Still airing on conservative side

Changes won't affect tradition

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Without subtracting any flavor from the layers of tradition that are at the heart of the Masters, subtle changes have entered the landscape as the 72d edition of the event gets set to commence this morning.

One of the most talked-about new looks is the TV deal with ESPN, which will provide coverage today and tomorrow from 4-7 p.m. Augusta National chairman Billy Payne rejected a suggestion that tournament officials had offered the contract to the cable giant only on the grounds that flamboyant sports anchor Chris Berman not be involved. (He is not.)

"I have never had a discussion about that," said Payne. "We don't tell our broadcast partners who their on-air talent can be."

So far as ESPN's style for glitz and Hollywood-like presentation, Payne was asked if it went against the conservative, quiet demeanor with which CBS has always presented the tournament on Saturdays and Sundays.

"We have addressed all those concerns. I think you will discover that ESPN will be very respectful of the tradition of the Masters," he said. "We have discussed at length how we would like for them to portray the Masters."

Regarding course changes, which is an annual event, Payne said they included minor tweaks to the first and 11th holes, and the re-grassing at the No. 7 and 9 greens "to combat encroachment of Bermuda grass," said Payne.

Payne talked about a new ticket initiative, in which children 8 to 16 are admitted free when accompanied by a badge-holder ("We are absolutely thrilled when we imagine how many of these kids will be influenced by this opportunity," he said). But regarding his comments last fall that the tournament committee wanted to undertake a "new international initiative" to use the Masters to "help grow the game," which would be done by inviting international players, Payne concedes he erred.

Instead, he pointed out that the forefathers of this tournament undertook just such a philosophy from the very beginning, that players were invited from Canada and England, Japan and Argentina back in the 1930s.

"Our founders have actively endeavored to promote the game of golf through the conduct of a world-class sporting event," said Payne.

But, of course, some things do not change.

Such as the exchange when Payne was asked about how many people are inside Augusta National GC watching the practice rounds and competition.

"I'm not going to tell you," he said.

"Just thought I'd ask," said the reporter.

"That's like a speed-of-the-green issue," said Payne, smiling.

"That was my next question," said the reporter.

Payne merely smiled.

The big three

While 78-year-old icon Arnold Palmer will hit this morning's ceremonial opening tee shot for a second straight Masters, his colleagues in the legendary "Big Three," Nicklaus and Gary Player, joined together to play the back nine, much to the delight of the thousands of fans on hand for the final practice round. The three giants were then paired in the annual par-3 contest and when Palmer stuck his approach to 2 feet at the 130-yard first, the crowd roared with such pleasure, it seemed as if the fans had had everything they could ask for. Fortunately for them, there was more, nothing more pleasing than Fred Couples's ace at the 115-yard seventh. Rory Sabbatini won the 49th annual par-3 contest, held at the adjacent nine-hole, 1,060-yard course, with a round of 5 under. For some, it might be considered a bit of a curse, as no player has won the Masters the same year as the par-3 event. Not Sabbatini, who tied for second last year: "You can't break the curse unless you've won the par-3 contest to start with," he said. "I'm not a very superstitious person. I don't believe in curses" . . . Told that Woods had explained why he would miss the par-3 contest for a fourth straight year (it's too hectic), Payne showed no concern. "I think all golfers choose to prepare differently for the Masters," he said. But before another question could get asked, he added with great enthusiasm: "I will tell you that I have instructed them to save for the future those little caddie uniforms in Sam's size." Payne was referring to Woods's daughter, Sam Alexis, who was born the day after the US Open last June . . . Following Palmer's opening tee shot, the lead group of Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel will get things going at 8 a.m. It's an intriguing pairing, given that each of them produced stunning major championship wins in 2003 - Curtis at the British Open, Micheel at the PGA Championship. Of course, the majors have been anything but smooth sailing since then, because they've combined to play in 36 of them with 18 missed cuts.

Guiding the field

Though Woods is still the heavyweight champ without compare, Butch Harmon has assembled quite a stable of challengers, however distant they may be. Adam Scott has been aboard for more than six years now and Phil Mickelson reached out for the swing coach a year ago. Stewart Cink is a devoted student and now there's Ernie Els, a three-time major champion looking to breathe life into his game and improve a swing that has produced just one PGA Tour victory since 2004. That lineup gives Harmon three of the world's top eight players and four of 14 . . . Arguably the longest hitter in golf, Bubba Watson's Masters debut is eagerly awaited by many, but to some, he already delivered a whopper when he told a reporter: "It's great to get in the field, don't get me wrong. It's an honor to get in the field. It's an invitational, and you've got to earn your way there. But it's never been like an off-the-world thing. I'd rather win a US Open." . . . After making the cut in 19 straight Masters, Bernhard Langer has missed it three of the last five seasons. On the bright side, the 50-year-old is enjoying life as a Champions Tour rookie, with two wins and five top 10s in seven starts . . . From the oops department, that surely was a picture of a Kuehne in the Masters' players' guide, but it was of Hank and not Trip, who is the family member in the tournament. In as the US Mid-Amateur champion, Trip is making his second Masters appearance, having missed the cut in 1995, the year after he lost in the US Amatuer final to Woods. Hank, whose PGA career has been derailed because of injury and shoddy play, reportedly will be in attendance for today's opening round . . . Two-time champion Ben Crenshaw was honored this week in the annual Mayor's Masters Reception in downtown Augusta. As passionate a Masters participant as there has been, Crenshaw, 56, is playing in his 37th consecutive tournament. Although he knows the time will come when he has to shut it down, that time has not yet quite arrived. "It's just so much fun to bring [his wife] Julie and the kids here every year to see all of our friends at the club," said the 1984 and 1995 champion. After having missed the cut for eight straight years, Crenshaw has made it each of the last two Aprils. At that celebration, Crenshaw's longtime Masters caddie, Carl Jackson, was also honored . . . Staples at the Masters concession stands include pimento cheese sandwiches, chicken filet sandwiches, candy bars, and draft beer, but add to that two additions this time around - green-and-white bagged Masters potato chips and the Masters Moon Pie. That's right, the Masters Moon Pie.