Hot Streak Gives Rocca a Small Prayer

Italy’s Costantino Rocca played Amen Corner, the 11th, 12th and 13th holes, in eight shots--birdie, birdie, eagle.

Since 1960, only three others have done that at Augusta--Gene Sauers in 1993, Don Pooley in 1986 and Ray Floyd in 1966.

Rocca, trailing Tiger Woods by nine shots, will be playing with Woods in the final group today. He played with Woods at the U.S. Open last year when Woods was an amateur.

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More information became available on Allen Caldwell, a local businessman who apparently killed himself Friday when he could not meet obligations for Masters tickets that he had sold.

Caldwell, 40, was in a business partnership with the Atlanta-based World Golf Hospitality, which arranges golf packages for corporate clients.

He was part-owner of The Clubhouse, described as an “upscale hospitality center” near Augusta National that had leased private tables during Masters week to corporations for $22,000 apiece.

Caldwell’s personal responsibility was to acquire individual admission badges for customers. He was unable to provide them, according to Tim Stoesz, an attorney for World Golf, when the tickets Caldwell was expecting were sold to someone else willing to pay a higher price.

The tickets were originally due to be delivered Wednesday, but then Caldwell was told he must wait until Thursday, and then Friday, for a tournament that began play Thursday morning.

Caldwell was found at his Martinez, Ga., house by his wife Friday morning, having apparently committed suicide with a 12-gauge shotgun. Angry corporate clients were informed Friday afternoon that there would be no Masters tickets.

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Jack Nicklaus tied Sam Snead’s record of 146 rounds played at the Masters. Nicklaus, 57, and playing in his 39th Masters, will break Snead’s record today. Snead played in 44 Masters.

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When Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson missed the cut, it wasn’t only unusual, it also was historic.

Never before have the top three players from the previous Masters missed the cut the next year.

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Paul Stankowski hit a two-iron over the green and into the water at the 15th hole.

“Probably a stupid play,” Stankowski said, “but stupid is as stupid does.”

He hit a fine recovery shot and managed to save par.

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The total prize money at the Masters was announced Saturday at approximately $2.7 million, with $486,000 going to the winner. Faldo won $450,000 last year.