The Masters

Post golf writer Leonard Shapiro was online Wednesday, April 4 at 1 p.m. ET from Augusta National Golf Club to take your questions and comments on the eve of the first round of the 2007 Masters.

A transcript follows.

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washingtonpost.com: Len is running a few minutes late and will be joining us shortly.

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San Diego: Len,

I have a wager with a co-worker. He has Tiger to win and I have everyone else. Who has the better part of that bet? Also, I see that Jack, Arnie, Gary, Billy Casper and a cast of other AARP former winners are playing. Call it a hunch, but I'm not looking for any of them to be putting on the green jacket on Sunday. What's the protocol on this? Do they get paid by the tournament to show up? I remember Jack saying that when he was no longer competitive, he wouldn't play in tournaments. Thoughts.

Leonard Shapiro:

Look at it this way. Tiger has played 40 majors since he turned pro in 1996 and he's won 10. That gives you about a 4 to 1 chance to win if my Neanderthal math is right. I'd take Tiger, especially after what he did at Doral two weeks ago and his literal mastery over this golf course. As for the old guys, they're all past champions, they love the course, the tradition, the camaraderie and a champion's dinner Tuesday night. The fans love to see them, as well, so why not let 'em play.

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Richmond, Va.: What exactly is "the Amen Corner" and why is CBS talking it up so much this year?

Leonard Shapiro:

The Amen corner refers to a stretch of holes from No. 11 through 13 and was originally coined by Herbert Warren Wind, a wonderful writer for The New Yorker. Essentially, if golfers can get through that stretch of very tough holes in par or under par, they just say amen to whatever higher authority they choose. It's often been a make or break stretch for champions, and scads of runners-up.

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Nanning, China: What are the chances of an Aussie saluting the judge for the first time?

Leonard Shapiro: By saluting the judge I assume you mean putting on a green jacket Sunday. Adam Scott would be my first choice, though he won this past week in Houston and may be a bit fatigued. Look out for U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, and perhaps Stewart Appleby. I'm still betting on Tiger.

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Concord, N.H.: There are two groups with only two players in them. Do the players like that or does it disrupt their rhythm because they end up waiting for the group ahead much of the time?

Also, if someone withdraws after the first round, do they leave the other two as a twosome or combine them with the other twosomes?

Leonard Shapiro: Pace of play at Augusta National is not often an issue because it's a smaller field. The players seem not to mind, and I can hardly recall anyone ever complaining about slow play since I started covering the event in '92. That's much different than a U.S. Open, where it is always excruciatingly slow.

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Washington, D.C.: Submitting early -- What's the latest word on Fred Couples's status? As of the moment of writing (11:13 a.m.), he's still listed in the groupings and tee times, but I've heard he hasn't played any practice rounds or been seen? Thanks.

Leonard Shapiro: That's a good question and one I'll try to keep track of as the day goes on. Fred has had back problems this year and reportedly is thinking surgery, but I'm sitting in the media center looking at the board, and his name is still up there. As of 1:25 p.m. EST, he's still in the field as far as I can tell.

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Tampa, Fla.: Is the attempt to force Augusta National to open its membership to women dead? With a female Speaker of the House, and a good chance for a female President (Hillary), I wonder how long these guys can stay men-only. I don't buy for a minute the idea that it's a mere golf club. Way too many CEOs are members for it to be anything other than a business club. Personally, as a male golfer, and an avid one at that, I think the U.S. Park Service should eminent domain the place and run it as a public course, like Heinous Point. Keep in good shape, of course, keep the Masters, but open it to the public. The greens fees would pay for all the necessary maintenance. And of course this would fulfill a public purpose, just like condemning land to build a sports stadium or amateur sports complex.

Leonard Shapiro: The new chairman, Billy Payne, was asked about that an hour ago and refused to comment. I also asked him about a bill introduced in Congress this week that would eliminate tax breaks for businesses entertaining at clubs that discriminate on the basis of gender, race or religion. Again, no comment. I have my own personal opinion on the matter, and I have a sneaking suspicion Mr. Payne might be the guy who's in charge when the first woman is admitted, perhaps sooner than later.

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D.C.: Hello Mr Shapiro

Why is no one giving Vijay much of a chance?

He has won here before and seems to be playing well (so far) this year.

