Arnold Palmer, 73, will play in the Masters for the 49th straight year.
By BOB HARIG
Published April 7, 2003
Former champions are happy that the tournament's lifetime exemption has been restored.
There are no mulligans in professional golf, and they are expressly prohibited at Augusta National during practice rounds for the Masters.
But Hootie Johnson took one last week. And nobody seems to mind.
Augusta National and Johnson, the club and tournament chairman, decided to rescind a rule he put in place last year that would have put an age limit on past champions' participation in the Masters. The major do-over stunned followers of the Masters.
At the urging of former Masters champions Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who also are Augusta National members, Johnson last week sent a letter to all former winners of the tournament. Essentially he said: Never mind.
"After discussions with Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, the club has decided not to implement the past champions qualification change next year," Johnson said. "Arnold, Jack and I agree that past winners should be able to play as long as they'd like, so long as they feel they remain competitive. We will count on our champions to know when their playing careers at the Masters have come to an end."
So at least one controversy has been averted as the competitors for the 67th Masters begin arriving for practice rounds today.
The lifetime Masters exemption given to former champions was to be eliminated in 2004 for those over age 65, and it created a good bit of acrimony. Johnson had a public relations problem on several fronts.
First, he wrote past champions Gay Brewer, Billy Casper and Doug Ford after the 2001 tournament saying he hoped it had been their last. "We know you want to abide by the spirit of the invitation, and therefore we believe that your participation as a player in the 2001 Masters should be your final one," he wrote.
That prompted Palmer to declare that last year's Masters would be his final one. "I don't want to get a letter," he quipped.
Last spring, Johnson first announced the age limit and a requirement of participation in 15 tournaments the year before. Realizing Nicklaus might not meet the minimum, he changed it to 10. Still, there were hurt feelings.
Gary Player, 67, was particularly upset, and said so. At one point, the three-time Masters winner threatened never to come back to Augusta after this year's tournament, though he later backed down from his comments. Player has said he'd like to play in the Masters until he is 70.
Palmer, 73, has since decided to return, and will play in the Masters for the 49th straight year. Nicklaus, 63, will play for the 43rd time.
Johnson, however, had players such as Ford in mind. The 1957 Masters winner, now 80, hasn't made a cut at the tournament since 1971. He has not posted a 36-hole score since 1997.
That bothered Masters officials most. They want players entered who will attempt to compete for 36 holes. Ford had made a habit of playing nine, or even just one, and quitting.
"The responsibility remains with the past champions to not just show up, but at very least compete in the first two rounds of the tournament," said Player, who had often spoke of ex-chairman Clifford Roberts' promise to him that all past champions could play in the tournament the rest of their lives.
"I have been one of the few players who has been outspoken of various decisions the Masters has made, and I would like to think this has played a small part in them changing their minds," Player said. "Constructive criticism is always good ... but let's not look back.
"This tournament has a very special place in my heart and it has played a significant role in my life. I now look forward to returning again in the future and continuing to be a part of this special tournament as long as I can. This still may be my last competitive appearance and I will just have to take it year by year and see, but now at least I feel welcomed again."
[Last modified April 15, 2003, 14:01:53]
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