Smart money still says Tiger

Originally Published: April 5, 2005

ESPN.com/Golf Digest

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – FACT: With a successful defense of his Masters title, Phil Mickelson can claim two wins in a six-day span.

FICTION: Mickelson is the favorite to win at Augusta National, the site of his first career major victory.

Nope, that honor once again goes to a man named Eldrick, as our panel of experts contends in The Masters edition of Fact or Fiction.

	Tiger Woods">
	Woods

Tiger Woods is the favorite to win his fourth green jacket.

Bob Harig, contributor, ESPN.com: FACT. Woods is almost always the favorite at Augusta, and this year is no different, even if he is coming off two very shaky performances at Bay Hill and the Players Championship. But given his two victories this year, his strong form since the end of last season, his obvious advantages at Augusta National and the fact that he has been pointing toward this, there is no reason not to make him the favorite.

Jason Sobel, golf editor, ESPN.com: FACT. But he's not as much of a favorite as he's been in, oh, the previous seven Masters Tournaments. Perhaps the world hasn't caught up to Woods, but at least a few players have and Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els have as much a chance of winning as Tiger.

Brian Wacker, assistant editor, GolfDigest.com: FACT. Not only have oddsmakers installed Tiger as the betting favorite, but Woods is again swinging the club well enough to win. The real key, however, will be his putting. If he putts well at Augusta, expect Mickelson to be slipping the green jacket on him come Sunday night.

Ron Sirak, executive editor, Golf World magazine: FACT. But that doesn't mean he should have his tailor on standby for Sunday. Woods will be involved in a dramatic conclusion at Augusta National, and then he will watch Mickelson helpAdam Scott into his first green jacket.

	Mickelson

The players who competed until Monday at the BellSouth will be at a disadvantage in Augusta.

Sobel: FACT. Hmmm ... a painless practice round spent smiling for cameras and kissing babies? Or a full-blown gut check that needed extra holes? Yes, we're talking specifically about Mickelson, who played 22 holes on Monday in earning his third victory of the year, but certainly won't be rested and relaxed coming to Augusta.

Wacker: FICTION. It's only a few hours drive from TPC-Sugarloaf to Augusta, and if you're Mickelson it's an even shorter ride when you hop on your private jet. If BellSouth officials had decided to play a full 72 holes – meaning a 36-hole finish on Monday – it might have been more of a factor, but the day will more or less amount to just another practice round, albeit on a different course.

Sirak: FICTION. The only ones who will be at a disadvantage are the ones who are not mentally tough enough to separate the bad luck of bad weather from their preparations for The Masters. And those guys didn't have a chance to win anyway.

Harig: FICTION. It might even be a help, if they view the situation properly. Trying to play practice rounds at Augusta National on the three days leading up to the tournament can be an exercise in frustration. The course is crowded and filled with spectators, unlike at any other tournament. The rounds are long, and it is tough to truly get in good practice. A tournament round on Monday away from Augusta, followed by some rest and limited practice at the course, could be a big help.

If I could win any major, it would be The Masters.

Sirak: FICTION. The British Open is the most complete test of golf that exists. In addition to shot-making ability, it explores the psychological makeup of a player in a most devious way, testing how he can handle bad bounces, bad weather and bad food. Besides, wouldn't you want your name on a trophy that you can not only drink champagne out of, but on which there is both Old Tom and Young Tom?

Wacker: FICTION. I'd have to say the U.S. Open. Nothing against The Masters, British Open or the PGA Championship, but to win your country's national championship would mean the most. It's the toughest brand of golf you'll ever see – even if it's not always necessarily the purest test – and it is still a bit of an everyman's tournament.

Harig: FICTION. Most players would take any major and not complain. But if given the choice ... you have to go with the Open Championship. It is the oldest of all golf tournaments, played on courses that have been around for 100 years or more. It is the true world championship of golf.

Sobel: FICTION. The Masters would be nice, but the U.S. Open is the nation's championship. I love the romantic notion that anyone in the country – if they play well enough – can theoretically win the Open ... or maybe I've just seen "Tin Cup" one too many times. Besides, I couldn't pull off the whole green jacket look.

Bonus question: Who will win The Masters?

Harig: ERNIE ELS. After the anguish of a year ago, Els will bounce back to claim his first green jacket.

Wacker: TIGER WOODS. The playing field is a lot more level these days with Mickelson, Woods, Els, Singh and Retief Goosen all playing well coming into Augusta, but when all is settled it will be Woods who putts the best to win his fourth career green jacket.

