Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990 TAG: 9004040958
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: AUGUSTA, GA. LENGTH: Medium
"Is that him?" a woman asked a course worker.
"Is that really Robert Gamez?"
The worker nodded his head in the affirmative.
"I think I'm in love," the woman replied.
Well, she's not the only one. Indeed, as golf's best players tuned up for the start of today's 54th Masters, it appeared that many in the record-sized practice-round galleries wanted a look at the PGA Tour's new young hope.
And why not? In his first 90 days on tour, the 21-year-old Gamez already has had a decent career, winning two tournaments - a record for a tour rookie - and $354,905.
So much for the $2 Nassau days back at the country club, right, Robert?
"Yeah," said Gamez, "before I came out on tour, I bought a car and my father [Tony] had to co-sign for it. Last week, my banker told me I wouldn't be needing any more co-signers.
"So, yes, things definitely have changed a lot."
It all started in February in Tucson, Ariz., when Gamez became the first PGA player since Ben Crenshaw to win in his first professional start.
Then, 12 days ago at Bay Hill, Fla., Gamez won again, when in spectacular fashion he slam-dunked a 7-iron from 176 yards out for an eagle-2 on the final hole.
Now comes the famed Augusta National Golf Club and the lore of the Masters.
When tooling down Magnolia Lane for the first time last Sunday, Gamez's only apparent concern was the volume on his rental-car tape deck, which was rapping with Tone Loc.
Cool cat, this Gamez.
"I'm not intimidated by this place," he said. "There's no pressure. It's just another golf tournament.
"I know I'm not supposed to win here first time out. It's not traditional or at least that's what people tell me. I'm supposed to have butterflies in my stomach just driving into this place. But to tell you the truth, I didn't.
"As far as the history of this place goes, I don't know who won here two years ago."
On Monday, in his first look at Augusta National, Gamez and playing partner Ben Crenshaw drew the biggest gallery. Gamez cruised home with a 4-under-par 68.
"He has beautiful hands. They're so soft," Crenshaw marveled.
Gamez said he liked the course and doesn't see his lack of experience being any disadvantage.
"I'm learning fast where you've got to hit the ball," he said. "But I can make [the course] favor my game. That's no problem. Hey, I can play whatever shot I need to play.
"From tee to green, the golf course is not that difficult. The greens are where it starts and where Augusta makes its name."
Gamez said Crenshaw and his Tuesday practice-round partners Tom Kite, Peter Jacobsen and Craig Stadler all provided advice in regard to reading Augusta's undulating, table-top slick greens.
"All of those guys have gone out of their way to help me," Gamez said.
Come Sunday afternoon, the kid hopes to make the teachers pay.
"I know I can win the golf tournament," Gamez said, with nary a flinch. "Win a major tournament, I would like to do that this year. I want to be known as one of the better players in the world . . . like [Greg] Norman, [Curtis] Strange and [Mark] Calcavecchia."
If Gamez sounds cocky, it's because he is. His father likes to refer to the trait as "ultra-confidence."
"He has convinced me," Tony Gamez said. "After he won at Tucson, a lot of people said it was because he felt at home since he had played the course a lot in college.
"But then he won the Nestle and now I say he can win anywhere.
"I've heard people call him cocky. He just has a lot of confidence, and that's something a fellow has to have to survive out here."
Norman, who was robbed of victory at the Nestle by Gamez's late stroke of magic, predicted the rookie will have a stern task here.
"Obviously, the guy has got the confidence, the attitude and the ability to play, although I still haven't seen him play except for the one shot at [No.] 18 [at Bay Hill]," Norman said.
"Obviously, he's a very confident individual. He's come straight out of college and got the game. He's coming here thinking this is a wide-open golf course."
Then comes the flip side, Norman said. He knows from first-hand experience.
"First time I was here in 1981, I was tied for the lead after Saturday," Norman said. "I teed off in the last group with [Tom] Watson on Sunday, and like Gamez, I said to myself, `Maybe this is just another tournament.' Then the as day went by and got to Amen Corner, the edginess started to come in.
"The big thing is he hasn't felt it before. He hasn't felt what Amen Corner [famed holes Nos. 11, 12 and 13] is like on Saturday and Sunday when you've got the heat, and somebody's bad breath on the back of your shoulder."
Bring it on, an undaunted Gamez said.
"Hey, whatever happens happens," he said. "If I don't win here, it's not the end of the world. There's always next week."
by CNB