A full nine to see
Dustin Johnson is paired with Adam Scott and Nick Watney, and the threesome tees off at 8:40 a.m. in Thursday’s first round and 11:47 in Friday’s second round.
Johnson’s fans will have a chance to see him play Augusta National’s entire back nine Friday on the Internet, as the group is one of six that have been selected to run on Featured Group channels on www.masters.com.
The Featured Groups No. 1 lineup on Friday consists of the 9:24 a.m. grouping of Fred Couples, Luke Donald and Steve Stricker; Johnson’s 11:47 a.m. group; and the 1:48 p.m. grouping of Tiger Woods, Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby. The Featured Group No. 2 lineup Friday is the 9:35 a.m. grouping of Anthony Kim, Henrik Stenson and Steve Marino, as well as other groups being announced Friday.
Thursday, the Featured Groups No. 2 lineup consists of the 9:24 a.m. exciting young threesome of Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Jason Day; 11:47 a.m. grouping of Angel Cabrera, Ian Poulter and David Toms; and 1:48 p.m. grouping of Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy and amateur Peter Uihlein.
Scott, 30, is a seven-time winner on both the PGA Tour and European Tour and has just one top 10 in nine previous Masters appearances. Though Watney, 29, has played in only three Masters, he has tied for 11th and finished alone in 19th and seventh.
Scott tied for sixth in his last start at the WGC-Cadillac Championship for his only top 20 in five starts, while Watney has a win and six top-13s this year.
“I’ve got two of my buddies I’m playing with so we’re going to have a good time and hopefully we can put up some good scores,” Johnson said.
Both Johnson and Watney have been mentioned among the young favorites to win this week, for whatever that’s worth.
“Unfortunately, it makes no difference,” Watney said. “I wish, you know, if they mention your name before the tournament you could start 2‑under-par or something like that.”
Meal fit for a champion
As defending Masters champion, Mickelson got to select the menu for Tuesday night’s champions dinner, and used the opportunity to pay homage to two-time Masters winner Seve Ballesteros, who couldn’t be at the dinner.
Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. Several surgeries and multiple doses of chemotherapy have helped the five-time major winner, but his road to recovery is still ongoing.
Mickelson said he sent an email earlier this year asking the 1980 and ’83 winner if he could make it, and what he would like served. “I wanted to kind of honor him,” said Mickelson, who offered a mixed salad with sherry vinaigrette and olives; seafood paella; prime beef tenderloin with Machango cheese and a smoked paprika demi-glaze; and an apple empanada with vanilla ice cream and chocolate cinnamon ganache for dessert.
