The Masters

Post golf writer Leonard Shapiro was online Wednesday, April 9 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 2008 Masters.

A transcript follows.

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Fairfax, Va.: What does it say about ESPN that very few of their own talent will be involved in their coverage of the first two rounds?

It almost seems like Masters officials don't have a lot of faith in ESPN's ability to cover golf.

Not too long ago a lot of people were shocked that the PGA would partner with the Golf Channel and essentially shut out ESPN... maybe it wasn't such a bad idea...

Leonard Shapiro:
MNake no mistake, this is a cbs production. ESPN just gets to put its logo and mike tirico on thursday friday xcoverage. The chairman, Billy Payne, made it abundantly clear today that ESPN knows all about the reverance required by the Masters in its telecasts, and cleasrly dictated which announcer would be assigned.

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Arlington, Va.: Among the reporters and media folks there, is there a feeling that you're all running out of ways write about Tiger? I mean, if he wins again, what's left to be said about the man at this point?

Leonard Shapiro:

The short answer is sort of yes. But he always does something to give you a story, a memorable putt, an incredible recovery, a 350-yard drive. We're watching history here, and if you can't get excited writing about it, you're in the wrong business.

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Mclean, Va.: Hi Leonard, it's the eve of the Masters, Tiger Woods is once again heavily favored and rightfully so. There's no doubt that Tiger has done a tremendous amount for the popularity of golf and bringing it to a wider and more diverse audience. However, at some point do you think fans get bored with his dominance? I know this is the case for me. Nicklaus had some great rivalries, in which competitors were able to overtake him or fend him off in the last round of a major. I think Woods lacks a true rival, despite efforts to promote one. If no true rival emerges that can go toe-to-toe with Woods during the final round of a major and win, I think the popularity of golf will begin to suffer. What's your view on this?

Leonard Shapiro:

The TV ratings seem to indicate the fans are not bored with tiger. For example, the sunday cxoverage of Bay Hill three weeks ago was up 68 percent from the previous year because he was in the hunt and eventually won. I suspect if he's in contention again Sunday, rthere will be more of the same, particularly in a year when we're all writing about the possibility of a grand slam as actually being realistic.

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Valdosta, Ga.: I have a very strange question, but I'm hoping since you're at the National now you can ask for me. My husband and I are going on Friday and we'll be away from our seven month old all day. I'd like to be able to bring my breast pump...are they allowed? Thanks for taking my random question!

Leonard Shapiro:

Wow, that is an interesting question. I think you're on safe territory, and if not, they have a place at the front gate where you can leave your belongings. They're also allowing kids between 8 and 16 in free with ticket holders, so maybe you might want to bring the baby!!!

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Arlington, Va.: Boo to Tirico for his cop-out answer on the membership rules at Augusta.

Then again, what do you think would be ESPN's reaction if he had actually offered an opinion?

Leonard Shapiro:
I suspect he'd be out of there faster than you can say Martha Burk. Augusta's broadcast partners clearely have jellyfish spines and will do anything they can to mollify the club membership and keep one of the most attractive properties in sports TV

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Washington, D.C.: I about to pull the trigger on buying a golf GPS device. Am I crossing a line here that I shouldn't?

Leonard Shapiro: You would not be allowed to use it in a tournament, but feel free. I've played many courses where the GPS system actually is attached to the cart. They're a great help with distance and pointing out things you can't see from the tee, like lakes and bunkers. Tour caddies use them all the time when they walk the course before practice rounds. So you definitely have my permission; the USGA may be another story.

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Alexandria, Va.: Every year it seems, Tiger at the Masters seems to inspire sports writers to comment on the fact that he is a black man playing at a very white golf club. These insightful, reflective pieces seem to conveniently exclude the fact that he isn't only black, but also Asian-American.

I guess it wouldn't make as compelling a story.

Do you think sports writers and readers are ready to move beyond the simple black-white storylines that were so very relevant for a long time, and embrace the multicultural and global aspect of sports? Yes, it's more complicated a story, but more accurate and true to reality. And it also avoids disregarding a whole segment of our American society.

Leonard Shapiro:
I think those story lines remain relevant, especially at a place like Augusta National, where there are a few token black members. Many of us have written about Tiger's multi-ethnic and background. I recall writing his own description of himself as a Cablinasian. And when K.J. Choi comes back to the AT&T National to defend his title, we'll certainly be focusing on an Asian golfer.

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Annapolis, Md.: So... who (or what) does a 6-handicap have to know to be able to play just once at Augusta National?

Leonard Shapiro:
Perhaps you have rich friends in powerful places. If not, good luck. There is a media lottery every year, and it took me eight years to win a round the Monday after the Masters. By the way, for the ethicists out there, I paid the caddie $125 and spent another $200 in the pro shop, so there really is no such thing as a free round of golf for the sportswriters at Augusta National. By the way, had three pars on the card, four Xs, and had to walk off after 14 holes to make a deadline, and then a plane.

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Anchorage, Alaska: Has any course or organization ever held one of these big events at night? Where it's your eyeballs, the moon, and night lighting?

After all, our troops go into combat during the night and the day. Shouldn't golf evolve to see who really is the Master of the Links, 24/7?

Just curious.

There's a one hole event every year in Nome out on the ice. I can't recall but it's something like a par 27 and though I never heard of polar bears that far south, you still have some pretty tough seaice bunkers to wedge out of.

Heroes are made from the challenges, not from the jackets they wear.

Thanks.

Leonard Shapiro:

No, they've never played a major championship at night, or a PGA Tour event. The cost of the lights would be astronomical, and finding balls hit in the rough virtually impossible. It's meant to be played in broad daylight, the better to sweat, tan and hacve a nice walk (or cart ride) in the park.

