Pretenders on the Masters leaderboard after round 1 in Augusta

Looking at the leaderboard after round 1, two guys caught my eye (besides the leader, Vijay, and Tiger Woods, I mean).

Ben Crenshaw - Hmm, this is a Ryder Cup year and Ben led the Americans’ amazing comeback in 1999 at Brookline as captain of that team. Could the planets be aligning for him? Could the old man from Texas be poised for a run that would earn him a third green jacket and make us all forget Jack Nicklaus in 1986? Well, no. He’ll fade. But it is really cool to see Crenshaw tied for 8th at one under. At 54, Ben still has some fight in him. I don’t think he’ll fold his tent as easily as this Texan did.

Rich Beem - Ranked 185th on the PGA Tour in putts per round (29.79), don’t look for Beem to stay in such lofty company for long. Odds of him adding a second major to his 2002 PGA Championship win? Let’s just say, you’re better off putting your dough on Tom Lehman. Beem’s not going to win another major.

– Mark Nessmith
Proud to be Augusta-lengthening-comment-free since 2006