Criticism is not music to his ears

Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne is hardly oblivious to mounting criticism that the Masters has lost some of its mojo.

“The criticism hurts a little bit,” he said. “It’s like when you go to a piano recital of one of your granddaughters and you hear somebody say, ‘That’s the worst kid I’ve ever seen.’ It hurts your feelings.”

The prevailing sentiment is that Masters officials, by adding trees, rough and more than 400 yards, have taken some thrill from the event. The back-nine par fives have become layup holes for many, resulting in fewer eagles (19 in 2008 versus 32 in 1997) and less buzz.

Payne, though, believes that unusually chilly, windy conditions over the last two years are to blame.

“No one wants to hear the roars more than the members and the volunteers who put on the tournament,” Payne said. “If the weather, in fact, is better this week, then we will have the first real test. And then I’ll be glad to answer the question again.”

One to grow on

C.J. Griffin, a 13-year-old golf fan from Augusta, asked for Gary Player’s autograph Wednesday near the 18th green. Griffin got so much more.

Player, the fitness enthusiast who will compete in his 52nd and final Masters this week, wrote down four foods he wants Griffin to avoid.

“No bacon,” Player said, speaking as he wrote. “No milk. No white bread. And very little ice cream. I want you lean and mean!”

With that, Player pounded his flab-free abs.

“And I’m 73!” he shouted.

Cross him off

Tim Clark on Wednesday won the Par 3 Contest, shooting five-under-par for nine holes. The victory, of course, means Clark has no chance to win the main event. Or so history tells us.

Not only has the Par 3 champion been shut out of the green jacket ceremony, 2008 winner Rory Sabbatini missed the cut in the 2008 Masters -- one year after tying for second place.

Let me hit another

The Masters is all seriousness when the first round starts, but it was the exact opposite at the Par 3 Contest. Anthony Kim, a Masters rookie, had his father on the bag.

Greg Norman’s caddie was his wife, tennis great Chris Evert. And they had reason to celebrate. Norman had a hole in one on the sixth hole and gave his caddie a smooch.

But the biggest cheer was for Player. Trouble was, it was for his third shot.

Player, in the “Big Three” group with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, dumped one in the water at No. 9, so he teed up another and watched his shot hit the green, spin and roll back into the cup. He flexed his muscle, and his 7-year-old grandson ran into his arms.

“He said, ‘Gramps, you’ve still got it,’ ” Player said.

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tgreenstein@tribune.com