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Taneytown, Md.: How is Mickelson playing this week? Wouldn't it be GREAT if he and Tiger went mano a mano on the back 9 Sunday? I'm sure the Big Eye would think so!

Leonard Shapiro:

Yes, everyone would love to see Mickelson and Tiger dueling down the stretch on Sunday. It's never happenmed here, but both men are playing well enough so that it just might come about on Sunday. CBS, of course, prays for such conforn ations. The ratings might even surpass Dancing with the Stars or Idol.

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Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: I'm not a golfer, so this might be old news.

1. Those green jackets are meant to be worn by the winners of the Masters at the golf course. Only there on the premises?

2. Do other people who haven't won this tournament have green jackets that they where around the place?

3. Does any past winner actually go there to golf and wear his green jacket? Other than, during the big event.

4. Who picked out that color? It's not exactly putting green green, is it?

I salute my own ignorance. Perhaps you can enlighten the majority of Americans who don't play golf.

Thanks much.

Leonard Shapiro:
The green jacket is awarded to the tourn ament winner, but all the members get a green jacket, too. Many of them like to wear them during tournament week, as well, for whatever reason you choose to believe. Players nor anyone else, are not supposed to wear the jackets off the property, as far as I know, and I've never seen one worn at any other tournament. As for the origin, wikipedia tells me it's been awarded since 1949, the players keep the jacket for a year and then must return it to the club, where it's hung in the clubhouse. Why green? Color of grass and Bobby Jones liked it, as well, I suppose.

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: The current of ENVY that still flows in the comments of Woods's detractors in sites like this one is understandable enough. For every exemplar of self-discipline there are millions of couch-potato slobs who wouldn't understand Tiger's unparalleled achievement if they tried -- as of course they won't.

Instead, they'll go on conceiving of Woods's success as a kind of luck, in a class with a winning lottery ticket.

Why doesn't a qualified journalist do an IN-DEPTH piece on the routine details of Woods's lifestyle between golf courses -- details including but not limited to what he does and does NOT ingest?

Such a piece wouldn't sell cars or golf equipment or beer; but the sheer novelty of Woods's unsensational routine might help half a dozen potentially gifted adolescent athletes smell through the stench that makes commercial-drenched "coverage of golf" the scam that it is.

Leonard Shapiro:
I'd love to be a fly on the wall at Tiger's homes, his yachts, his limos (and not always Buicks, by the way). But Tiger lets very few people in, and virtually no journalists that I know of. I can tell you he likes to wear red on Sunday, has two yachts in the 150-foot ran ge, works out like he was training for an iron man competition and really does dote on his new baby girl. He's extremely guarded in his private life, and who can blame him?

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20005: Winning score this year will be...?

Leonard Shapiro:

win ning score this year will be about eight-under, and I'll taske Tiger; you can have the field.

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Oakton, Va.: I am so glad Chris Berman is not there. Did you watch his U.S. Open performance? It was so awkward and not just distracting, but downright obstructive to actually watching the golf. Maybe he provides some value to ESPN, but whatever it is, it is not in golf. Was the network purposefully setting him up to embarrass himself, or are they (and he) that blind to his oil/water match with golf?

Leonard Shapiro:
I wrote a piece on ESPN and Berman's non role here, and it's still available on the post's website. The short answer is they didn't want his often bufoonish act anywhere near the place and were thrilled with tirico.

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Charleston, SC: Hi Leonard,

Billy Payne has undone some of Hootie's changes, most notably winners receiving automatic bids, and many of the controversies such as asking past champions not to play has died down. Isn't he doing an excellent job and is it safe to say that most are thankful for the end of the Hootie Johnson era?

Leonard Shapiro:
Payne has done some very good things all over the place, including a stunning makeover this year of the media center, where I spotted my first piece of fruit in the building in 17 years of covering here. He's reaching out to the younger generation by adding to the par 3 coverage, expandsing internet coverage and allowing kids 8-16 in free over the next four days. That's all good. I also believe one of these days, he'll announce they've admitted a woman as a member. Wouldn't Judy Rankin or Nancy Lopez look gransd in a green jacket? I believe it will happen sooner than later.

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Underdog Lover: Who could be the surprise, relatively unknown Zach Johnson-type player who could shock the golf world and grace himself with the green jacket?

While I admire Tiger Woods, Eldrick isn't as invincible as ESPN has led us to believe.

Leonard Shapiro:
There are plenty of players in the field who could pull a Zach Johnson, though he was not as under-rated by a lot of people before he won. This week, look out for a big Swedish golfer named Henrik Stenson as my darkhorse pick. Remember, you read it here first, but only if he wins.

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Newburyport, Mass.: If I win the Masters more than once do I get a diamond cluster on the lapel of my green jacket? Or do I just get another green jacket?

And if all green jacket wearers are equal, where's the distinction? I mean if Col. Hickups from the area is wearing his at the clubhouse, what's the point?

Good session today.

Leonard Shapiro:
No dimanond cluster, just another green blazer you can't wear anyplace but here. They do give out plenty of crystal, for things like eafgles, holes in one etc. etc. The distrinction clearly is in the mind of the beholder of the green jacket. I'll let you figure that out.

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Detroit: What golfer outside the top 30 has the best chance at making a great showing this week?

Leonard Shapiro:

Look out for J.B. Holmes, a big bomber with an ever-improving game playing his first Masters. And Johnson Wagner, a Virginia Tech grad, won last week and got into the field. He's a very long shot.
Thanks for all your questions. I'm off to the Par 3 contest, where the winner has never won the tournament that same year. It's on ESPN 3-5 p.m., another Masters first.

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