At 66, Brewer Gets Even With Augusta

In 1967, eight years before Tiger Woods was born, Gay Brewer shot an eight-under- par 280 and won the Masters by a shot over Bobby NXXichols.

In Thursday’s first round of the Masters, 66-year-old Gay Brewer shot par 72 and walked, arthritic hips and all, into the Masters record books again--the oldest player to shoot par in the Masters.

To say Brewer’s feat was surprising doesn’t say it at all. Amazing is more like it, although first-round leader Fred Couples had another adjective.

“I think it was incredible,” Couples said. “I think it was a lot better than my 69. That should be the story of the day.”

Brewer, from Mission Hills, Kan., hasn’t made the cut at the Masters since he finished 47th in 1983.

“It’s a thrill,” he said. “I know this course well enough. I just kept my mind on the game.

“But it’s just a round. I hope to make the cut. I’m here for that.”

Brewer won 10 PGA Tour events in a pro career that began in 1956, the last one in 1972. He has won once on the Senior PGA Tour but hasn’t played well this year. In fact, Brewer is 77 over par in six events.

But Brewer is fairly well known as a good player in the wind, and the way it was blowing Thursday, that trait came in handy.

Now if only Brewer can handle success.

“This still is the only tournament where I still get nervous,” he said. “The people are right on top of you, the tees are small. It’s a pressure. But I think I’ll be all right.”

Sam Snead was 65 when he shot a 74 at the 1978 Masters.

OR A FEW BIRDIES

Ben Crenshaw shot an 83, 11 over, and said, “I need an ambulance.”

Crenshaw, the 1984 and 1995 Masters champion, shot 39-44 and finished with his worst round in 27 Masters.

Crenshaw said he was inept from the start, but at least he had an excuse. He has had a bad cold for the last three days. He hasn’t made a cut since last year’s U.S. Open.

A LONG WALK

For what it’s worth, Jack Nicklaus has played 1,028,360 yards of golf so far in 40 Masters. Now you know.

HITS KEEP ON COMING

Is there any interest in the Masters? Well, a little. The Masters Internet site, www.Masters.org, averaged five million hits an hour Thursday.

RECOVERY SHOT

Snead, just out of the hospital, was out there Thursday morning, on the first tee with Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson, hitting ceremonial first balls to officially begin the tournament.

The 85-year-old, three-time Masters champion had been hospitalized Tuesday night after complaining of dizziness and nausea. He said he had eaten “a bad piece of chicken.”

Snead said doctors woke him at 5 a.m. Wednesday to conduct a series of tests.

What did they find?

“Nothing,” he said.

An honorary starter since 1984, Snead downplayed his role.

“It’s not that important,” he said. “It’s just that you’re still here and you’re still going. That’s the whole thing. Like Sarazen and Byron, neither one can knock it up the hill.”

Sarazen is 96 and Nelson 86. Peggy Nelson teed the ball up for her husband, who has arthritis in his hips and walks with a cane.

OR GET A PLAQUE

Jack Stephens, the Masters chairman, said he did not favor changing Augusta National to combat Woods, who shot a record 18 under par last year.

Stephens was asked if Woods was around 18 under par again this year, what the Masters would do.

“Well, I suppose that we’ll anoint him,” Stephens said.

GET FIRED UP

Stephens was asked if the Masters might adopt a no-smoking policy, given the increase in the popularity of cigars on the golf course.

Stephens said nothing, but he reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, then put it back in his pocket.

NAME-CALLING

New print ads for the LPGA Tour feature Annika Sorenstam in an unusually confrontational manner, since Sorenstam is about as abrasive as warm milk.

The ad copy next to a picture of Sorenstam following through on a swing describes her as polite, considerate and genuinely friendly to her fellow competitors.

But, the ad continued, going up against Sorenstam “is like getting your butt kicked by Miss Manners.”

Now this is all just great, except for the fact that Sorenstam is Swedish and didn’t know Miss Manners from Miss Saigon until she got filled in by LPGA Commissioner Jim Ritts.

Ritts, by the way, is the one who once called Sorenstam “a baby-faced assassin.”

Sorenstam apparently no longer needs to make a name for herself. There are plenty of others doing it for her.

GOLDEN BEAR

According to a recent article in Barron’s, courses designed by Nicklaus pull in more greens fees, dues and initiation fees than any other designer.

Nicklaus’ courses bring in $13 million in greens fees, $18.5 million in dues and $13.2 million in initiation fees. Tom Fazio is next with $11 million in greens fees, $12.5 million in dues and $8.2 million in initiation fees.

The figures were compiled by Golf Research Group.

IS IT ON WHEELS?

OK, so Woods endorses the All-Star Cafe, but is that any reason to stick one directly across the street from the main gate at Augusta National?

Top teaching pros Rick Smith, David Leadbetter and Bob Rotella are putting in appearances and some of the proceeds from the Masters experience will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation.

BIRDIES, BOGEYS, PARS

The 26th Taylor’s Steak House tournament will be held May 18 at Brookside in Pasadena. The event benefits Devereux California, which runs programs for autism. Details: (818) 790-8182.

The fourth Brandie Burton classic will be held June 5 at California Country Club in Whittier. The event benefits the Spanish Trails Girl Scout Council. Details: (609) 624-6696.