Conference 7.286::golf

    	My sentimental pick would have to be Johnny Miller.  He finally
    won again, this year, and I would love to see him win 1 more Major.
    Bur realistically, the odds are way against it.
    	I would have to go with Seve Baillisteros, if he's playing.
    If not, then Payne stewart.  He's due for a major any time now.
    
                                           Beak the Greek

    Some how I don't think Nicklaus has the magic this year. I like
    the guy a lot but I don't think he'll be in the running (but I could
    be wrong - I hope).
    
    Watson still doesn't have his game in top form but he'll be up there.
    
    Bernhard Langer and Seve have to be good bets.
    
    I think the Shark will be up there again this year but will he beat
    himself out of contention???  Even though he has the choke reputation,
    he still has to be the favorite this year.
    
    I think Kite and Crenshaw have a decent shot - especially Kite.
    He's always consistent at Augusta.

    
    A second vote for Payne Stewart. He seems to be at the peak of his
    game right now, and is destined for a Major win.
    
    							Fred Deady
    

    I just have a funny feeling that this Masters will go to some lesser
    known golfer.
    
    Roger
    

    	Ben Crenshaw has been playing very well this year and he has
    plenty of Masters experience... This could be his year....
    
    	If not Ben, then you have to like Seve...
    

    Calvin Peete.
    

    According to an interesting article in the Globe today, Trevino
    says taht golfers like himself and Peete don't have a chance at
    the Masters. He says the course is too long for their game, and
    requires a right-to-left shot where his is just the opposite.
    
    But more interesting is the real meat of the article, which is about
    how uncomfortable he is at Augusta. He says he's only been in the
    clubhouse once. He changes his shoes in the parking lot and goes
    home. The whole southern plantation atmostphere is just too much
    for him. And I would imagine a black golfer like Peete would be
    even more aware of this atmosphere, which Trevino finds pervasive
    and oppressive. After all, the Masters had it's first black golfer
    only 10 or 15 years ago. I think it was Charlie Sifford. (And the
    name -- Masters-- is ironic, considering the long domination of
    Clifford Roberts, who apparently would have been more at ease as
    a slave owner in 1850).
    
    Anyway, I think that the prevailing attitudes and traditions of
    a tournament do weigh on the golfers, and it has an effect on their
    games. I'd love it if Lee or Calvin won the Masters. Particularly
    Calvin Peete, who came up to golfing prominence the hard way against
    very tough odds. But according to Lee, the course and a lot more
    are all wrong.
    
    DC

    re. 8
    Mebbe so, but he's only a couple of shots off the lead after round
    1. I will admit to voting with my heart rather than my head, but
    it would be a gas to see Calvin putting on the Green Coat (don't
    dare call it a jacket). The thing I like most about Peete's game
    is his accuracy - when he's "on" there's no one who can place the
    ball better. Longer, maybe...
    
    The best thing the Masters did in recent years was banning Jack
    Whitaker as a broadcaster, for referring to the mob at the 18th
    green as a "mob." Apparently mobs aren't permitted at Augusta. I
    think you are right about Charlie Sifford being the first black
    golfer to play the tournament.
    

    I'd say Larry mize was a relative unknown. Certianly not one that
    anyone expected. I don't know about your local paper, but mine didn't
    even consider him a front runner going into the last day even though
    he was only two strokes out of first.
    
    You gota feel for Norman though. Imagine being jilted twice in as
    many years by one of the majors. 
    
    Roger
    

    re: .8
    
    I am dissappointed that Lee Trevino finds the Southern Plantation
    atmosphere a bit too much at the Masters.  He seemed to have no
    problem here in Birmingham a couple of years ago in winning the
    PGA.   I think the real problem is that he has never played well
    at Augusta.
    
    I also found it interesting that you would project Lee's feelings
    to the black community of PGA golfers.  I have never read or heard
    anything from Calvin Peete that would indicate that he has any problems
    with the Masters.  And, just where do you come off with you bit
    about Clifford Roberts being more comfortable as a slave owner?
    
    You must be a real blast to play with.  Wake up.  This is the 1980's
    in the South.  Maybe the real problem is in the North.

RE: a few back...

Lee Elder was the first black to play in the Masters.

RE: .11

Trevino's reluctance to play at Augusta has nothing to do with the South in 
general.  It's no secret that most winners of the Masters are long hitters 
and can move the ball consistently right to left (Nicklaus is a good 
example of a player that normally plays left to right, but can move it the 
other way if need be).  Andy Bean is a good example of a long hitter who 
can't move it right to left very well...hence he's never been close at the 
end.

Regarding Roberts:  if you've read anything about the Masters tradition, 
you know that Roberts was by his own admission...a bigot.  Certainly, his 
view towards black golfers can be carried over to how be *probably* felt 
about minorities in general.  Thus Trevino's attitude with the Masters 
tradition is justified.

Regarding Jack Whittakers comment on the crowd: if the crowd was indeed 
acting like a 'mob', then he was not out of line saying so.  On a somewhat 
similar subject, Vin Scully (voice of Dodger baseball) was asked to step 
down from covering the Masters because he 'didn't know when to shut up'.  
Golf is the one spectator sport (especially Augusta) that doesn't need a 
fifteen thousand word essay spoken before and after commercial breaks.  
Scully was famous for not letting the pictures convey the story.

'Nuff said.

Dale