‘Maligned but Not Damaged’

Don’t expect Augusta National Golf Club to start adding women’s tees any time soon.

Hootie Johnson, the club chairman, said Wednesday at his annual Masters news conference that there are no plans to invite its first female member.

“Just because we hold a golf tournament, because some of our members are well known, should not cause us to be viewed any differently,” Johnson said. “I have also stated that there well may come a time when we include women as members of our club, and that remains true.

“However, I want to emphasize that we have no timetable with our present status.”

Johnson said the campaign carried out by the National Council of Women’s Organizations to pressure Augusta National to admit a woman has affected the Masters tournament.

“It’s been maligned, but I don’t think it’s been damaged,” Johnson said. “And I think the Masters will continue to be one of the great sporting events of the world, next year and the year after and the year after and the year after.”

Johnson also said the Masters could continue indefinitely without television sponsors, but there’s a good chance sponsors will be back in 2004. Johnson had a quick response when asked about Tiger Woods’ statement that Augusta National should have a female member.

Said Johnson: “I won’t tell Tiger how to play golf if he doesn’t tell us how to run our private club.”

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Johnson said if a female qualified, she would be invited to play the Masters. Michelle Wie, the 13-year-old from Honolulu who tied for ninth at the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship, has said she plans to enter the U.S. Public Links because the winner receives an exemption into the Masters.

The Public Links is July 14-20 at Blue Heron Pines near Atlantic City, N.J.

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No first-round leader has won the Masters since Ben Crenshaw in 1984.

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Jack Nicklaus, 63, is playing in his 43rd Masters, but he didn’t make up his mind to come back again until he practiced at Augusta National three times in the last month.

“I wasn’t real sure that I had a golf game.... I’m still not too sure,” he said.

Nicklaus said he hadn’t been convinced he could hit the ball far enough. He also said the wet conditions mean the course probably will play longer than ever.

“It’s going to be very difficult for anybody who doesn’t hit it gorilla-style,” he said.

Nicklaus on Woods’ chance for a record third consecutive Masters title: “It would not surprise me in the least to see Tiger win it again.”

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Woods has been ranked No. 1 for 190 consecutive weeks and a total of 260 in his career. Since the rankings were established in 1986, Woods is one of only three players who have won the Masters while ranked No. 1.

The three: Ian Woosnam, 1991; Fred Couples, 1992, and Woods, 2001 and 2002.

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Do not think that Woods’ clothing choices at the Masters go unplanned.

Here’s the list, all by Nike, although it might be covered up by his foul-weather gear:

* First round -- Two-color polo shirt; single-pleated slacks; center seam shoe.

* Second round -- Solid color polo; black slacks.

* Third round -- One-button polo; black slacks.

* Fourth round -- Deep red polo; black slacks.

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Phil Mickelson has played once in the last six weeks and he missed the cut at the BellSouth, so he doesn’t sound too excited about his prospects this week.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m at 100% competitively, based on my performance last week,” he said. “It was more difficult than I thought to get back into it. As much time as I had spent with my family, it was that much harder to leave them when it was time to go. And I hadn’t been in a very competitive frame of mind.”

Mickelson took time off to be with his wife, Amy, who gave birth to the couple’s third child, Evan Samuel.

Even though he shot 73-79 at the BellSouth, Mickelson said playing wasn’t a total washout.

“I’m glad I did because it would be a shock coming here without it.”

Mickelson finished third at the Masters in 1996, 2001 and 2002 -- the latter two times when Woods won. But Mickelson said he no longer feels his mission is to close the gap on Woods.

“I don’t think it’s my job or any other player’s job to try to challenge another individual,” he said. “What I have started to look at is this is a chance for me to try to play at a different level of golf, with a different mental approach with more of a strategic mind-set.”