Is his inconsistency (numerous bogeys over a 4 day period) what keeps him from winning more?

Thanks.

Leonard Shapiro:

I think everyone knows Vijay can win here, because he's done it before. No one writes much about him because he rarely agrees to do pre-tournament interviews at major championships, and it's tough to do a story about a guy who doesn't talk to us much. I think it's a major mistake on his part, and I can tell you that among the media crowd, he's not particularly a crowd favorite.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina: Len, with all due respect, where were you last year? Tiger has won 12, not 10, professional majors since turning pro, including the British and the PGA in 2006.

Leonard Shapiro:

Hey, you're going to have to forgive my momentary brain lock. I just got a call an hour ago that my oldest daughter Jennifer had just delivered my third grandchild, Molly Irene Fleming, 8 pounds, four ounces, so I got my numbers screwed up. Of course everyone knows that Tiger has won 12 major titles, increasing your chances of winning the pool even further if you take him against the field. Forgive the error.

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Arlington, Va.: Hello Leonard: Two short questions if I may -- how do you think the unseasonably cool weather will affect play, and yes, there's Tiger and Phil, but in your opinion, who's a good dark horse pick to win?

Leonard Shapiro: It's supposed to turn a tad chilly -- low 60s -- when play begins Thursday, but warm weather is back for the weekend, so I don't think it will have that much of an effect on the outcome. As for a dark horse, I'd fancy Henrik Stenson of Sweden, winner of the world match play event last month in Tucson and a real talent who bombs the ball long and deep as well as anyone in the game.

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Fairfax: What's your favorite book on The Masters that you've read? I just finished "The Masters: A Hole-by-Hole History of America's Golf Classic," by David Sowell, and it was awesome -- a chapter on each hole and the great shots/chokes at each. So I'm ready for more. Any suggestions?

Leonard Shapiro:

I always bring my favorite Masters book with me. It's called "The Masters: Golf, Money and Power in Augusta, Georgia," by Curt Sampson. The title tells it all.

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Portland, Ore.: Len, are there any things at the Masters or in the legacy of the Masters that creeps you out? How much of the service crew is African American? Any idea on living wages for the service workers at the club?

Leonard Shapiro:

Creeps me out. The green jackets worn by the members remind me of my days in the Sigma Chi house back at the University of Wisconsin. It's just frat boys running amok, I suppose. Yes, much of the service crew is African-American here and I'm told they are are paid more than a living wage. I know the regular caddies get over $100 a bag plus tip and most carry double, so you do the math. It beats the heck out of the $5 a bag I used to get at the Woodcrest Country Club in Syosset, N.Y. back in the early 1960s, and no tipping allowed save for a free soda at the turn.

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Bethesda, Md.: Thanks for taking my question

To follow up on D.C.'s question and your answer..who are some of the other players that the media consider unapproachable and won't grant interviews prior to a major?

Thanks.

Leonard Shapiro:

Vijay is pretty much the only one I can think of. The way I look at it, there are 100 other guys in the tournament, most of them with intriguing stories to tell. I just move on to the next one.

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Bethesda, Md.: Congratulations on the granddaughter, maybe she will someday be a member at Augusta. How does Phil look this year? I sometimes forget that he is defending champion.

Leonard Shapiro:

Thanks, I'd like to think it will surely be possible when she makes her first zillion. As for Phil, he says he's been working very hard the last 10 days and will again use two drivers this week. It worked a year ago, and you can't discount two in a row.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: The contender in the Masters whose tally is lowest after all contenders have played 72 holes (along with any playoff ones) will be appropriately declared winner of the event.

How would it affect media "coverage" of the event if reporters were obliged to focus on the play of contenders while withholding their vacuous boiler-plate conjecture about the attitudes and family values and aspirations and hopes and desires and misgivings and yet other personal idiosyncrasies of any golfer favored by (realistic) odds makers as the Number One golfer on the planet?

Leonard Shapiro:

I have no idea what you're talking about here. But if you're referring to Tiger Woods's personal life, he keeps it pretty personal, which is certainly his prerogative. I'm still picking Tiger to win his third major in a row and 13th overall. On that note, I'll sign off and thank you all for some intriguing questions. Gotta go call my precious daughter, and that's very personal.

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