Parnevik gets Woods to deliver

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Among his special interests, Jesper Parnevik lists magic. But to make his set of golf clubs reappear, he needed Tiger Woods.

The affable Swede, back for his seventh Masters after missing the tournament in 2003 and 2004, got a bit of a jolt Sunday afternoon when he arrived for a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club and discovered something was missing: His golf clubs.

"Sitting in my garage," said Parnevik, who lives in Jupiter, Fla.

The good-natured kidding started and Parnevik got plenty of it. "It's kind of amazing, but anyone who knows me and my situation would say it's understandable," said Parnevik, one of the PGA Tour's more colorful and offbeat personalities.

He explained that he and his wife, Mia, were travelling with their four children, a friend, and two nannies, a group that required a three-car caravan to the airport and seats on two private planes. At first, he was told his flight had been canceled, so the cars were unpacked. Then he got a call the flights were back on, so the cars were re-packed.

"There was confusion, everyone moving around," said Parnevik. "Somehow, my clubs got left behind."

At Augusta, Parnevik had to share clubs with his guest Sunday. Later in the day, he made a call to Woods and explained his dilemma. Did Woods laugh?

"I would say so," said Parnevik. "Everyone was laughing. He thought it was very amazing."

Parnevik made arrangements to get the clubs to Wood, who brought them along on his private jet yesterday. "They got here first class," said Parnevik, laughing.

Does that mean Parnevik owes Woods a favor? Parnevik smiled, but shook his head. Keeping in mind that he's the one who can take credit for introducing Woods to his wife, Elin Nordegren, Parnevik said, "I still think I'm on the credit side of him."

Nicklaus to play
Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus told the Associated Press last night he would play for the 45th time, saying he wanted to fulfill a request by Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson "and a desire on my part." At the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame's Botanical Gardens, where he received a key to the city of Augusta, Nicklaus said, "I feel like I can play, so I'm going to play." Nicklaus, who had said he felt he needed to be with his family as they grieved over the March 1 drowning of his 17-month-old grandson, Jake Walter, spent the last few weeks playing golf with Jake's father, his son Steve, a therapeutic way to cope with the tragedy . . . John Daly thrilled the large practice-round crowds with an ace at the par-3 16th -- but it was Daly's third ball from that tee box. "I didn't think it would go in the hole, but it did," said Daly. Because he was accepting so many handshakes and backslaps, Daly didn't partake in a practice-round tradition he usually enjoys -- trying to hit tee balls at the 16th and skip them across a large pond onto dry land . . . Austin Eaton 3d, the US Mid-Amateur champion from New Hampshire, played a practice round with David Toms, one day after playing with Daly. "I'm working it," said Eaton, one of four amateurs in the field. When he hit a pair of pull-hooks off the first tee late Sunday, Eaton got assistance from Daly -- some lead tape to the back of his driver. "It helped, too," said Eaton, who added that he was going to keep the tape there, something he would be allowed to do. "You just can't alter it once the competition begins." . . . So how did Toms end up alongside Eaton? "We have a mutual friend from the New York area, who was originally from Louisiana," said Toms. "He called me last night and left a message, said he'd like for me to introduce myself to him, maybe get together and have lunch." But before Toms could extend the invitation, Eaton beat him to it. On the practice range, he asked Toms if they could have a round together. "It was probably one of the most enjoyable practice rounds I've ever had here at Augusta," said Toms. "We didn't have to wait at all. I really enjoyed him."

In firm form
Woods, out for an afternoon tour of the front nine alongside Mark O'Meara, wasn't in the mood to discuss the course, but many of his colleagues were shaking their heads about the conditions, which are firm and fast and getting firmer and faster. "I wouldn't even want to guess," said Charles Howell 3d, when asked what he thought the greens were running on the Stimpmeter. Prodded, he said, "15 maybe. I mean, it's scary." For a third straight day, it was sunny, warm, and windy. "The greens are fiery," said Adam Scott, who seemed to be excited about the prospect. "We haven't played it dry [in a few years]."