Some good signs for Hoffman

AUGUSTA, Ga. — At daybreak Thursday on the Augusta National practice range, Charley Hoffman couldn’t help but acknowledge the moment.

As he prepared for his 7:45 a.m. EDT tee time at the Masters, he found himself flanked by a notable trio — Jack Nicklaus , Arnold Palmer and Gar y Player — loosening up for the ceremonial first tee shots.

So Hoffman made his boldest approach — a request to Nicklaus and Palmer for autographs and an exchange that put him at ease.

“My mind wasn’t really on golf,” he said.

That wasn’t the 38-year-old’s only pinch-me moment Thursday. He followed the exchange with Nicklaus and Palmer with a five-under-par 67 that established him as the early leader . . . until Jordan Spieth caught fire.

With an eagle on No. 15, Hoffman played the final four holes in four under and will start the second round in a four-way tie for second.

The autographs he procured, he said, will be auctioned off at an event for his foundation.

As for whether Hoffman — playing in his second Masters after finishing tied for 27th four years ago — will be able to overcome a lack of Augusta seasoning to remain in contention, he offered a shrug.

“I’m an experienced TV watcher of the Masters,” he said.

The streak

Kevin Streelman is having a fun week.

His alma mater, Duke, cut down the nets after college basketball’s national championship game Monday. At a Tuesday dinner to celebrate his victory at last year’s Travelers Championship, company executive Andy Bessette joked of Streelman’s seven consecutive final-round birdies in that event: “That’s more than I’ve made in my life.”

On Wednesday, Streelman won the Masters par-three contest with 13-yearold Ethan Couch on the bag. Streelman connected with Couch, who has an inoperable benign brain tumor, via the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

In the first round of the Masters, a beaming Streelman shot what he called a “stress-free” two-under 70.

“I played awesome,” he said. “Don’t think I had a par putt over three or four feet.”

Tap-ins

Ben Crenshaw , playing in his 44th and final Masters, will play his last competitive round at Augusta on Friday. Crenshaw’s opening 91 was the day’s worst score by six shots. . . . Tom Watson , 65, fared decidedly better with a 71.