Starting the day at even par, Tiger Woods birdied the first hole on Friday. But his 10-foot putt at No. 6 rimmed out, leaving him with a bogey. Thus, through six holes, Woods was still at even par.

What does that mean? Well, Woods has won the Masters four times — 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005. But he has never won after going into the final 36 holes at par or worse.

In 2005, he followed an opening-round 74 with a 66 to get under par for the second half of the contest. In year's he has won, the worst position Woods has been in after 36 holes is fourth (70-69) in 2002.


Steve Flesch, who climbed the board with a 67 on Friday, believed his early starting time was a big help. His group was the second one off in the morning, behind the twosome of Todd Hamilton and Brian Bateman.

"There was a little lack of wind out there, which anytime out here is a very welcome," said Flesch, who is 5 under for the tournament and was three strokes off the pace of leader Trevor Immelman.

"Playing early is always nice. One of the nicest things was the pace of play. We never saw the first group (ahead). Today we just kind of flew."

Flesch played alongside Johnson Wagner and former Masters champ Craig Stadler. "The Walrus," aka Stadler, is renowned for playing quickly.

"With Stadler in the group, you're not going to wait long on your partners," Flesch said.


Lorena Ochoa's brother and manager, Alejandro Ochoa, was among those hanging out under the historic oak tree behind the Augusta National clubhouse.

Lorena is playing at the Corona Championship in Mexico this week, but Alejandro was at Augusta to accept a Golf Writer's Association of America award for Lorena on Wednesday. And he was still around to see some of the tournament on a gorgeous Friday afternoon.


Shortly after Arnold Palmer made his second ceremonial start, Gary Player made his 51st competitive start at the Masters on Thursday. In doing so, Player officially snapped Palmer's record of 50 appearances on Thursday.

There is a slight qualification. Palmer's 50 years were consecutive. Player's first Masters appearance was in 1957 and he has played every year since, with the exception of 1973, when a bladder operation kept him away. Player won the tournament three times, including 1961, 1974 and 1978. He will not win this year, having opened with an 11-over-par 83.

After all these years, Player admitted to being aware and a little nervous about setting the mark when he teed off on Thursday.

"A lot of things go through your mind," he said. "It's just a little bit of pressure. It's a heck of an honor to know that you've played this tournament more than anybody else."

Player credits his longevity to his commitment to fitness and diet.

"To me, the poisons of the world are the bacons, the ice cream, the white bread, dairy products," he said. "I try to stay away from that. Fat makes you fat."

When Player teed off for the first time at Augusta in 1957, the course was 6,980 yards long. When he teed off on Thursday, at the age of 72, the course was playing at 7,445 yards.

"Well, par for me is 80, so I was 3-over for the day," Player said. "That's a tough golf course. No question, the toughest golf course that I've ever played, not even a doubt."

That said, Player has every intention of trying Augusta again next year. For those who thought he was hanging around just to set the record, guess again.

"I'll tell you one thing, when I come back next year, I'll be a hell of a lot stronger than I am this year," Player said. "I'm coming back stronger, man."