Masters accommodates ESPN with late tee time for Tiger’s first round
Contrary to speculation that the Masters would shield Tiger Woods from television coverage in his first round back from self-imposed exile, the lords of Augusta National have given Woods a late starting time Thursday, ensuring much of his round will be shown live.
Teeing off at 1:42 p.m., Woods and playing partners Matt Kuchar and K.J. Choi will be in the penultimate threesome Thursday, which should allow ESPN to show more than half of his round. The network will broadcast the first two rounds from 4-7:30 p.m. It will also break into regular programming to show Woods’ opening tee shot. Masters.com and ESPN.com will begin coverage at 3 p.m.
On Friday, it is unlikely that there will be any live coverage of Woods. He is scheduled to tee off, with the same partners, at 10:35 a.m.
In accordance with Masters tradition, as defending champion in 1998, Woods played with Kuchar, then the defending U.S. Amateur champ.
“It’s exciting. I got a front row seat for a pretty memorable time in history,” said Kuchar, who played college golf at nearby Georgia Tech. “If there’s any place to be paired with him with great crowds, it’s here.”
Choi, a huge television drawing card in his native Korea, has seven wins on the PGA Tour, including Woods’ inaugural AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in 2007. Choi has played with Woods 12 times.
“It’s a good surprise. I’m used to playing with Tiger,” said Choi, through an interpreter. “When you play with Tiger, it’s hard to explain, but there is an aura that is different than playing with other players. But I’m used to it, so I don’t think it is going to bother me at all.”
Playing in groups in front and behind Woods can be unnerving. Preceding Woods on the tee Thursday will be Steve Stricker, Ian Poulter, and Yuta Ikeda of Japan. In the trailing threesome will be Ricky Barnes, David Duval and Adam Scott.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal,” said Stricker, currently ranked No. 2 in the world after Woods. “There’s a lot of strict policies here. There’s no running up and down the fairways. It’s pretty calm … If anywhere you want to be paired ahead of [Woods] it would be here.”
Thursday tee times for other key players include Tom Watson (9:07), Ernie Els (10:13), Phil Mickelson (10:35), Fred Couples (12:58), Lucas Glover (1:09) and Padraig Harrington (1:20). Defending Masters champion Angel Cabrera tees off at 10:24 with Jim Furyk and defending U.S. Amateur champ Byeong An of Korea.
But the crowds following those players will pale in comparison to the throng that Woods will attract.
“Of all the tournaments, I think this is the one where it’s not as bad,” said four-time winner Woods of the scene at Augusta. “The media is not allowed inside the ropes. You don’t have that at the U.S. Open and British Open [where] we have over a hundred people inside the ropes and moving around. It’s going to be a lot more at ease this week than most.”
Player to watch » Paul Casey
Age » 32
Resume » Has won one PGA and 10 European Tour titles. Played college golf at Arizona State. Has earned $15.4 million (U.S. equivalent) on the European Tour and $6.8 million on the PGA Tour.
British revival » One of three players from England ranked in the top 10. No. 4 Lee Westwood, No. 6 Casey and No. 7 Ian Poulter will all attempt to become the first player from Britain to win at Augusta since Nick Faldo (1996).
Stars aligned? » The average age of the last 20 Masters winners is 32.55. Casey will turn 33 on July 21. Seven of the last 11 major championship winners have been foreign born.
2010 » Has been in top form, finishing in the top 10 in all four PGA Tour starts. Ranks No. 3 in putting (1.70 putts per round), a key stat for success at Augusta.
Masters » In five Masters starts, Casey has been in the top-20 four times. In his first appearance, 2004, he was two strokes back before shooting a final-round 74 to tie for sixth behind Phil Mickelson.
Thursday » Casey tees off at 10:02, playing with 2009 playoff participant Chad Campbell and Italian Francesco Molinari.
