Bank Shot Is Cushion for Norman

AUGUSTA, Ga. â€”  It’s clear now that the law of gravity, as it relates to golf, is pretty much suspended at the 12th hole of the Masters.

You remember No. 12 at Augusta National. It’s the 155-yard par three, the middle pew in Amen Corner, the one with a creek and bunker in front and two bunkers in back that sandwich a green about as fat as a blade of grass.

It’s the hole where champion-to-be Fred Couples knocked his tee shot short of the green in the last round of 1992 amid gasps as the ball rolled down the embankment toward the water. But it somehow stopped just before taking a bath.

Well, it happened again Friday, this time to Greg Norman. The ball rolled down the embankment and stopped in the soggy grass a little more than a foot from the water.

“I wasn’t that concerned,� Norman said. “Well, bottom line, yeah, maybe I was a little bit.�

So instead of drowning his golf ball, Norman wound up with a soft chip shot and stopped the ball a foot from the hole. Then he made the putt for par to stay on track for the second-round lead of the Masters.

Norman discovered that the best way to follow up a first-round 63 is to overhaul Augusta National with a smoldering 69. He produced a 12-under par total of 132 worth a four-shot lead at the midway point.

Norman’s closest competitor is Nick Faldo, who shot a 31 on the back nine on his way to a 67 and a notable repeat of the last time he was paired with Norman in the third round of a major.

That would be the 1990 British Open at St. Andrews. Norman shot a 76, Faldo shot a 67 and the Englishman went on to win the title.

Soon after he finished with a pleasing 12-foot birdie putt on 18, Faldo said, no, he really isn’t thinking too much about getting paired with Norman again.

“I’m just worried about little old me,� Faldo said.

That’s probably a good philosophy for anybody still around for the weekend. There are eight players within eight shots of Norman, and with the weather forecast calling for possible showers, chances are it’s going to be a wild chase to the finish line.

Phil Mickelson shot 73 and should be considered fortunate after the places he was hitting his drives. Mickelson is tied for third with David Frost at six-under par 138.

Frost shot a 68 despite a double-bogey six at No. 10. He said he was able to put the double out of his mind fairly quickly.

“What double bogey?� Frost said.

Lee Janzen and Bob Tway don’t need to be reminded they are next at 139, with Masters rookie Scott McCarron, Scott Hoch and Vijay Singh at 140, eight shots behind Norman.

Corey Pavin and Ian Woosnam are at 141.

This Masters is a serious business, all right, and it’s starting to affect just about everyone.

Woosnam talked about his motivation right after he finished his second-round 69 to go three under par at 141.

So what drives him? Money? Power? Fame?

“I really need to win to get another green jacket because the one I have doesn’t fit,� the 1991 champion said. “I’ve gotten a bit too fat.�

Woosnam said he was kidding, but there was nothing funny about the way McCarron played. The 30-year-old former UCLA player from Rancho Murrieta with the long-handled putter shot a 31 on the back and formulated a game plan for the rest of the way.

“Same game plan as I’ve had for the last two days,� he said. “Get my ball on the green and try to make some putts.�

Norman said he probably hasn’t faced a putt in his life quite like the downhill three-footer he stood over on No. 11. The front-left pin placement meant any putt above the hole would move down the green like a roller coaster.

Norman said he drew his putter back about half an inch and held his breath. The ball scooted four feet past the hole.

“That was the quickest putt I’ve ever had in my entire life and ever will have for the rest of my golfing days,� he said.

Norman said he was holding the putter loosely.

“It would have been tough to get a fingerprint on it if the cops were trying to get me,� he said.

Norman made the four-foot comebacker for par. But it’s not the cops after him, it’s a bunch of golfers, including an old nemesis.

That would be Faldo, although Norman said he doesn’t worry about the names, only the games.

“The guys on that leader board are playing good golf, irrespective of who they are,� he said. “They are not going to disappear.�

Norman finished with three birdies on the last six holes. It was a formidable stretch that included a two-putt for birdie from 25 feet on No. 13, a 12-footer for birdie after finding a bunker on No. 15 and a four-footer after a pitching wedge got him close on No. 18.

As good as Norman’s parr was on No. 11, it will be how his golf ball remained dry on the bank of No. 12 that stays in the memory of most who saw it.

Faldo, who parred the hole, has his own strategy on playing the 12th.

“I try to breathe in and out,� he said.

Of his putt on 12, Norman said: “That one was in the lap of the gods there.�

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

SCORES

*--*

LEADERS Norman 63-69--132 Faldo 69-67--136 Frost 70-68--138 Mickelson 65-73--138 Tway 67-72--139 Janzen 68-71--139

*--*

3 tied at 140

*--*

OTHERS Pavin 75-66--141 Els 71-71--142 Nicklaus 70-73--143 Love 72-71--143 Couples 78-68--146

*--*

*--*

FAILED TO QUALIFY Watson 75-72--147 Zoeller 74-73--147 Strange 71-77--148 Player 73-76--149 Lyle 75-74--149 a-Woods 75-75--150 Palmer 74-76--150 Stewart 74-76--150 Crenshaw 77-74--151 Kite 75-77--152 Rocca 78-75--153 Elkington 76-79--155 McCumber 78-82--160

*--*

a-amateur