Dream start for Ramsay but it's a nightmare for Big Phil

ALAN FRASER 報告(する)/憶測s from Augusta

Last updated at 11:15 06 April 2007


Ever since Scottish amateur Richie Ramsay arrived at Augusta 国家の, he had in his mind's 注目する,もくろむ an 開始 運動 which 急に上がるd into the 空気/公表する and flew with a slight draw to the left 味方する of the fairway.

Reality matched to a tee a 見通し that recurred nightly as he slept in the Crow's Nest, the clubhouse 寄宿舎 where amateur 支持する/優勝者s from both 味方するs of the 大西洋, 含むing Tiger 支持を得ようと努めるd no いっそう少なく, 宿泊する during their first Masters.

Richie Ramsay

Ramsay's playing partner, Phil Mickelson, who 進歩d from the same nest to the 最高の,を越す of the tree as a wearer of the Green Jacket, did not やめる 想像する sending his first 運動 into the left trees, his approach into a greenside (船に)燃料を積み込む/(軍)地下えんぺい壕 and his defence into a spin.

Mickelson's 結局の four over-par 76, matched by Ramsay, would 代表する a point of no return if he fails to make history.

Nobody in the 73 years of this event has won after a first 一連の会議、交渉/完成する of more than 75.

It was that 肉親,親類d of day. Everywhere you looked, the most impressive drivers were 伴う/関わるd in car 衝突,墜落s.

Ernie Els, a major talent and a Major 選手権 勝利者, though to his 広大な/多数の/重要な 苦痛 not here, reached the turn in a 悲惨な 42 on the way to a 78.

Sergio Garcia, once the most exciting prospect in ゴルフ and now growing older rather than better, carded 76, as did the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Fred Couples.

So the numbers (and golfers) piled up. Paul Casey, regarded as Britain's best hope before play began, took 40 to the turn; Darren Clarke, who led by three 一打/打撃s after an 初期の 66 in 2003, needed 43 for the same stretch. 評判s were broken, par only in a few instances.

Mickelson himself could not break 40 on the way out. Unlike Tiger 支持を得ようと努めるd managed in 1997, however, the 条件s wer e far too difficult for a fancy 30 on the way home. But birdies at the 15th and 16th 申し込む/申し出d some hope for the 週末.

Mickelson said: "I don't feel I've driven myself out of it as even par is going to be in the 追跡(する) after 36 穴を開けるs. If I get out and shoot a 68, I'll be 権利 支援する in it. There are birdies out there."

Els, who had been talking a good game, seemed much more in despair. "It was a little 風の強い and a little 冷淡な 同様に and I wasn't comfortable on the greens either," he said. "I have to try and get something going and hopefully by Sunday get it 支援する to level par or something. If I can do that it will be a hell of a thing to do, but it is 支援する to the 製図/抽選 board, 基本的に."

Phil Mickelson

For Montgomerie, who at least matched his meagre 期待s, the mix could scarcely have been more combustible.

A German snail called Bernhard Langer as a playing partner, a course neither to his taste nor his strengths and a nightmare start to his 15th Masters.

Vintage Montgomerie would have huffed, puffed, glowered and glared after bogeying the first two 穴を開けるs. The shoulders would have 低迷d, the walk would have slowed and marshalls four fairways away would have cowered under their yellow hard hats at the 差し迫った 爆発.

Instead, the patrons - there are no 観客s at Augusta 国家の - were 扱う/治療するd to an all-laughing and all-smiling Monty. For a while on the 前線 nine, which 産する/生じるd him three birdies, he looked on the point of running 一連の会議、交渉/完成する the ropes and high-fiving the gallery.

Maybe not. There is no running at Augusta.

No sleeping either, as one rebuked 特派員 discovered the other day beside the ninth green.

And definitely no pocketing of 儀式の balls.

We almost had an 出来事/事件 on our 手渡すs when a 観客, sorry patron, 選ぶd up the ball Arnold Palmer struck on his debut as 名誉として与えられる starter.

Before the finder/no keeper could say eBay, a women 公式の/役人 主張するd the ball be 手渡すd over.

The 違反者/犯罪者, who had been slapping 手渡すs in 祝賀 with his mates, was lucky not to be 手渡すd over to the 地元の constabulary.

Montgomerie is always one 発射 away from a mood change. By the turn, after three putting the ninth, the Scot was on the turn. An audible obscenity …を伴ってd the 横断する to the 10th tee.

As he continued to fritter away 一打/打撃s on the inward half, the 団体/死体 language became more recognisable to those familiar with his history here.

One 最高の,を越す-10 finish in 14 試みる/企てるs and 執拗な 失敗 to 生き残る the 削減(する) since 2002 speak of 失望 on a grand 規模 at the Masters.

By the end, Montgomerie's 長,率いる had joined his 団体/死体 in 反乱. "Not 権利 now, thank you," he said, trudging past a gaggle of waiting 新聞記者/雑誌記者s.

Not now and probably never.

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