was in position to do what many believed impossible – make the cut.

And he was leaving nothing to chance. Nothing. Not even an obvious thing like this.

These attributions of precision, patience and, indeed, pace – not to mention a delicate short game – are what eventually got him to the promised land of the weekend of the Masters.



[Related: Players rip decision to penalize Guan]

It is also what nearly cost him the entire thing.





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Tianlang Guan acknowledges the crowd's applause after making a putt on the second green at Augusta National. (Getty …Just moments after making sure that he had the right ball, throwing grass into the air to check the wind, walking up the hill to get a look at the green and then switching clubs, Guan was penalized a stroke for slow play. Official John Paramor, who earlier had issued two other direct warnings to Guan, ran a stopwatch on him that exceeded the minimum 40-second time limit.



A slow play penalty is so rare the Masters said it had no record of any others ever issued. It's occurred just three other times in the last 16 years of major tournaments and not for years in regular PGA Tour events. The penalty pushed Guan to 3-over on the day and 4-over for the tournament. He only made the cut because leader Jason Day's birdie putt on 18 went just left of the hole.

"I respect the decision," Guan said later of the penalty.

Taking the high road was a smart move for the kid. Especially since he made the cut anyway, a remarkable, remarkable accomplishment. He doesn't need to respect the decision, though.

There is plenty there not worth respecting.





This was the sport of golf in all its conflicting glory. There are rules upon rules, a game of honor in a sport that is played and understood globally. It's what makes golf great.

Yet in the end, there was a potentially cruel judgment call.

[Watch: Breaking down Friday at the Masters]

"He had warnings," Paramor said while standing by the 18th tee, just moments after his decision. "Everything needs to be done to [preserve fast play]. I made that clear on the walk from the 16th green to the 17th tee."

It's not that Guan wasn't guilty of slow play or isn't a slow player. He was and is. If you're a by the book guy, and Paramor claims to be – "No, it's the Masters," he said when asked if the situation merited some slack – then this is easy.

The culture of golf loves to puff out its chest and brag about these things.

"A rule is a rule," Guan's father, Hanwen, said through a translator, echoing the tsk-tsk from golf purists. "But I don't want to talk too much about it."

If he did, he might ask a simple question: What about everyone else? There was slow play everywhere across Augusta National on Friday, as play crawled around the famed course.

Tiger Woods' group teed off at 1:41 p.m. and finished up as the sunset behind the Georgia pines at 7:24. That's a painfully slow 5-hour, 43-minute round and wasn't unusual on this pressurized Friday.

[Related: Leaderboard: Day leads after Round 2]

And yet the only golfer cited for slow play by golf officials was a 14-year-old amateur with a local caddie and painfully little experience on the second-to-last-hole with an historic qualification hanging in the balance, all while playing in a group with the 61-year old Crenshaw, who put up a non-competitive 84? They ding a kid in that situation, but not one multimillionaire star?

"I don't know what they do," Guan said of other golfers playing slow. "But I don't think I'm too bad."

He isn't too bad, certainly not so bad he should've been the only one.

"He got a penalty for slow play?" said leader Day. "Wow."

"I'm sick," Crenshaw said. "I'm sick for him. He's 14 years old, we're playing – when you get the wind blowing out here, believe me, you're going to change your mind a lot."

You can't say a rule is a rule when that very rule isn't uniformly enforced. Once that's the case, the rule becomes subjectively determined. This was a choice.





In the end, a 140-pound middle schooler is playing the weekend rounds of a major championship. No one has ever done that at such an age.

[Related: Tiger Woods in the hunt]

Guan's accomplishment is rooted in his ability to take every little detail so seriously that he was able to ignore the greatest detail of all – he's an eighth grader in the Masters.

He left no detail unaddressed and showed extreme poise and mental toughness. He just plugged and plugged, distractions be damned. Just Thursday, his mother claimed he often concentrated so hard during tournaments he'd forget to eat and then run out of energy. That singular focus almost cost him on the 17th fairway. It's probably how he was able to fight through a cutthroat decision, though.

"It's his very first Masters," Paramor said just after the ruling. "He's a great player and he'll be fine. He's a strong player. I hope he makes a three [birdie] up there [pointing toward the 18th green] and is playing tomorrow."

Guan didn't hit a birdie on 18. He is playing tomorrow, anyway. The only golfer who brought homework with him to Augusta tees off at 9:55 a.m. Saturday.

In the end, he was stronger than even this strangely timed show of rulebook force.

Couples and Langer turn back clock to contend


Couples and Langer turn back clock to contend











PGA.COM April 12, 2013 11:12 PM

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Fred Couples, 53, who won his green jacket in 1992, followed up an opening 68 with an up-and-down round …


By Jim Litke, Associated Press


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer briefly made round two of the Masters seem like "Old Timers Day."

The two former champions fell back on years of experience to navigate the tough, windy conditions Friday at Augusta National, climbing steadily up the leaderboard as many of their younger, stronger rivals lost their grip headed in the opposite direction.

Couples, 53, who won his green jacket in 1992, followed up an opening 68 with an up-and-down round of 71 Friday to get to 5-under and one shot off the lead. Langer, 55, who won twice and whose first green jacket (1985) is older than more than a few of his opponents, notched his second consecutive 71 to reach 2-under and a tie for 14th.

"I mean, I'm surprised," Couples said, "but I'm not going to freak out over it."

Langer wasn't buying the surprised angle at all.

"Fred loves this place," he said. "He's played here 28 times and he's only missed one cut by one shot. This is his second home."

So much so that Couples, who was in much the same position after two rounds just a year ago, renewed his threat to retire on the spot if he won at Augusta National again.

"You asked me that last year and I said, yeah, I would quit. I'm going to quit when I win this thing, I swear to God," he said to laughter. "I'm going to retire. It's probably not ever going to happen, but I'm going to retire.

"I'm not going to kid you. I mean, it's a hard course. I'm really tired. I'm swinging hard at every drive I hit."

Yet Langer wasn't buying the idea that Couples couldn't win, either. He was less certain about his own chances."

"I always thought that Freddie, with his length, can win it, because he hits it a good 30 yards by me, which helps a great deal on some of these holes," Langer said. "For me to win, everything has to go my way. I got to start making some putts most of all."

Couples was sharp with the putter most of the day, if only because he'd seen even the more diabolical pin positions at least once or twice before. But he felt like the biggest advantage of all those rounds at Augusta was remembering not to let the swirling winds confuse him or change the way he played his approaches into the greens.

"Any golf course plays hard when the wind blows," he said. "At Augusta where you're trying to judge your second shots and putts, it becomes really, really hard. ...

"I knew it was blowing downwind on 3. And so three hours later, we are playing a hole that runs that way, it's going to be playing downwind again, and you just have to keep believing that and doing that, because it swirls around in those trees. ... But when you're a guy trying to hit it, you can't stand there and say, I know it's coming into my face, but I'm not really sure. That's not how you want to stand up on a lot of holes. It's just that I've played so many rounds here that I feel pretty comfortable on some of these shots."

Of course, all the talk about experience can also get, well, old. When Langer was asked the third time recount something from his history at Augusta National, he promptly cut it short.

"I think this is my 30th," he said, chuckling. "I'm getting old."

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