The Masters Golf Tournament: First Day Observations

  The first day at Augusta National is over, and an American is not in the lead. Instead, the lead at a remarkable seven shots under par is shared by a pair of twenty-somethings: 21-year-old Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and 28-year-old Alvaro Quiros of Spain. The opposite of Samson, McIlroy chopped off his long hair early in the week, and it resulted in his lowest score ever at the Masters. Of course, "ever" in his case means three years. Ever improving and currently ranked ninth in the world, McIlroy did not make the cut last year.
 Matt Kuchar and Ricky Barnes were the lowest-scoring Americans, three shots back with four-under 68's. Phil Mickelson, as erratic as he was off the tee, shot a respectable 70 thanks to an unbelievably accurate chipping game. Tiger Woods showed traces of his former greatness, winding up at 71, one below par.
 It's no surprise to find Europeans and South Africans well represented on the leader board, but Koreans Y. E. Yang and K. J. Choi are doing well so far, too. No question, after the recent troubles in Japan, the sentimental favorites have to be the Japanese contingent. Amateur Hideki Matsuyama shot an even par 72 round, Ryo Ishikawa shot 71, and Hiroyuki Matsuyama shot 70, leaving all three in contention after the first day.
 It was great to see octogenarian Arnold Palmer and septuagenarians Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus ambulate around for ceremonial par three's and first tee shots. Even if real history is no longer taught in public schools, it's nice to see real history respected at Augusta.
 It was great to see brilliant sports author John Feinstein providing expert commentary on the Golf Channel. It was great to hear the brilliant CBS golf crew melding with Augusta National once again. Yes, even Jim Nantz is tolerable when he's not fawning over old college chum Fred Couples or gushing over yet another corporate sponsor. The insufferable New Age somnambulist music has been reduced before and after commercial breaks, and the breaks are short and few in number during the ESPN broadcast. Well done.
 Points of interest on Friday: 
  1) Will non-Americans continue to dominate the   
       leader board?
  2) Will Asians continue to dominate the amateur 
       leader board?
  3) Will Japan stay represented on the leader board?
  4) Will Tiger, Phil, or both make a charge?
  5) Will a senior like Couples or Watson make a   
       charge?
  6) Which early leader will do a Greg Norman    
       collapse?
  7) How many of the lifetime exemption, former 
       Masters winners will make the cut?
 We don't know who will be on the leader board after Friday, but one thing is certain: the scores will not be so low. No PGA or local Augusta official wants a winning score of 28 under par, which is what McIlroy and Quiros are on pace to do. The majors are supposed to be tough, not duplicates of Phoenix or the Bob Hope. Scoring conditions were ideal on Thursday: warm, sunny, and calm, with sticky slow-for-Augusta greens and easy pin placements. Nothing can be done about the weather, but greens will be dried out if possible and pin positions will be much tougher.
 This doesn't mean the leaders will come back to the pack, but it does mean repeating the feat of 65 will be extremely unlikely. On Friday, Augusta National will be tougher for everybody. Enjoy the greatest show in golf.