Newsday: Watson and Manassero prove golf a game for the ages

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- They are 44 years and six shots apart. And they're both in the final round of the Masters; proof once more that golf is a game for the ages and the ageless.

Tom Watson is 60 and after 54 holes, he is at 2-under-par 214, shooting a 73 Saturday. Matteo Manassero is 16 and after 54 holes, having been the youngest ever both to start the tournament and to make the cut, is 4-over 220 after a 73.

In each case, the adjective remarkable is applicable.

Asked what he would take away from the week, Watson, a two-time Masters champion and last year at age 59 losing in a playoff at the British Open, said: "I don't know yet. It depends on how I finish Sunday.''

Asked the same question, Manassero, a young gentleman from Verona, Italy, who last year won the British Amateur said: "I'm thinking it's a good experience. It's a good experience watching guys who have played for 20 years or so on the PGA [Tour].''

Or 39 or so, as Watson.

On Wednesday night, Watson was given the Ben Hogan award for the golfer who returns to the game from serious injury or illness. Watson shared the award with Ken Green.

Watson had hip-replacement surgery in October 2008. Green was in a serious vehicle accident in 2009 in which his brother and girlfriend were killed. His right leg so severely mangled it had to be amputated.

"With all due respect,'' Watson said when called to the dais, "I am unworthy of this award. With that, I'll step aside for Ken Green.''

Young Manassero, who will turn 17 next week, evinces his own humbleness and respect for the game, though he is also confident about his future.

"My game makes me more comfortable and assured of my abilities," Manassero said.

He plans to play the Italian Open in Turin the first week of May, go to St. Andrew's for the British Open and play six other tournaments - he gets seven exemptions, not counting the British - in hopes of earning his European Tour card.

If he doesn't, he'll play on the Challenge Tour, Europe's second tier, and go through qualifying school.

"I'm comfortable playing with these guys and I'm playing OK," Manassero said. "I think I'm ready."

- - - - - -

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/watson-and-manassero-prove-golf-a-game-for-the-ages-1.1856249
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday: Kim and Barnes bring a California flavor

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- They embody California cool, Ricky Barnes in his painter's hat, Anthony Kim with his jeweled belt buckles, a couple of kids from the Golden State with golden swings, one who has lived up to expectations, another who has not.

Kim, who grew up in Los Angeles, has three wins on Tour, one of those coming Sunday at Houston. For a couple of years, he's been called the next challenger to Tiger Woods.

Barnes, from Stockton, south of Sacramento, won a U.S. Amateur in 2002 but seemed trapped on the minor-league Nationwide Tour until his breakthrough last June, when at Bethpage he led the U.S. Open and finished second, which lifted him to the regular Tour.

The 29-year-old Barnes (70) and 24-year-old Kim (70) are among the five players at 6-under-par 138, tied for third after Friday's second round of the Masters.

For Kim, in his second Masters -- he finished 20th last year -- it's not a surprise. For Barnes, also in his second -- he was 21st in '03, qualifying off the Amateur victory -- it could be considered a surprise.

"But I think my last major I played in got me ready,'' Barnes said, referring to Bethpage. "[The finish] didn't get me in the British [Open] or PGA last year. So I was looking forward to coming here and playing well. I've put myself in a good spot after the first two rounds.''

When you have the same score as Tiger Woods, it's hardly a bad spot.

Kim had a reputation as a mischievous kid at the University of Oklahoma, arguing with the coach and then after turning pro spending more time at parties than at the practice tee. But those troubles seem to have mellowed with age. Now it's a torn thumb ligament that's the trouble, something he'll have surgically repaired next week.

Before last October's Presidents Cup in San Francisco, Robert Allenby, the Australian and a member of the opposing International team, accused Kim of staying out late and having a good time before their singles match. It was a strange confrontation, but Kim eventually apologized. And won the match.

"I'm very happy with where I am right now,'' Kim said. "I've just got to get my driver straightened out. You never can hit too many fairways.''

Barnes in the past has been limited by his temper, which he has managed to keep under control recently. "I'm fiery,'' he conceded. "Don't get me wrong, but I've been working really hard on that the last two years. It's gotten me in trouble, but I know my game's good enough that if I have a bad hole, I can bounce back.''

- - - - - -

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/kim-and-barnes-bring-a-california-flavor-1.1855211
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday: This Masters is taking on an English accent

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

Hoist a glass of Tetley's Bitter.

Have a plate of bangers and mash.

Sing a few choruses of "God Save the Queen.''

Tiger Woods' impressive return to golf notwithstanding, this Masters has taken on an English accent.

Halfway through Masters 2010, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, English to the core, share the lead with 8-under-par totals of 136. If this keeps up, the Waffle House on Riverwatch Parkway may put bubble and squeak on the menu in place of grits.

Only the other day, Westwood said, "I think en masse, we are more equipped to go mob-handed to the major championships now."

What happened Friday at Augusta National lent support to his premise.

