On a rain-soaked opening to the Masters, Casey Wittenberg made the turn with a two-under 34 and a share of the early lead on Thursday, while David Duval showed signs of snapping out of a mystifying slump.
Much of the attention was on Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and defending champion Phil Mickelson. They teed off in the afternoon after thunderstorms delayed the start of play by nearly five-and-a-half hours.
Then there was 73-year-old Billy Casper, who returned to the course after a three-year absence — and set a dubious record by making 14 at the par-three 16th.
Casper hit five shots in the water before finally finding the green. He didn’t even bother marking his ball, taking three putts to get down.
Wittenberg (20) birdied three of his first six holes, demonstrating that his strong play as an amateur was no fluke. A year ago, he shot an even-par 288, tying for 13th and earning a return trip to Augusta.
Wittenberg was tied at two under with Ryan Palmer, Nick O’Hern, Shingo Katayama of Japan and Stuart Appleby of Australia.
The bad weather that has plagued the United States PGA Tour since the start of the year didn’t spare Augusta National.
Thunderstorms swept through the area in the morning, saturating the azalea-lined course. A small stream ran across the first fairway. Puddles dotted the bunkers.
When play finally began, golfers used both the first and 10th tees — a last-resort decision at the tradition-rich club.
Duval, a two-time Masters runner-up, didn’t play a year ago because his game was in such disrepair. His last round at Augusta was one to forget — an 84 in 2003.
But Duval birdied two of his first six holes to claim the lead briefly, though a couple of bogeys left him with even-par 36 at the turn.
After the 14 at 16, Casper bogeyed the next two holes and made the turn with a 21-over 57 — well on his way to the highest score in Masters history. Charles Kunkle shot 95 in 1956.
”This is going to slow my momentum,” Casper quipped on his way to the clubhouse, where he stopped for a brief rest before heading off to play his final nine holes.
Before Casper came along, the highest score at number 16 was an 11 by Herman Barron in 1950.
It was surprising to find Casper in the field, even though he has the right to play as a former champion. In 2002, Augusta National chairperson Hootie Johnson sent letters to Casper and two other ageing golfers, Gay Brewer and Doug Ford, asking them to step aside.
Casper stayed away for three years, but decided to return this year after having a hip replaced.
It was the fourth consecutive week players were kept off the course because of rain. The Masters became the ninth of 15 events on the US PGA Tour schedule to be halted at some point because of weather — rain, wind, fog, even a brief snow flurry last week in Atlanta.
”This isn’t part of the PGA Tour,” Ted Purdy said, listening to rumbles of thunder on the horizon. ”But we’re bringing the weather with us.”
Then again, Augusta National has its own history of bad weather.
This is the fourth straight year the Masters has been suspended because of rain, including 2003, when it rained so much the tournament did not begin until Friday.
The first starting time, originally set for 8.05am local time, was pushed back to 1.30pm. David Howell, Jonathan Kaye and Purdy teed off from the first tee; old-timers Casper, Charles Coody and Tommy Aaron began on the back.
For the third year in a row, there was no ceremonial first shot.
Augusta National hopes that Arnold Palmer, who played the last of his 50 Masters in 2004, will eventually take over the duties.
With the first round unlikely to be completed on Thursday, tournament officials announced a two-tee start on Friday as well, hoping to get the Masters back on schedule heading into the weekend. — Sapa-AP