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Sports Watch
IT'S only the first round, so don't count Tiger Woods out yet in the Masters, even though he's seven shots back of the leader. If Woods survives today's cut -- and there's no reason why he shouldn't -- watch his comeback on the weekend. GOLF WATCH
Don’t count Woods
out of MastersIn the meantime, you have to scratch your head over the first-round leader, whodaguy Dennis Paulson.
The 37-year-old Masters rookie had scuffed around on the Nike and Asian tours before enjoying a breakthrough season on the PGA Tour in 1999 as one of those nonwinners who earned $1.3 million.
Why, he wasn't even the most noted Paulson from the Nike Tour. That's Carl Paulson, the 1999 Nike player of the year. They're not related.
While Dennis Paulson was enjoying his 15 minutes of fame and Tiger was struggling, the best news from Augusta National yesterday proved to be the play of veterans Tommy Aaron, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer.
Both Aaron and Nicklaus -- Jack, not Gary -- posted lower rounds than Woods.
Aaron, 64, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Masters victory by winning the Kaanapali Senior Classic in 1992, shot a par 72.
Nicklaus came in with a 74, while Player, who became the oldest player at 62 to make the Masters' cut in 1992, logged a respectable 76.
It was also a blast from the past for 70-year-old Arnold Palmer, whose 78 was two shots better than Greg Norman and John Daly.
Not surprisingly, the gallery enjoyed following golf's former Big Three, while Tiger, the modern-day's No. 1, had an off day.
NOBODY, though, should have been surprised that Nicklaus, Player and Palmer were going to play respectable golf at this year's Masters.
The three had been looking forward to golf's first major since late January when they played in the Senior Skins Game at Mauna Lani, along with Senior Tour rookie Tom Watson.
Watson, by the way, also did the seniors proud by shooting a 75.
Player won the Skins Game by birdieing his final four holes, including $220,000 in a playoff.
There were smiles and good-humored banter all around in the press conference afterwards as the Big Three plus Watson reminisced about the old days and talked about the majors they were going to play in 2000.
Palmer said he was playing some of his best golf in years, while Watson marveled at a 3-iron that Nicklaus hit at the par-5 opening hole for an eagle.
"We want to play as well as we possibly can when we're together," Palmer had said.
They did just that on Super Bowl Saturday in January, and they did it again yesterday.
THEY all did it by walking, not riding a golf cart. More hilly than it looks on television, the Augusta National is hardly a stroll in a park.
Yet they trudged it. Nicklaus, 60, with his ceramic hip replacement. Palmer at 70 and Player at 65.
They certainly are a golf triumvirate for the ages. In appreciation, the gallery was six deep at the first tee and gave them a standing ovation at every green.
That should quiet those criticizing the Masters for extending lifetime invitations to all of its previous winners.
Watching Nicklaus, Palmer and Player was more interesting than seeing tournament winners Rich Beem, J.L. Lewis and Brian Henninger, who weren't invited.
Interestingly, a new category -- a top 50 world ranking -- got Paulson his invitation.
