With All of Usual Suspects Lined Up, the Burden of Proof Should Be Heavy

The azaleas bloomed early at Augusta National this year, so does that mean the drama at the Masters will occur late?

Maybe it’s going to be different than last year, when Greg Norman needed all of 12 holes in his fourth-round showdown with Nick Faldo to turn a six-shot lead into a two-shot deficit. The only suspense the last six holes gave was who would be the most relieved at the end--Faldo because he had won or Norman because it was over.

The 61st Masters begins today at the golf club on Washington Road, where 86 players go after fame, glory, a $450,000 first prize and a green jacket.

The show begins at 8 a.m., when 95-year-old Gene Sarazen, 85-year-old Byron Nelson and 85-year-old Sam Snead tee it up in the ceremonial first group. After that, they retire to the veranda of the clubhouse to watch the rest of the proceedings.

It should be an interesting show.

So many players have so much to prove, this tournament could be staged at a golf course or in a courtroom.

Faldo, who has been struggling with his putting, needs to prove once again he’s the best player the world.

Norman needs to prove last year’s collapse was a fluke.

Tiger Woods needs to prove he is ready to win his first major.

Tom Lehman needs to prove he is ready to win his second major.

Phil Mickelson . . . (see Tiger Woods).

Fred Couples needs to prove he is still a world-class player capable of contending for a major championship.

Jose Maria Olazabal needs to prove he can play golf at a high level on aching feet.

Colin Montgomerie needs to prove he can do something at the Masters besides struggle to make the cut.

Corey Pavin needs to prove he can rebound. He was acting like it Wednesday when David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs was his caddie during the par-three contest.

Norman and Mickelson are playing together today in the first round, but that isn’t the only compelling pairing. Tom Lehman is playing with Nick Price, Ian Woosnam is playing with Ernie Els and Tom Watson is playing with Steve Elkington, but the highlight pairing of the day is Faldo and Woods.

Montgomerie said he thinks Woods may be at a disadvantage.

“It would be a difficult draw for Tiger,” Montgomerie said. “Nick, I’m sure, is past the stage of worrying who he’s playing with. He’s his own man, and we know that.

“But it will be interesting to see how Tiger copes with Nick defending and what have you. It will be interesting to see what both of them score, actually, but especially Tiger.”

As for Tiger, he may have a thing or two up the sleeve of his shirt with the swoosh on it.

Can he win this Masters?

Woods, 21, is making his third appearance at the Masters. He tied for 41st in 1995, but missed the cut last year when he shot 75-75.

It hasn’t bothered many experts, who have picked Woods as one of the favorites, despite his relative inexperience. Woods said that shouldn’t be a factor.

“Depends on how [a player] is playing,” he said. “Fuzzy [Zoeller] won here on his first try. It can happen. It just depends.

“Any pro that tees off can win any week. It does help to have local knowledge of a golf course in past experiences. But when a guy gets his A game and still has his A game, he’s probably going to win.”

Norman had his A game for three days last year only to revert to his F game on the last day. It has been a long 12 months since his closing round of 78 cost him a Masters title.

Norman said it’s about time to stop thinking about what happened last year. In fact, right about now would be just fine with him.

“I’d like to see the old story from last year to now finish up with this interview,” he said Tuesday.

Steve Elkington, who already has won twice this year and may be considered a contender himself, said he knows Norman well enough that what happened in 1996 is no longer relevant.

“I think Greg’s fine,” Elkington said. “He’s well focused. It seems as though he’s striking the ball well. He knows how to play this course. He’s put last year behind him.”

Actually, it’s not a bad philosophy for everyone out there. The problem is that not everyone will be able to do it. Beginning today, we may find out who they are.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Lineup

WHEN: Today through Sunday

WHERE: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Nick Faldo.

TV: TODAY: 1 p.m., USA; highlights, 11:35 p.m., Channel 2; FRIDAY: 1 p.m., USA; highlights, 11:35 p.m., Channel 2; SATURDAY: 12:30 p.m., Channel 2; SUNDAY: 1 p.m., Channel 2.

FACTS AND FIGURES: S9

Tee Times

Pairings and start times (PDT) for today’s first round of the Masters:

5:00 a.m. Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead,

Byron Nelson (ceremonial)

5:20 a.m. Gay Brewer, Charles Coody

5:29 a.m. Billy Casper, Doug Ford

5:38 a.m. Tommy Aaron, Ken Green

5:47 a.m. John Cook, Stewart Cink

5:56 a.m. Scott Hoch, Sam Torrance

6:05 a.m. Larry Mize, Tom Miller

6:14 a.m. Dan Forsman, Lee Westwood

6:23 a.m. Jeff Sluman, Michael Bradley

6:32 a.m. Scott McCarron, Justin Leonard

6:41 a.m. Dudley Hart, Duffy Waldorf

6:50 a.m. D.A. Weibring, Ed Fiori

6:59 a.m. Fuzzy Zoeller, Steve Scott

7:08 a.m. Lee Janzen, Frank Nobilo

7:17 a.m. David Ogrin, Clarence Rose

7:26 a.m. Mark Brooks, Stuart Appleby

7:35 a.m. John Morse, David Berganio Jr.

7:44 a.m. Bob Tway, Jeff Maggert

7:53 a.m. David Duval, Jesper Parnevik

8:02 a.m. Craig Stadler, David Frost

8:11 a.m. Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry

8:20 a.m. Fred Couples, Vijay Singh

8:29 a.m. Corey Pavin, Loren Roberts

8:38 a.m. Sandy Lyle, Mark Calcavecchia

8:47 a.m. Tom Kite, Paul Azinger

8:56 a.m. Colin Montgomerie, Davis Love III

9:05 a.m. Brad Faxon, Tommy Tolles

9:14 a.m. Steve Jones, Per-Ulrik Johansson

9:23 a.m. Ben Crenshaw, Costantino Rocca

9:32 a.m. Tom Watson, Steve Elkington

9:41 a.m. Jack Nicklaus, Yoshinori Kaneko

9:50 a.m. Raymond Floyd, Robert Allenby

9:59 a.m. Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson

10:08 a.m. Arnold Palmer, Warren Bladon

10:17 a.m. Bernhard Langer, Mark McNulty

10:26 a.m. Gary Player, Tim Hogarth

10:35 a.m. Steve Stricker, Paul Stankowski

10:44 a.m. Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods

10:53 a.m. Jose Maria Olazabal, Mark O’Meara

11:02 a.m. Tom Lehman, Nick Price

11:11 a.m. Ian Woosnam, Ernie Els

11:20 a.m. Seve Ballesteros, Jumbo Ozaki

11:29 a.m. John Huston, Willie Wood

11:38 a.m. Fred Funk, Guy Boros

* FACTS AND FIGURES, S9