NICKLAUS THE FAVOURITE BUT... Masters title is the one they all want to win

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 24

NICKLAUS THE FAVOURITE BUT... Masters title is the one they all want to win

(N.Z.P.A.-tUUIer — Copyright? AUGUSTA. The words are different, but there is no mistaking the meaning when the golfing greats talk about the United States Masters tournament, which starts tomorrow .

"I couldn't be hungrier than I am right now. Johnny ; Miller says. “1 want to win that thing so badly 1 could blow my j hair out.’’

lorn Weiskopf. who won last week’s Greater Greensboro tournament, says: “All I’m thinking about now is the green coat.” By tradition, the Masters winner dons a green sports jacket at the clubhouse victory ceremony. Trevino is back Lee Trevino, who at times has turned his back on the stately clubhouse at the historic Augusta National Golf Club, has had a change of heart. “That’s all past now The Masters is the only major championship I haven’t won,” he says. Jack Nicklaus, near the absolute peak of his incredible game, just gives a little smile and says softly: “It would be nice to start the talk of 1972 all over again.” When Nicklaus won the

lt Masters for the fourth time r in 1972, the big question of; the springtime was: “What; ’ do you think of your chances J of the grand slam?” 1 Stopped in Britain s Nicklaus thought they were! s pretty good then — and he [ • nearly made it. He followed! with a victory' in the United; States Open at Pebble Beach,; California, and then fell Victim to Trevino’s miracles in! s ’the British Open at Mulrfield. Gary Player, the 1974 win-j t - ner. would like to join Nickj laus as the only man to win 1 successive Masters’ crowns. s . "The Masters means an r awful lot to me,” the South ’ African says. “It is one of the greatest tournaments in ; ;the world.” • Nicklaus, who has won his! s last two events — the East-j tern and the Heritage —; ; believes he.will be primed for; ’,the challenges of Augusta. He; ?lsa'd his “swing pattern” is!

the best it has been in two or three years.

Yet, he adds, “I’ll have to| sharpen my game for! Augusta. At the Heritage, l! hit only one drive hard all! week. You have to hit a lot of hard drives at Augusta. It’s more of a carry because you have to hit the ball high.” Miller’s play in the Heritage was not. too exciting. He posted rounds of 78 and 73 for 151, and then packed his bag.

“Missing the cut might be good in a way.” says this year’s leading money winner, who has won three 1975; tournaments. “If I’m playing! mediocre, then I have a ten-! dencv to build my game up; — and that will be perfect.! “Last year, 1 won the Heri-; tage and then was on the.; decline at the Masters. My I game was going downhill. I! know it will get better. I’ll; just . work on my hooky; drives."

Eight behind Miller finished sixth at Greensboro, eight strokes behind Weiskopf’s winning score of 275, last week. Originally, he had intended to miss Greensboro, but after the Heritage he decided his game could stand some sharpening-up. Trevino says that his plans for the Masters are a “whole different thing. 1 say that because I have mastered; two other shots that you! ; need for that golf course. I “I’ve learned to play the; ! bunker shots oetter: you! have to do that at Augusta.; .And, now 1 Can hook my! I irons.” 1 Weiskopf, who has been i second at Augusta three ; times in six years, would | like to believe he is due to ■win. He points out. though, that “all the talk about Aug- ; usta being a course where • you need -a hook is not ! really true.” “Sure, at a couple of holes [you can use it, but there are

a lot where you can’t. Ati the second you would be ini ; the trees, at the third, in the; [bunkers, and at -lit fifth, ini [the woods,” Weiskopf says. ! “Augusta mainly is a sec-ond-shot golf course. You; [ have to put your approach j I shots on the right spots on ithe greens to have a putt at, [the hole.” [ There is another fellow here who has won four green coats. But this is an odd year. Arnold Palmer has won all of his Masters titles in the even years of 1958, 1960, 1962, and 1964. The • latter was his last major victory. He is playing much better again, and might be a threat. Palmer has worked hard at his game this year. Golfer lo beat However, no matter how : highly they rate their own [chances, most of the leading. Icontenders name only one! | favourite — Nicklaus. “I’ll tell you one thing,”! [Player says. “Whoever beats! ' Jack Nicklaus this week will; [win the tournament.” Nicklaus, admits that the challenge of Miller, has made a difference tn his preparation — if not his outlook. “I don’t really pay attention to what other guys are doing on the course, but I suppose the added incentive of Johnny has made me work a little harder,” Nicklaus says. Charles entered Among the 17 overseas ; competitors in the field are [the Australians, Bruce Cratn- | pton, Bruce Devlin, and Gra- | ham Marsh, the New Zeai lander Bob Charles, and the British golfers. Tony Jacklin, , Peter Oosterhuis, and Maulrice Bembridge.