Ten Predictions That Require Masters Degree

Next week, the Masters lets us know that spring is here--even if Jack Nicklaus isn’t--and all the commentary and discussion and evaluation of the alterations made to Augusta National can begin in earnest.

You usually know what to expect around the place: Lots of blooming flowers, lots of blooming trees, lots of blooming complaining about how hard the course is. Chances are it’s not going to be any easier this time.

With so much to think about, it’s probably a good time to get a head start on the proceedings and point out what things are sure to happen during Masters week.

1. Someone will count the number of magnolia trees on Magnolia Lane and reveal the number to be 61. This is correct.

2. Someone will count the number of new pine trees planted just short of the bunker complex on the left side of the 18th fairway and reveal this number to be seven.

3. No one, not even Tiger Woods, will hit a pitching wedge as a second shot at No. 18.

4. John Daly, who had to pull out of the BellSouth Classic because of the flu, will show up next week even if his caddie is a nurse.

5. David Duval, who says he hopes Augusta National will improve his spirits, will find it’s a tough place to locate his sense of humor.

6. Someone will find an intersection in Augusta that has a Waffle House on every corner.

7. Someone will discover that if they lengthen the 18th hole again and move the putting green any farther back, it’s going to wind up on the front porch of Bobby Jones’ cabin.

8. There will be a contest to see who is the first one to actually say, “The Masters doesn’t start until the back nine on Sunday.” (Why play the first 63 holes then?)

9. Greg Norman, who is playing better despite a sore back, will actually continue doing so, but he won’t win, again.

10. Tiger will, again.

Program Note

News item: The LPGA says some of its tournaments will be carried on cable, on the Oxygen channel.

Reaction: Isn’t that what the Senior Tour is on?

Ballot Update

Ben Crenshaw has been voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, selected on the PGA Tour ballot, along with Tony Jacklin, who made it on the International Ballot. Marlene Hagge also was elected, in the LPGA Veterans category.

The induction ceremony is Nov. 15 at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Fla.

Bernhard Langer will also be inducted. Langer made it in 2001 but wanted to delay his induction to this year.

Ratings News

There was relief, but no one was doing handsprings at the LPGA headquarters when the overnight television ratings showed that ABC’s 2.6 Nielsen rating for Annika Sorenstam’s victory Sunday at Mission Hills were 92% better than last year’s 1.2. Why?

“I’m a realist,” LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw said. “We had a PGA Tour lead-in [the Shell Houston Open] and not going against us. Also, the leaderboard helped too.”

Shoe News

Here’s the final update on those red shoes that Sorenstam wore when she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship. They’re made by Nike, they’re from the women’s “Verdana” collection, they’re $85 and they’re slip-ons.

The good news is that they slip off pretty easily too, thank goodness, the way those things look.

Said Sorenstam: “Maybe Tiger will throw me a few pennies.”

The shoes won’t be in stores until Sept. 1, so we do have something to be thankful for. It’s fair to say the reaction to them is mixed. Some people thought the shoes looked fine and others thought the shoes looked like someone needed to drop a house on them.

Votaw assumed a diplomatic posture about the footwear: “I think they were nice to look at, but not to wear.”

Brace Yourself

The best quote of the week is from Aree Wonglukiet, 15, when asked when she planned to turn pro: “I don’t know, when I get my braces off.”

Beep, Beep

Who’s in the driver’s seat? It’s Chrysler, which announced it will sponsor two events and renew its sponsorship deal at two other PGA Tour events from 2003-2006, including the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Chrysler will also continue its deal with Greensboro and also take over the Tucson Open (now the Chrysler Classic of Tucson) and the Chrysler Championship in Tampa--which gets $24 million from the automaker and can now offer a $5-million purse for the week before the Tour Championship.

Chrysler replaces Buick as the largest sponsor of regular tour events.

Program Note II

Here’s the latest on the proposed Major Champions Tour--attorney Leonard Decof has signed on and letters have gone out to the prospective players to see if 20 of the 34 eligible to play will agree to do so by the May 30 deadline established by Fox.