An Inviting Experience

By Thomas Bonk

April 6, 2004 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

AUGUSTA, Ga. —

Gentlemen, start your birdies!

Pars will do quite well too. Just watch out for bogeys or worse at the Masters, which begins here Thursday at Augusta National.

Mike Weir is the defending champion, the first Canadian and first left-hander to win the Masters, but chances are he’s going to have his hands full if he intends to repeat.

Phil Mickelson is considered one of the favorites, even though he has never won a major in 45 attempts as a professional. Mickelson, however, is drawing attention for his improved accuracy off the tee and better physical conditioning. Plus, he’s the first player since Tom Watson to have posted three consecutive top-three finishes at the Masters, which is impressive enough.

Ernie Els, who shot 79 in the first round a year ago, tied for sixth and is again considered a threat.

As Jack Nicklaus said, Tiger Woods will be a threat as long as he shows up, and this week is no different, although Woods has struggled to keep the ball on the fairway and to get close to the hole with his irons.

Adam Scott won the Players Championship, which means he’s hot, but he also seems to have figured out how to play Augusta National, where he has been at par or better six times in eight rounds.

Vijay Singh, if he hits greens and putts as he did during his top-10 streak, will be in the running for a Masters title to add to the one he won in 2000.

A bad back has bothered Davis Love III, but if he’s sound, he can build on his five top-10 finishes at Augusta National, even if he has posted none of them in the last three years.

Chad Campbell was a bust last year in his Masters debut when he missed the cut, but he won recently at Bay Hill, ending Woods’ four-year winning streak.

Darren Clarke is a popular choice, but he has had only five rounds under par in 18 rounds over five years of Masters play.

There are other contenders, of course, and the list should probably include Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Retief Goosen. At least they are here, which isn’t always an easy thing.

The Masters, arguably the world’s most famous and prestigious golf tournament, is actually an invitational, which separates it from any other major. Since its beginning in 1934, the Masters has altered the way it goes about inviting players so that the vast majority of them have met qualifying standards and very few are simply invited.

There are 17 ways to make the Masters field, but first on the list is known by everyone who steps onto the manicured grounds. Masters champions receive lifetime invitations to play.

There should be a footnote to this rule, however, since Hootie Johnson, several years ago, sent his infamous letter to older players who promptly became, well, uninvited. Johnson, Augusta National chairman, later backtracked, suggesting that any player who didn’t feel he was competitive should reconsider playing.

Gary Player said Johnson had made the correct move.

“I’m very pleased that he made the decision to go back to the way Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided,” said Player, 68. “He was humble enough to admit, ‘I made a mistake and we’ll go back to what was promised.’

“Great stuff. The Masters has been an integral part of my life, and Jack Nicklaus’ and Arnold Palmer’s. I don’t want a lifetime exemption. I’m no longer able to compete, believe me, I won’t be playing there.”

The manner in which players receive invitations, or qualify, has evolved, just as the course has changed its look over the years.

In the 1930s, players were invited after voting by former champions was taken. That method is long gone, but some of the oldest qualifications are still in use. In 1934, the first year of the Masters, champions of the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open and British Open were invited. The British Amateur champion was added to the list in 1935, along with the PGA Championship winner.

In 1989, the Mid-Amateur and Public Links champions joined the list. But even some of the oldest qualifications got a face-lift. At one time, the top 30 players from the previous Masters were automatically invited. That number shrank to 24 and then to 16. Also, the U.S. Open field’s presence has been reduced from the top 30 to the top eight.

In 1972, PGA Tour event winners began receiving invitations. That practice ended in 2000.

There has been other tweaking. Used to be, the top three money winners on the PGA Tour four weeks before the Masters earned invitations. This year, the top 10 on the money list a week before the tournament qualify. That may mean that the hottest players get in.

Plus, the Masters Tournament Committee can invite international players not otherwise eligible. That’s why Zhang Lian-Wei of China is here this year. He is one of four players to have received a special invitation since the Masters altered its criteria five years ago to rely more heavily on rankings. The others: Greg Norman in 2002, Shingo Katayama in 2001 and Aaron Baddeley in 2000 and 2001.

And who makes up the Masters Tournament Committee? It’s Johnson. Anybody who has any questions, better ask him.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Masters Facts

* What: The 68th Masters tournament.

* When: Thursday-Sunday.

* Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.

* Course: 7,290 yards, par 72.

* Format: 72 holes of stroke play, sudden-death playoff if necessary.

* Defending champion: Mike Weir.

They’re In

Who qualifies for the 2004 Masters:

* Masters tournament champions, lifetime.