Westwood, who will be 37 before the end of April, shot a 3-under 69, which included an eagle 3 on the second hole and a double-bogey 6 on the 14th. The 36-year-old Poulter had a 4-under 68 with five birdies and only one bogey, that coming unfortunately at 18.

So the two Brits, who will be paired in Saturday's round, are two shots ahead of Woods, K.J. Choi, Ricky Barnes, Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson.

"If you had bothered to look at the world rankings,'' Westwood pointed out, "and seen how many English players were up there, and three in the top 10 [Westwood, 4; Paul Casey, 6; Poulter, 7], we're not there by mistake.

"We ought to be contending in these major championships, in the biggest events where the best players contend.''

They are. And they have been.

Poulter, the guy who used to wear trousers made from a Union Jack, finished second to Padraig Harrington in the 2008 British Open. Westwood came within a putt of tying Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in the 2008 U.S. Open, ending up third, and last year was third in both the British Open, also missing the playoff by a shot, and the PGA Championship.

Winner of the Accenture Match Play in February at Tucson, Poulter was called one of the favorites for this Masters, and that didn't displease him a bit.

"I like that it's going to put a bit of pressure on me,'' Poulter said. "It's going to make me focus. This is a golf course you can't let your mind wander at all, in any way, shape or form. Otherwise, it will penalize you badly.''

Westwood was brilliant a decade ago, even leading the 1999 Masters briefly. He slumped badly in the mid 2000s but came back in 2008.

Asked what a win in a major would mean, Westwood, who has victories on every continent, said, "It's the only thing really missing in my career.''

- - - - - -

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/this-masters-is-taking-on-an-english-accent-1.1855184
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday: Mickelson still has his 2009 mojo going

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were paired together for the final round of the 2009 Masters, each seven strokes behind the leader.

Then the two biggest names in golf put on the biggest show in golf. Mickelson shot a 67, Woods a 68.

Thursday, they were in different groups, but they both picked up where they left off, Mickelson with another 67 and Woods another 68.

For both the golf was equally impressive.

Mickelson is tied for second, seemingly with half the field, a shot behind Fred Couples.

"I just felt like we were going to go out and make some noise,'' Mickelson said about 2009, "and we both did.''

And about 2010?

"It's a good start,'' said Mickelson, a two-time Masters champion. "My expectations are high.''

He will be 40 in June and, as has been noted, his wife, Amy, is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She arrived two days ago from their home north of San Diego but did not feel well enough Thursday to come to Augusta National.

"They are totally different,'' Mickelson said of his 67s separated by 360 days. "Sunday is Sunday. It's just a different feel. Thursday is getting off to a good start. I needed a good, solid round because I've been putting myself behind early in tournaments and been having to almost force things.''

At 1 under par through 12 holes, Mickelson rammed a 6-iron onto the green for his second shot to the 510-yard par-5 13th and sank the 30-foot eagle putt. He followed with a 40-footer for a birdie on the par-4 14th and a 25-footer for a birdie on the par-5 15th, and just like that, he was 5 under.

- - - - - -

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/mickelson-still-has-his-2009-mojo-going-1.1853453
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Newsday: Tiger comes back with his best first round at Masters

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday 

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It was as if nothing ever had happened. Tiger Woods was playing golf, playing it well, and the crowd was huge and appreciative, oohing and aahing and now and then yelling "Go, Tiger!'' or "Come on, Tiger!''

The same as always.

Except it wasn't the same. It was better.

His first competitive round of golf in five months was the first time Tiger Woods had broken 70 in an opening round of the Masters in 15 years.

The questions, the worries, the disillusionment, the disdain were left blowing in the wind that swept Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, when Woods verified that great athletes do not lose their touch even when they may have lost their way.

Woods shot a 68 and is only two shots out of the lead held by 50-year-old Fred Couples.

Lightning didn't flash and the ground didn't shake, although the crowd parted like the Red Sea to give Woods room to get to the first tee for the 1:42 p.m. starting time in a threesome shared by K.J. Choi (67) and Matt Kuchar (70).

Uniformed security personnel walked inside the ropes - extra protection that, with a friendly gallery, proved unnecessary.

Two banners would be hauled by airplane across Augusta National. Not long after the round started, a plane crossed the course trailing a banner reading "Tiger: Did You Mean Booty-ism?''

Then possibly the same plane came back with another, "Sex Addict? Yeah Sure, Me Too.''

"I didn't see it,'' Woods said.

What he saw was an opportunity.

"It felt just like [normal],'' said Woods, whose last round was in mid-November. "I got into the flow of the round early. I got into the rhythm of just playing and hitting shots and thinking my way around the golf course and ball placement. I got into it early, which was very nice.''

"I expected to go out there and shoot something under par,'' Woods said. "I went about my business.''

- - - - - -

http://www.newsday.com/sports/golf/tiger-comes-back-with-his-best-first-round-at-masters-1.1853532
Copyright © 2010 Newsday. All rights reserved.