AUGUSTA, Ga. >> It was the Masters that seemingly required a farewell toast every day. Shark may have played
his last MastersStar-Bulletin wire services
Letters were sent disinviting Billy Casper, Gay Brewer, and Doug Ford.
Sam Snead, 89, very well may have delivered his last ceremonial shot.
Arnold Palmer, of course, played for the 48th and final time in competition here.
So, the question was asked of Greg Norman. Did he think this was his last go-round in a tournament he treasures?
"Not being a prophet, I can't answer that question," said Norman, laughing. "I don't know. Obviously, I'll keep playing. If I get in, I get in."
Norman, 47, had been extended a special invitation to play in this year's Masters. He appreciated it very much, but it's hard to imagine him getting another one and he's unlikely to qualify for an exemption because of his limited playing schedule.
In fact, he resigned his membership from the PGA Tour and his options seem to center on Europe. "I can't play over here. I'm about done; exhausted all my possibilities over here outside the major championships," said Norman. "So if I wanted to play, I'd have to find somewhere to play."
Norman opened with a 71, but a second-round 76 pushed him to 3-over, where he barely made the cut. Saturday, a 72 moved him into a tie for 32d, and he understood that exemptions for the next year's tournament are given to the top 16 finishers.
"I figured if I got into the 60s, that would be it," said Norman, who, as it turns out, would have needed a 68 to get to 1-under to get in for 2003. Instead, a fourth day of putting woes brought him home in 75--294 as he finished tied for 36th.
Cheers for Daly: He finished nearly two hours before the leaders, but John Daly received one of the day's biggest ovations from the gallery at 18.
"That was really sweet," said Daly, who rewarded the patrons with a birdie after hitting a 7-iron to within three feet. "They won't give up on me."
Daly shot a final-round 75 -- his worst of the week -- and finished at 4-over.
Two-putter Parnevik: Just before Jesper Parnevik's round began, his caddie ran into the clubhouse and came out with a putter.
Another putter, to be exact.
Struggling with the flat stick all week, Parnevik played the final round with two putters in the bag. On the first hole, he used the new one for the first putt, then tapped in with the second. He used that putter the rest of the round.
"The first hole was kind of a trial hole," said Parnevik, who needed 34 putts to shoot even-par 72.
He sacrificed his 3-iron to make room for the second putter.
"I wished I had the 3-iron about four times," Parnevik said. "But, oh well."
Howell's first Masters: Other than his score (291), the Masters was everything Charles Howell III hoped it would be.
He grew up in Augusta, and his father played golf in the shadow of Augusta National -- next door at Augusta Country Club.
It was always the 22-year-old Howell's dream to play in the Masters, and he traveled halfway around the world to make sure he'd get his invitation. He played in the Australian Open during Thanksgiving week to make sure he was in the world's top 50 at year's end.
"I said early in the week that I'd trade everything in the world for this tournament, and I still would," Howell said. "I'd trade in the other three majors in a heartbeat."
Scott is set: Australia's Adam Scott won't have to wait and worry about the world rankings or anything else. He's coming back to Augusta in 2003.
Scott shot 70 to move into the top 16, ensuring a return invitation to the Masters.
"I'm pretty rapped about it," he said, using an Aussie expression for "excited."
Also among the top 16 were Angel Cabrera, Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Jimenez, all of whom would have a good chance of getting in next year anyway because of their world ranking.