Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 8, 1990 TAG: 9004080132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: AUGUSTA, GA. LENGTH: Medium
He had birdied three holes in a row to creep to two shots of the lead. Things appeared to being going his way.
But just when it looked like Strange might be sizing himself for a green jacket in his mind, he turned it in for a Cub Scout uniform.
Indeed, Strange should have qualified for some kind of merit badge after he spent 12-15 minutes in the bushes and trees behind the green at the 155-yard, par-3 12th hole.
Strange airmailed a 6-iron into the steep bank behind the 12th green. He had to take a one-shot penalty for an unplayable lie. He then chipped out to the fringe of the green and got down in two for a double bogey.
After making birdie on both backside par-5s at No. 13 and No. 15, Strange gave both shots back when he three-putted No. 17 from 20 feet and failed to get down in two on No. 18 after a bad tee shot and pulled second shot.
After signing his card, a livid Strange refused comment and headed to the putting green. About 45 minutes later, he spoke about how he'd given away a chance to win the 54th Masters.
"It's disappointing when you lose the Masters because you play stupid," said Strange, whose embers were still cooking.
"It doesn't sit right with me. I lost because of the things I usually do best. Discipline of play is my strong suit, but you wouldn't have known it today.
"Damn it, I don't have a chance."
Strange said he attempted to play a "knockdown 6-iron with the wind right in his face" at No. 12.
"I guess I'm lucky it stayed on the property," Strange said. "After that mess, I was hoping for [a] five, and I got it. Then, I came back and threw it all away again."
Strange, who is eight shots behind leader Ray Floyd with 18 holes to play, said he won't get reckless today.
"I can't do it because it's not my way of playing. That's just not me," he said.
Jack Nicklaus, five shots behind Floyd, said he has a better chance to win today than he did in 1986.
"There are only three guys in front of me this time," he said. "Last time, I was only four shots back, but I had six, eight guys ahead of me."
Nicklaus said Floyd would feel the pressure today, especially on the treacherous back nine.
"Nobody is immune to [pressure]," Nicklaus said, "however, it's what I happen to enjoy.
"Ray hasn't been in that position in awhile. [John] Huston, I don't know enough about him to fill a thimble. [Nick] Faldo has played well. I think we've got a pretty open golf tournament."
Using a new putter called an "Ugly Ducking," Tom Watson turned in a pretty third round. The two-time Masters champion shot a 5-under-par 67 to move into red numbers at 215.
"I've only used it for three days," Watson said, who drained a 20-footer on the 18th hole Friday to survive the cut by one shot.
"A fellow from Australia sent it to me. It has been down in my basement for four or five years. I wasn't putting particularly well, so I decided to go home last week and find one of the 100 or so I've got that would work.
"This particular one gives me a better sight-line, so I decided to go with it."
Watson compared his basement putter situation to the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament.
"This one just came off probation," he quipped. "Then, if it goes into the trunk of the car, it's in the semifinals. It if goes in the bag, it's in the finals."
On the PGA Tour, the players classify Saturday as "move day."
Perennial Augusta threat Seve Ballesteros did some moving with a third-round 68, but the two-time Masters champ may not have made up enough ground.
Ballesteros stands at 215, nine shots behind Floyd.
When asked if he had a really low round in him for today, the Spaniard said, "What do you mean by low round? I had a 68 today."
"How about 64 or 65?" the questioner asked.
"I don't think any 64 tomorrow," Ballesteros said, glancing at the scoreboard. He was six shots back at the time.
"Maybe I need 65 with this weather. But if the wind blows anything can happen. I've been around here long enough to know how many things can happen, especially on the back nine."
Ballesteros certainly has had his share of problems on Augusta's back nine over the years. He was elated with 3-under 33 on the back Saturday.
"That's probably the best backside I've had here in four or five years," he said. "That's always been my problem here. I've been in the water almost every year. Almost every year I get wet. Today, I crossed my fingers and touched the water and hoped I don't get wet [today]."
by CNB