Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 7, 1990 TAG: 9004070189
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: AUGUSTA, GA. LENGTH: Medium
Donald, who opened the tournament with a record-tying 8-under-par 64, ballooned to a fat 82 Friday to turn a two-shot lead into an eight-shot deficit.
An incredible circumstance at the final hole Friday typified Donald's misfortunes.
His tee ball at the 405-yard, par-4 hole went into the trees on the left side of the fairway, bounced down on top of a restroom, where it went down the culvert and ended up near an outside drain.
"I guess you could say I went down the drain in more ways than one today," Donald said, managing a slight grin.
Donald attempted to take a drop, but was told he couldn't because the area wasn't marked. He chopped his ball out into the fairway and knocked his fourth shot on the green, where he three-putted for a triple bogey.
Donald quickly realized he was in for a long day. He three-putted four of the first six holes, including from 5 feet on the par-5 2nd hole, after going for eagle.
"I felt like I was losing it there," said Donald, who one-putted only one green and took 40 putts in the round.
"I figured I'd play well today, but it didn't happen. Oh well. I had a chance to do something this week that 30 million people would have loved to have done."
\ Jumbo Ozaki's new line of drivers must pack some punch. Both leader Ray Floyd and Jack Nicklaus are using the metal-headed, graphite-shafted clubs at Augusta National. Both veterans estimated the new driver has added 10-15 yards to their length.
Ozaki, who also uses the club, said he's glad Nicklaus likes the new weapon.
"I respect Mr. Nicklaus," Ozaki said through an interpreter. "If it serves him well, nothing would please me more."
The club, which is manufactured by Bridgestone, is impossible to find in the United States.
And when asked if a U.S. club maker could copy the design structure, Ozaki broke into a wide grin.
"Copy? Not likely. It's very difficult."
Floyd said he's never had a driver "I can hit like this one."
\ Lee Trevino, whose Masters exemption expires after this year's tournament, went into Friday's second round thinking he might be making his final tour of Augusta National.
But Trevino, who opened with a 78, bought himself another two rounds with a 3-under-par 69 Friday.
After walking off No. 18, Trevino refused a request by a Masters official to go the interview room.
"I know what they want from me," Trevino said. "I have nothing to say."
\ Pre-tournament favorite Greg Norman offered no alibis for failing to make the cut. Norman, who opened with a fat 78 on Thursday, managed a 72 Friday.
"I was playing great coming in and I shot the worst score I can shoot," Norman said. "I felt relaxed going into this tournament and I was looking forward to it, but it just wasn't to be."
Norman said a balky putter kept him from making a move Friday. He pointed to the par-5 13th, where after reaching the green in two, he three-putted for par.
"There was a cellophane wrapper over the hole, I guess," Norman said. "I didn't putt well both days, it's as simple as that."
\ Sandy Lyle may have missed the cut at 151, but the 1988 champion won the Gerald Ford award hands down.
For the third straight round Friday, an errant Lyle tee ball struck and injured a member of the gallery.
Lyle's hooked tee shot at the 180-yard, par-3 sixth shattered a women's eyeglasses. She was taken to an Augusta hospital to dig glass fragments out of her eyes.
\ The weekend hacker could relate to Ken Green's back-nine woes Friday. Green double-bogeyed No. 10, birdied No. 11, triple-bogeyed No. 12 and then made a quintuple-bogey 10 at the par-five 13th. Green came home in 44 for an 80 and missed the cut.
Green's 10 was the second in two days at the 465-yard 13th hole. Paul Azinger made 10 there Thursday.
by CNB