AUGUSTA TEE ROOM
FIST-PUMPS AND FILLIES AS LEGENDS TEE OFF
‘IT NEVER gets old watching the honorary starters tee off. One of the oldest and best traditions in the game.’ That was Tiger Woods’s take on Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer hitting the first shots. Woods wasn’t there to see it as he recovers from a back operation but it certainly looked like fun in the he early-morning sun. The big three boast a combined age of 236 but these legends of the game certainly seemed to enjoy themselves as Nicklaus and Player exchanged d fist-pumps (right) and the South African — famed for being a fitness fanatic — launched into a high kick (main picture). Not to be outdone, Palmer showed he could still get et among the birdies at the ripe old age of 84 as Arnie’s Army included a quartet of busty beauties (below right). Nicklaus, the spring chicken of the trio at 74, had the he longest drive, beating Player by 18 inches.
SANDY AND FREDDIE ROLL BACK THE YEARS
EVEN if Sandy Lyle knew what ‘trending on Twitter’ meant, the big Scot would’ve been unaware he was causing such a stir on the social networking site as he was too busy rolling back the years early on in his first round. Lyle, 56, was three under after four holes and scaring the leaders before slipping back to finish with a 76. Amid all the talk of THAT bunker shot in 1988, there was a vintage feel to the top of the leaderboard midway through the day with Fred Couples and Miguel Angel Jimenez right up there and Larry Mize, the 55-year-old who won a play-off in 1987, the year before Lyle’s triumph, dipping into the red.
PATRONS SPLASH OUT FOR MERCHANDISE
FOR most of those playing yesterday, money is no object given the prize money available in golf these days. For those watching, it might be a different story and prices at the merchandise shop are as steep as some of the Augusta slopes. However, that didn’t stop one patron splashing out $5,682 on 72 items. One for every hole? We’re not sure, but they must have some size of car to get that lot home.
SUPERSTAR DJ HAS GOT IT ALL
LIFE is pretty good if you’re Dustin Johnson. Not only did he have gorgeous fiancee Paulina Gretzky — who caused a storm last week after appearing on the front cover of Golf Digest wearing not a lot — cheering him every step of the way, but Gareth Bale was supporting DJ from Spain. Real Madrid superstar Bale revealed he was backing the American before sending fellow Welshman Jamie Donaldson all the best. Donaldson, who got a hole in one last year, signed for a 73 while Johnson was one of the late starters alongside Aussie Augusta lover Jason Day and FedEx Cup winner Henrik Stenson.