Early Masters impressions


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- As I walked past the Augusta National Clubhouse around 11:30 this morning, the throngs parted for a group of white-shirted security guards escorting a player to the putting green.

Ladies and gentlemen, Tiger Woods.

Woods walked past me, no more than five feet away, looking steely-eyed and ridiculously fit. The guy must live in a gym. As he took his place on the putting green for some practice just before his opening round, the crowd, standing as many as five deep in some places, applauded lustily.

This guy can get a standing ovation just for smiling.

My three-hour morning-to-afternoon walk around the course was lovely. It's warm, but a gentle breeze has been kind enough to tickle the tall pines, the wisteria, the dogwood and the azaleas every so often.

I followed Heath Slocum for most of his round because I'm thinking of writing something about the Milton Mafia as I call them. Heath Slocum, Boo Weekley and Bubba Watson, all graduates of Milton High School in the Florida Panhandle, all in the Masters field.

Anyway, Slocum was 3-under after 8, but bogeyed 9 and 18. He's in second now at 1-under 71. He happened to have Fuzzy Zoeller in his threesome, which is interesting since Zoeller happens to be the only Masters champion to win a green jacket in his first visit to Augusta.

"Honestly, it's such a long way, so far ahead of me, so far ahead that it doesn't even pop into my head, really,'' Slocum told us after his round.

It's wise not to fantasize too much here, because far too many golfers have unraveled after solid starts.

Caught up with Larry Mize some during his round and the Columbus resident was having a tough day. He shot 4-over on the front and gave up another stroke at 16 with two holes to play. Even so, the guy gets a warm ovation at every tee box and green. Being a Masters champion ensures perpetual respect.

That's all for now. Ian Poulter just got to the interview room. He's 2-under 70, but I want to see what he's wearing. The guy usually wears purple pants, but this year he's rocking the lime green.