South Africans Retief Goosen and Tim Clark took advantage of difficult conditions more common to a United States Open to move into contention after Thursday’s first round of the 70th Masters tournament.
Two-time US Open champion Goosen and Clark each fired a two-under par 70 to share fourth place, three strokes behind leader Vijay Singh of Fiji at Augusta National Golf Club’s 7,445-yard layout, the second-longest in majors history.
”I like it tough. I like the grind out there on every hole,” Goosen said. ”If it turns out that way, I’ve played that sort of conditions before and won so I do have the belief I can do that.”
Goosen, a top-10 finisher in five of his past six majors including a share of third here last year, was a Masters runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2002 and won the 2001 and 2004 US Opens at Southern Hills and Shinnecock respectively.
”Two-under is not a bad start. That score was as good as I could have shot,” Goosen said. ”I didn’t drive that well. I was making a lot of five-footers for par out there which is not good. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll feel more comfortable.
”The course is setting up to play very tough on the weekend. The greens are going to be tough.”
Clark, seeking his first major title, was so intimidated by talk about the toll of the longer layout that he played only one practice round. He responded with the best of his 13 rounds in five Masters appearances.
”I didn’t want to wear myself out before the week started,” Clark said.
”We knew the course was going to play tough so I didn’t want to go out there and play too many rounds and get negative. I wanted to come out and enjoy my golf.
”It has been a good thing. You hear guys say, ‘Look how long this hole is, how long that hole is.’ Nothing you can do about it. So I decided to play one round and try to enjoy it. I came out with a positive frame of mind.”
Ernie Els, another two-time US Open champion from South Africa, shared eighth on 71 in a conservative first round. To Els, one cannot win the Masters on day one, but can go a long way to ensuring a loss.
”I wanted to play it safe. I played a conservative day. I’m happy with it,” Els said.
”You don’t want to play yourself out of it on the first day. This was as easy as weather will permit. It was a good day to get yourself in there.”
Patience and conservative play is making a comeback, Clark said.
”It has gone back to that now. Conservative is the way to go, and hopefully pick a few holes where you are going to try and make birdies.”
Clark said the firm, dry conditions allowed shorter hitters off the tee like himself to match the long-drivers such as Singh and Woods.
”We need those fairways to be firm,” Clark said. ”It almost felt the way it played a few years ago when Mike Weir won when it was really wet.”
Goosen took a bogey at the par-5 second but followed with 20-foot birdie putts on three, 12 and 13.
Clark had two birdies and two bogeys and appeared destined for a level-par day before planting a 3-iron to 12 feet and making an eagle at the par-5 15th.
”The more you play, the more you find out where not to hit it,” Clark said. ”It’s tough to hit it in the right spots. The more you play the more you feel like you have a chance to get into contention.”
South African legend Gary Player fired a 79, considering it a victory to break 80 over the toughened layout. Three-time Masters winner Player (70) made his 49th Augusta start with a birdie at the 455-yard par-4 first hole.
With Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus retired, Palmer is the last of the ”Big Three” in the event.
”It’s sad not having Arnold and Jack here. We have had so many good times. Everything shall pass.” – AFP
