AUGUSTA, Ga. — It’s been five years since a Chattanooga-area golfer has played in the Masters — when Luke List made the cut as an amateur in 2005.
There are two area caddies in this year’s field, however.
Hixson High School graduate D.J. Nelson carries Heathcliff Slocum’s bag, and Chattanooga native Kip Henley from Crossville is with golfer Brian Gay.
“I’m not hitting any shots, so there’s not any pressure on me,” Nelson said after Slocumb finished his first round at even-par 72. “It’s a neat place.”
Nelson was with Slocum in 2008 when he tied for 33rd. Henley and Gay are making their first appearance as a tandem at Augusta National.
“It was fun,” Henley said. “It was good to be with Brian on his first one.
“The cool thing was I got to play out here last Thursday. I shot 78 and counted every shot.”
Youthful exuberance
Matteo Manassero opened with a a 71 Thursday. He’s in the middle of a star-studded field, sure, but the reigning British amateur champ made history Thursday.
Manassero, who will turn 17 in 11 days, became the youngest Masters competitor. So much for rookie nerves — he birdied No. 1. The Italian star-to-be looks part Jones and part Jonas Brothers, but he has an appreciation for the magnitude of his early arrival to one of golf’s shrines.
“It is special, this place,” Manassero said through good, if heavily accented, English before his historic first round. “I have seen many great golf courses, but this is something really different. It has a special atmosphere.”
Out early?
The low scores Thursday — 31 players were under par, including leader Fred Couples at 6-under 66 — meant a crowded leaderboard. It also meant several pretournament contenders have been put in a very uncomfortable position.
Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington each opened with a 74. Steve Stricker and defending champ Angel Cabrera were at 73.
And then there was Jim Furyk, who took a triple bogey after hitting into the water at No. 16 on his way to an 80.