Not fading from view


AUGUSTA, Ga. — Right now, my face looks a lot like Trevor Immelman’s Masters scorecard.

Lots of red.

Just got back from a long tour of Augusta National, most of which was spent following Immelman and trying to find patches of shade whenever possible. Despite slathering my neck, face and scalp with No. 30 sunscreen, I look medium rare at this moment.

In some ways, I feel kinship with Immelman. Neither of us can be cooled off, it seems.

Immelman, whose brother Mark happens to be the golf coach at Columbus State University, continued his torrid play Friday and currently sits atop the leaderboard at 8-under par (68-68 -- 136). Brandt Snedeker is hanging tough one stroke behind, while Steve Flsesh (72-67 -- 139) made an impressive charge with a round that included an eagle on the par-5, No. 13.

Where’s Tiger Woods, you ask?

He remains even three holes into his round, but a lot can happen between now and the end of the day. Several players to watch, including Woods and first-round co-leader Justin Rose are early into their rounds, but it's shaping up to be a interesting day. Phil Mickelson has made a bit of a charge, gaining three strokes since yesterday. Right now, it looks as if the cut will be 3-over par.

Talk of a Tiger Slam has died down considerably since the beginning of the week, but it's too early to count him out yet. If he's within six strokes of the lead by the end of the day, I wouldn't give up on him.

At the same time, Immelman has emerged as the most compelling story of the tournament (you'll read more about him in Saturday's Ledger-Enquirer). Keep in mind that this guy was in a hospital bed in his native South Africa last December, doped up on morphine, and waiting to find out if a tumor discovered in his chest was cancerous. Thankfully, it proved to be benign, but it took him several weeks to recover well enough to play a full round of golf.

Four months later, this guy, an 80-1 shot according to the oddsmakers for Bodog, happens to be leading the Masters.

His wife, Carminita, had it right when she shared her thoughts about Friday's round with me behind the 18th green.

‘‘This is a special place,’’ she said.