Masters 1999: Masters cast is more than Duval, Woods

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Wednesday, Apr. 7 6:46pm ET
Masters cast is more than Duval, Woods
Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The sun broke through overcast skies Wednesday at Augusta National as Ernie Els slipped quietly into the shade of a Georgia pine.
He couldn't imagine a better place to be on the eve of the 63rd Masters.

Ernie Els already has two U.S. Open titles to his credit.
When the curtain rises on the first major championship of the year, the spotlight will be on David Duval and Tiger Woods, and the script has already been written -- the top two players in the world, settling matters in the most spectacular venue in golf.
That's just fine with Els.
The 29-year-old South African arrived at Augusta on Saturday with a fresh mind, a fine-tuned game and the kind of credentials worthy of a favorite at any major championship.
Just not this one, not this year.
"The only talk is Tiger and David," Els said. "I could ask myself the question that maybe I should play in that group. But the only to do that is to win again. If I win The Masters, you guys will want to write about me."
Or maybe someone else.
Under the live oak tree located between the clubhouse and the first tee, Phil Mickelson held court for 10 minutes after he and John Huston teamed up to whip Duval and John Daly in their final practice round before the tournament starts.
In only his seventh year on the PGA Tour, Mickelson already is becoming a forgotten favorite in the majors, in part because he hasn't really contended in any of the last eight. This is the first time Mickelson has come to The Masters without already having won in the year, and that includes his lone appearance as an amateur.
It doesn't help that he is 165th on the tour in final-round scoring at 75.29, which includes an 82 on Sunday in The Players Championship after being within one stroke of the lead.
Still, Mickelson has won 13 times already. Like Els, he is lurking.
"I've been trying to build up for this week," he said. "What I've been lacking this year is focus for 72 holes. I've played well for 54 holes in several tournaments, and I feel like I'm just about ready to play well for 72."
Mark O'Meara spent more time talking about Woods and Duval than his own chances to become only the third player to repeat as champion. Fred Couples, who tied for second last year with Duval, wants another crack at a green jacket but no one seems to listen.
Justin Leonard, whose four victories include the British Open and The Players Championship, has finished in the top 10 the last two Masters. Jim Furyk and his loopy swing don't look like a good fit for Augusta, but he was right in the thick of it last year until going in the water on the 15th on Sunday.
Lee Westwood of England has won as many tournaments as Duval in the same amount of time, even if only one came on American soil. Still, Europeans have won 10 of the past 19 Masters, and he has been around Augusta enough to know how to attack.
"Tiger and David may be the best two at the moment, but I'm not too far behind," he said.
This is the largest field in The Masters in 33 years, even if it sounds like the green jacket will be fitted for one of two players -- Woods or Duval.
"Everyone badly wants to win," Els said. "I want to win this tournament. I've had good preparations, and I've got a good feeling."
If anyone can spoil the Duval-Woods showdown, it's Els.
With two U.S. Opens, he has won more majors than Woods and Duval combined. He also has more victories than both of them -- 29 around the world.
Woods has won 10 times, including the 1997 Masters and two tournaments overseas. All of Duval's 11 victories have come on the PGA Tour, including four already this year and all of them in the past 18 months.
All that is missing is the major.
"All those guys think they can, and David Duval is one that thinks that -- and is doing that," Couples said. "He's a lot better than a lot of people, and he's a little better than Ernie Els and Tiger Woods and Greg Norman."
Perhaps the magic of The Masters will allow for Duval and Woods to match shot for shot on the back nine of Augusta. They have never been paired together in a final round, and they have rarely been in contention during the final nine holes of any tournament.
One of the exceptions was two months ago in Los Angeles, where Els dusted off both of them. The victory made the South African known as the "Big Easy" the first player since Jack Nicklaus to win at least once in his first six years on the PGA Tour.
Does that sound like someone who can be left out of the mix in The Masters?
The fact this has turned into David vs. Goliath (David is the betting favorite again) has not caused any bitterness among those eager to prove The Masters has much more to offer.
"David has brought this on himself," Els said with a laugh. "We talk about him because he's winning every week. The guy has been blowing everybody out of the water. I'd like to know what's going on his head."
More interesting is the size of his bank account. He already has won close to $2.6 million after just eight tournaments and comes into Augusta having won the last two weeks. He believes he is good enough to win. No one doubts he is playing well enough, least of all Duval.
But he also knows that Augusta can have its own agenda.
"Each tournament is a new start, a new chance, and that's how I view it," Duval said. "I feel like I'm capable of winning out here. I don't just assume I'm going to win. I know I'm going to have to get some good breaks and play quality shots."