Sobel: ERNIE ELS. Augusta National is a magical place and Els needs a little fate to intervene on his side after falling short in each of the four majors a year ago. Here's saying Ernie gets some to complete the foursome with green jackets among the elite in the World Ranking.

Sirak: ADAM SCOTT. The young Aussie will get done what the Great White Shark left unfinished as Scott will bring home the green jacket Greg Norman left behind.

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Six-time winner will play in 45th Masters

Updated: April 5, 2005, 12:32 AM ET

Associated Press

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AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jack Nicklaus will give the Masters at least one more shot.

The six-time Masters champion said Monday evening he would play for the 45th time, saying he wanted to fulfill a request by Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson "and a desire on my part."

"I feel like I can play, so I'm going to play," Nicklaus said at the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's Botanical Gardens, where he received a key to the city of Augusta.

Nicklaus said last month the chances were "between slim and none" that he would play in the Masters. He felt he needed to be with his family as they grieved over the drowning March 1 of his 17-month-old grandson.

He cleared everything from his business schedule and spent the last few weeks playing golf with his son Steve, a therapeutic way to cope with the tragedy.

It was Steve Nicklaus' son, Jake Walter, who drowned in a hot tub.

"I don't have a lot of golf game, but I've played a lot of golf," Nicklaus said. "I'm certainly not in any tournament shape. I don't expect to be in any tournament shape."

Nicklaus, who has dealt with back and hip problems, said his health was good. One of only two former champions who are members at Augusta National, Nicklaus said he played the course two weeks ago and shot 74.

He did not say whether this would be his last Masters.

Nicklaus won his first green jacket in 1963 and got his record sixth Masters title in 1986, shooting a 31 on the back nine to win at age 46. He last made the cut in 2000, when he tied for 54th.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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Five were tied at 8-under after final round

Updated: April 6, 2005, 8:43 AM ET

Associated Press

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DULUTH, Ga. -- Phil Mickelson is headed to Augusta with a win, his usual smile and the proper mind-set.

Mickelson made a birdie putt from 13 feet on the fourth playoff hole Monday to win the BellSouth Classic over Rich Beem and give the defending Masters champion even more confidence heading into the season's first major.

"It gives me some momentum to take to Augusta," he said.

After a rocky front nine, shooting a 1-over 37, Mickelson had a 32 on the back with four birdies and no bogeys, including a 10-footer on No. 18 to finish at 69 and get into the playoff.

"On the front I hit it horrible but putted great. The back nine I hit it terrific," said Mickelson, who needed only one putt on six of his first nine holes.

"I don't plan on hitting into trouble next week, but it's nice to know I can recover," he said.

Mickelson, Jose Maria Olazabal, Beem, Brandt Jobe and Arjun Atwal tied at 8-under 208 after the final round in the rain-shortened 54-hole tournament to set up the five-man playoff.

Both Jobe and Atwal hit into the water on the par-5 18th on the first extra hole and were eliminated.

"There were probably six to 10 people who could have won this tournament. I don't know how I dodged the bullet," said Mickelson. "I'm looking forward to the Masters."

Mickelson won it on the par-4, 455-yard 17th hole when he hit his drive in the fairway and put his second shot 13 feet from the hole before sinking the putt.

Beem, who hasn't won since the PGA championship in 2002, hit into a fairway bunker on the final playoff hole. His second shot was about 20 yards short of the green where he pitched to about two feet, setting up a par putt which wasn't needed.

"I'm bummed out the way that everything finished. But I've got to be happy with how I handled myself," said Beem. "It's been a long time since I've been in this position and I had an absolute gas doing it.

"The only thing I would change obviously is the outcome, but I can't do that," he said.

Olazabal, the two-time Masters champion, had a chance to win on the 576-yard 18th in regulation to avoid a playoff but missed a five-foot birdie putt and settled for par and 69.

He also had a second chance to win on the first playoff hole, missing another five-foot birdie putt on No. 18. He was eliminated on the third playoff hole when he hit two balls in the water on 18.

"I had a chance to win it (in regulation) and didn't. Had a second chance and missed it," said Olazabal, who also heads to The Masters with his game in pretty good shape.

Mickelson, Beem (68), Jobe (67) and Atwal (64), a native of India and a regular on the Asian tour for eight years, each birdied their last hole to earn a playoff berth along with Olazabal.

Mickelson and Beem had pars on the first playoff hole to advance to the second playoff hole along with Olazabal. Jobe and Atwal each hit into the water that guarded the green on 18.

