ESPN.com - Golf Online - Masters 2000 - Tradition goes on without Sarazen

Associated Press
Thursday, April 6

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Byron Nelson shrugged his shoulders. Sam Snead tipped his hat. The only one missing from the ceremonial start of the 64th Masters on Thursday was the man who put the tournament on the map with a shot heard 'round the world.


	Sam Snead hits the opening shot while Byron Nelson looks on.

Under cool, sunny skies, the Masters began Thursday with a moment of silence for the late Gene Sarazen and a tee shot from the 88-year-old Nelson that traveled about 100 yards but wound up in what could be a familiar place for everyone: the rough.

Snead is 87 but still spry. He didn't like the way his ball was sitting on the tee, so he bent over to fix it, stared hard and belted his drive about 150 yards down the right side of the fairway.

"Greatest tournament in the world," Snead said.

It was missing one of its greatest names Thursday. Sarazen was the first player to complete the career Grand Slam by winning the 1935 Masters. Hopelessly behind late in the final round, the "Squire" holed a 4-wood from 235 yards on the par-5 15th for a double eagle, the rarest shot in golf. He went on to beat Craig Wood in a playoff.

Sarazen had been an honorary starter since 1981. Last year became his last shot. He died May 13 from complications to pneumonia at 97.

"He was a great man," Snead said. "He did a whole lot for golf. It's too bad we lost him, but we're all going."

Augusta National officials decided not to replace Sarazen this year.

"We have not found a way to replace Gene Sarazen," said Masters chairman Hootie Johnson, who asked for a moment of silence on the first tee to honor him.

There were still some light moments.

Johnson introduced Nelson as the winner of 11 consecutive PGA Tour events and a record 18 victories in 1945. Nelson walked slowly to the tee and simply shrugged.

"So what? It wasn't hard," Johnson said.

Snead followed, introduced as having the sweetest swing in golf, to which he tipped his hat and smiled.

"There were so many shadows back and forth, it was like I was hypnotized," Snead said. "I never saw the ball. I almost fell down."


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