Notebook : 7th-Place Finish Brings a Growl From the Bear

Defending champion Jack Nicklaus never came within four shots of the lead in the final round of the Masters Sunday.

But if he had shot a 65, like he did last year on the last day, instead of a two-under par 70, he would have won by one shot.

“I had a good chance to win if I had made some putts,” said Nicklaus, who finished in a five-way tie for seventh at 289, one-over par and four shots behind the leaders. He began the day seven shots out of the lead.

“It was a tough, tricky day because of the wind,” Nicklaus said. “I like that. If it had been an easy day, I wouldn’t have had a chance.

“A lot of funny things happen the last day at Augusta. You just keep playing and hope you don’t hear any singing.”

Asked if he was pleased to finish as well as he did, Nicklaus said: “I’m never pleased when I don’t win. That’s my makeup.

“Being the defending champion was a nice honor. I enjoyed all the things from that standpoint. But I don’t care whether I’m 25 or 47, I have a standard that if I’m going to tee it up I want to win.”

Greg Norman lost the PGA Championship last year when Bob Tway chipped in from the bunker on the final hole.

Norman lost the Masters Sunday when Larry Mize made a 140-foot chip shot on the second playoff hole.

“At least I was there,” Norman said.

But even though he was able to quip, Norman took this loss hard.

“I can’t ever remember making a shot like Bob Tway’s or Larry’s to win a tournament,” he said.

“You have that feeling, ‘Why me?’ You feel as though you’ve got to fight for everything yourself. Nothing is given to me.

“I’m more disappointed now than I’ve ever been. It’s a hollow feeling. I enjoy Augusta so much. I love this golf tournament.”

No matter how good a golfer you are, you are not supposed to be able to play seven straight holes at Augusta National in 21 strokes.

Jodie Mudd did.

Mudd, a 26-year-old non-winner on the PGA tour, did something nobody has ever done at the Masters. He made seven 3s in a row.

The Louisville golfer parred the 16th hole Saturday and birdied the 17th and 18th. He finished the day five strokes behind third-round leaders Roger Maltbie and Ben Crenshaw.

Mudd began Sunday’s final round birdie-eagle-birdie. On the 555-yard second hole, he missed a shot by inches that would have given him a double eagle.

Then, he parred the 205-yard fourth hole for his seventh straight 3.

Mudd finished the day with a 69, good for a 286 total and a tie for fourth place. One more birdie would have put him into the sudden-death playoff with Mize, Norman and Seve Ballesteros.

Mudd was playing at the Masters for the first time in four years. He already has had some other unusual experiences here.

In 1982, he was low amateur, shooting 294--which included a 67--and tying for 20th place. Mudd turned pro a week later.

In 1983, Mudd played well enough that after three rounds he was only two shots behind the leaders. But on the final day he blew up to an 86, and tied for 42nd place.

Any sort of a decent round that day would have assured him of placing among the top 24 finishers, which earns the golfer an automatic invitation to the following year’s Masters.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mudd moved on the following week to the Sea Pines Heritage Classic in South Carolina, where he promptly took the first-round lead. The next day, there came a long rain delay. When the rain finally stopped, Mudd was ready to play, but was unable to locate his caddy--who, as it turned out, had assumed that play had been washed out, and had gone home.

Without the caddy, Mudd was disqualified.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself,” Mudd said. “How to handle the good and the bad.”