Strange Things Are Happening : From Nowhere, Money Leader Flies Into Contention

The first thing Curtis Strange did after shooting an opening-round 80 Thursday in the Masters was to make a reservation for a flight home to Kingsmill, Va., early Friday afternoon.

The first thing he did after finishing his second round, shortly after noon Friday, was to cancel the reservation. Amazingly, this year’s leading money winner is back in the tournament.

Strange, in a twosome just behind Arnold Palmer, the leadoff man, played under ideal conditions and shot a seven-under-par 65, an improvement of 15 strokes and just one shot off the tournament record. So instead of going home to spend some time with his new son, David Clark, born last week, Strange is now a contender for the green jacket.

When he teed off Friday morning, Strange was 12 strokes behind leader Gary Hallberg and was also behind 74 of the other 76 golfers in the field. Swirling winds and the tricky greens obviously bothered later starters Friday. After two rounds, Strange, at 145, is only five strokes behind the leaders--Tom Watson, Craig Stadler and Payne Stewart.

He has caught or passed all but 12 golfers. The winner of two tournaments this year and of almost $337,000 is definitely a threat for the championship. Not in his wildest dreams did the Wake Forest graduate expect to make such a remarkable recovery from his horrendous 80.

“I was just thinking before the round that I would just go out there, get it over with and get out of Dodge City,” Strange said. “Although I didn’t really play that badly in shooting the 80, I made the plane reservation because I didn’t want to sit around here tonight and drink beer. I wanted to drink the beer at home.

“I really hate the idea of missing the cut, but I made a reservation for a 2:50 flight home. I was going to get an early start on taking care of Tom (his 2-year-old son). I planned on doing it for the next two weeks and was just going to help out at home until the Tournament of Champions.

“The eagle on 2, when I hit an 8-iron that hit on the green and rolled 20 feet into the cup, really changed my thinking and my plans. I’ll remember this round for a long time, only partly because it could easily have been a 63 or 64.

“When I birdied 14 to go eight under, I was thinking about the record. Maybe that’s why I didn’t break it. I pulled my drive on 15 (one of the par-fives the pros consider a birdie hole) into the woods. I had a chance to gamble, but Gypsy (his caddy, Joe Grillo) said, ‘You’ve accomplished so much, why take the chance.’

“So, I hit the ball out onto the fairway, put my approach on the back of the green and three-putted for a bogey. Then, on the 17th, I just hit a terrible 7-iron and was fortunate to get a par. I had a makeable birdie putt on 18 that would have tied it, but I just missed.

“The main thing is, though, that I won my own little tournament. There is no thought in my mind that I will be in contention. The pin placements are easier and the greens are soft. I expect someone among the leaders will have a big round. I’ll still be happy about the round I shot and making the cut.”

As it turned out, none of the leaders could sustain a hot round. Scotland’s Sandy Lyle, playing in the sixth twosome of the day, matched Strange’s 65, and Johnny Miller, who also teed off early, shot a 68. None of the 32 players who teed off after noon shot better than 71. Craig Stadler, with an 11:48 time, shot a 67.

Strange wasn’t sure he would even play in the Masters. The birth of his son was due the day before the tournament started. But David Clark arrived a week early, and Strange decided to compete here.

“I think I was ready, physically and mentally,” Strange said. “I was relieved that baby and mommy were both fine. And really, I hit the ball pretty well yesterday. However, I three-putted four times in the first eight holes. When I looked back on the round, I realized I had taken 38 putts.

“After 12 holes, I thought I had played well and I was five or six over. I think maybe I got a little down. I try to do my best every time out there, but I think I became too fast on my swing.

“I really feel good about the way I came back today. Who knows, if I shoot another 65 I might even win it.”

Asked if he had ever had such a turnaround in two rounds, he said: “I think I did about the same thing here in reverse. Although the best I ever shot here before today was a 69.

“I remember a couple of years ago on a cold, windy day at Bay Hill (in Orlando), I opened with an 81. The next day it was even colder, and I was on the practice tee at 7:30. Roger Maltbie spotted me at the driving range and said: ‘What are you doing here?’ Well, I went out and shot a 69 and made the cut. It is really a special feeling when you do something like this.”