Olazabal, Mickelson and Beem each parred the second playoff hole (No. 17) to send it back to 18.

Mickelson and Beem each advanced to the fourth playoff hole with tap-in birdies on No. 18.

With the weather sunny and in the 70s, the scores came down Monday after play was washed out by rain on Thursday and Friday and delayed 99 minutes on Saturday at the TPC at Sugar Loaf.

Scott McCarron, who led by a stroke entering the final round and won here in 1997 and 2001, shot a 76 and was well back at 214. Defending champion Zach Johnson had a 72 and was at 213.

Mickelson, the tour's leading money-winner, earned $900,000 of the $5 million purse for his third win of the year.

The world's No. 4 player had a strange round as he prepared for Thursday's opening round at Augusta.

Mickelson wound up with seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in regulation. He was all over the course with his driver on the opening nine, hitting into water twice and drawing a one-shot penalty on each. He also tried to hit out of a creek bed and moved it only a foot on No. 9 for bogey.

"My swing started to feel good on the back. Somehow I hung in there and got lucky," he said.

Frank Lickliter (68), Scott Dunlap (69), Arron Oberholser (69) and Tag Ridings (69) finished a stroke behind the leaders at 209. Lickliter was at 8-under playing the 18th when he went for the green and found the water.

Rain has affected eight of the 14 tournaments on tour so far this year.

The BellSouth field had 25 entrants also playing at The Masters. Only 11 made it to Monday's final round. Six withdrew from the tournament and eight failed to make the cut.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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Wiratchant takes lead

Updated: March 25, 2005, 3:47 PM ET

Associated Press

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JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Colin Montgomerie was way off the lead Friday at the rain-delayed Indonesia Open, a tournament he needs to win to qualify for the Masters.

Montgomerie, who seven times was Europe's No. 1 player, was at the projected cut mark of 3 under par after 13 holes. He is among 64 players who need to complete the second round Saturday. The Scotsman was ranked 54th entering the tournament and must re-enter the top 50 to qualify for the Masters, which begins April 7.

Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand shot a 7-under 63 Friday to take the clubhouse lead. His eagle-3 on the ninth hole gave him a two-day total of 14-under 126, a stroke ahead of Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, who had a 62. Wiratchant also had to play six holes to finish his rain-delayed first round in 73.

First-round co-leaders Arjun Atwal of India and Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland were at 10 under. Atwal had completed 13 holes and Hoey nine when lightning flashed and play stopped.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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Second-round Indonesia Open scores

Updated: March 25, 2005, 8:55 AM ET

Associated Press

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JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Scores Friday from the second round of the $1 million Indonesia Open at the par-6,851, par-70 Cengkareng Golf Club (64 players were unable to complete the round because of rain.):

Thaworn Wiratchant, Thailand        63-63--126  14-under



Nicolas Colsaerts, Belgium          65-62--127  13-under 

Terry Pilkadaris, Australia         67-64--131  9-under
Rapha Jel Jacquelin, France           64-67--131
Adam Fraser, Australia              66-65--131

Satoshi Tomiyama, Japan             69-63--132  8-under
Darren Griff, Canada                70-62--132
Terry Price, Australia              66-66--132
Daniel Vancsik, Argentina           66-66--132

Unho Park, Australia                67-66--133  7-under
Hennie Otto, South Africa           67-66--133
Mahal Darren Pearce, New Zealand    66-67--133
Stephen Browne, Ireland             67-66--133

Clay Devers, United States          67-67--134  6-under
Thammanoon Srirot, Thailand         68-66--134
Zhang Lianwei, China                67-67--134

Ted Oh, South Korea                 67-68--135  5-under
Kao Bo-song, Taiwan                 70-65--135
Paul Marantz, Australia             66-69--135

Jeppe Huldahl, Denmark              69-67--136  4-under
Benoit Teilleria, France            65-71--136
Mike Capone, United States          68-68--136
Scott Strange, Australia            69-67--136
Alessandro Tadini, Italy            66-70--136
David Orr, Scotland                 65-71--136
Marcus Both, Australia              67-69--136
Gerry Nordquist, United States      70-66--136
Lu Wen-teh, Taiwan                  70-66--136
Jochen Lupprian, Germany            67-69--136
Philip Walton, Ireland              67-69--136
Sam Walker, England                 65-71--136
Richard Moir, Australia             66-70--136
Pablo Del Olmo, Mexico              67-69--136

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