Mystique Looks Like Mistake : Golf: Donald (64) and Huston (66) breeze through the course in their first official rounds at Augusta National. Norman soars to a 78.

By MAL FLORENCE

April 6, 1990 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

AUGUSTA, Ga. —

Mike Donald came to his first Masters tournament with low expectations.

“I hoped I wouldn’t have a bad round and shoot myself out of contention,” Donald said. “Realistically, I just wanted to finish in the top 24 so I could come back next year.”

Donald, with only one PGA Tour victory in his 10-year career, far exceeded his expectations.

He shot an eight-under-par 64 Thursday to lead another first-time Masters player, John Huston, by two strokes.

“It was the round of my life,” Donald, 34, said as tears welled in his eyes. “I played a lot of rounds as a kid thinking about the Masters and I never shot that good then.”

Donald tied the first-round record set by Lloyd Mangrum in 1940 and almost equaled the course record of 63 set by Nick Price in 1986.

Donald had no indication that he was prepared for such a superb round.

“I hadn’t been playing well in practice rounds and I hadn’t been putting good for six or seven weeks,” he said.

So much for the theory that a player should be on a roll coming into this prestigious tournament, the first of the four majors.

Moreover, it has been said that course knowledge is important here, with the veteran players seemingly aware of every nuance, especially the fast, undulating greens.

“I just played one shot at a time, and when I made a 40-foot downhill putt on the fourth hole, I thought I had won the tournament,” Donald said. He had eight birdies, sinking four putts that ranged from 15 to 40 feet.

On a warm, clear day in Georgia, some of the favored players faltered.

Greg Norman, who has been over par in his three previous first rounds at the Masters--73, 77 and 74--stumbled again with a 78. And Seve Ballesteros and Mark Calcavecchia each shot a 74.

Others fared better. Peter Jacobsen had a 67, Bill Britton, another first-year player, posted a 68, and seven players were grouped at 70, including Curtis Strange, Larry Mize, Raymond Floyd and Bernhard Langer.

Britain’s Nick Faldo, the defending champion, and Scott Hoch, last year’s runner-up, each shot a 71. Jack Nicklaus, coming off his first Senior Tour victory, had an even-par 72.

Strange was not surprised that Donald, 22nd on the money-winning list last year, played so splendidly, despite previous inexperience in the Masters.

“Mike Donald is a better player than he has shown,” Strange said. “He’s a good all-around player.”

Mize, who won the Masters in 1987, recalled that his second-best performance here was in 1984, when he tied for 11th in his first year at the tournament.

“I think first-time guys can play well here and I did,” Mize said. “It really didn’t surprise me. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it’s the excitement of playing here for the first time.”

Winning is, of course, something else. Fuzzy Zoeller has the distinction of being the last player to win as a first-time participant in the Masters, in 1979.

Said Strange: “We’ll see what’s going on Sunday afternoon. That’s when tournaments are won.”

Donald qualified for the Masters by winning the Anheuser Busch Classic last year, beating Tim Simpson and Hal Sutton in a playoff at Williamsburg, Va.

Obviously emotional in the interview room, Donald’s voice choked a bit as he gave credit to his caddie, Billy Harmon, son of the late Claude Harmon, a noted teaching professional.

“Billy was a big help for me,” Donald said. “I couldn’t have done it without him. I’m as happy for Billy as I am for myself.”

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Donald, who lives in Hollywood, Fla., is known as a blue-collar player because of his work ethic. He said he played in 38 tournaments last year and 40 in 1988, including some team events. “I love to play,” he said. “I’m single and have no obligations at home.”

There was a time, though, when Donald’s career was definitely on hold.

While playing for Georgia Southern, he said he had a conflict with his coach, Ron Roberts, and his scholarship was taken away.

Then, Donald got a taste of the real world.

“I delivered flowers for a year and a half and I hated it,” he said. “There aren’t many jobs out there for college dropouts.”

He had his scholarship renewed, though, when Roberts left to take a coaching job at Wake Forest.

Donald said he also augmented his income when he was younger by umpiring in Little League games. So he knows about pressure, getting it then from parents.

“I don’t expect to shoot another 64 tomorrow,” Donald said, “but at least people will remember me even if I shoot a 75.”

Huston earned his first Masters trip with a victory at Coral Springs, Fla., last month.

“I never had a par putt over six feet today, so I didn’t have to struggle,” said Huston, who had six birdies in his round of 66.

Unlike Donald, Huston said he played extremely well in some practice rounds at home.

“It was my first Masters and I certainly was excited when I got here on Sunday,” Huston said. “But we had big crowds in practice rounds, so I got used to them. The key was not to get overexcited and to keep a low profile.”

He also said that playing with Mark McCumber, a veteran, in a practice round helped him to calm any nervousness.

“Mark’s advice was whatever happens, don’t let it devastate you,” Huston said.

Huston was devastated in another manner a few weeks ago, before the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra, Fla.

While driving near his home in Palm Harbor, Fla., in the Tampa Bay area, he was involved in an automobile accident.

“I hit the windshield and had 11 stitches taken in my head,” Huston said.

So Huston, coming off his first tour victory, had to withdraw from the Players tournament.

Huston, 29, has been on the tour for only two years after struggling to get his qualifying card at tour school. He got it in his fifth try.

He said conditions were perfect for his round in the morning.

“Growing up in the Southeast, I’d rather win this tournament than the U.S. Open,” Huston said.

Ben Crenshaw, in 1984, was the last first-round leader to win the Masters. So, even if Donald and Huston fade in subsequent rounds, they’ve had their day in the sun.

THE FIRST ROUND

THE LEADERS

MIKE DONALD 64

JOHN HUSTON 66

PETER JACOBSEN 67

BILL BRITTON 68

GEORGE ARCHER 70

RAYMOND FLOYD 70

CURTIS STRANGE 70

LARRY MIZE 70

BERNHARD LANGER 70

BILL GLASSON 70