Among the Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Just in case anyone is wondering, Nathan Smith is a 42 long.
Smith, a North Hills resident and member of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora, will make his return to the Masters when play begins at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday and will be one of 96 golfers vying for the coveted green jacket.
It's been six years since Nathan Smith competed in the storied event. He received an invitation to the 2004 tournament by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur Golf Championship in Kaiwah Island, S.C. He pulled off the feat again in October.
In his previous visit to Augusta, Smith was paired with Arnold Palmer. He carded a 72 and 78 over the first two rounds and missed the cut.
This time around, Smith wants to get reacclimated to the course.
"The course is tremendously hard — and it's so long. It's about 7,500 yards," Smith said. "They've lengthened it so much more since 2004.
"I'm getting out there early and trying to get as uncomfortable as I can, get the culture shock out of the way, stepping out in front of 10,000 people," he added.
Smith, 31, got in practice rounds both Monday and Tuesday, despite the sweltering heat. Showers are in the forecast for Thursday, then Friday through Sunday should be sunny with temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s.
Smith will play with Mark O'Meara and Rory Sabbatini. They are the sixth threesome and have a scheduled tee time of 8:45 a.m.
"I've never played with O'Meara, but he's really a nice guy and a nice player, and that's great," Smith said.
"Sabbatini and I have lockers beside each other. I don't know him, but he's been nice to me, so I think it's a nice pairing for me," Smith added.
One golfer Smith is glad he's not paired with, or anywhere close to, is Tiger Woods.
Woods is making his first tournament appearance since his well-documented offseason problems.
"It's been pretty wild down here," Smith said. "I haven't been to too many Masters, but there's a real buzz around here. Tiger's been out playing a couple of rounds.
"It seems the roars are a little louder and raucous, nothing bad. Just a lot more energy around this tournament," he added.
Woods will be teeing off at 1:42 p.m. Thursday with Matt Kuchar and K.J. Choi as part of the next-to-last threesome on the course.
The top 44 golfers plus ties and any players within 10 shots of the leader after 36 holes will make the cut.
Smith is hoping to kick off his 2010 season riding some momentum from his fantastic 2009 campaign.
Smith won the Pennsylvania Amateur, was fourth at the Sunnehanna Amateur and was a member of the winning U.S. Walker Cup team to go with his U.S. Amateur title.
He wants to keep the Masters in perspective and is trying not to do too much out of his normal range.
"I think of the quote from good ol' Herb Brooks, 'Just play your game,' and mine is what it is," said Smith.
"Just hitting balls in my range. Some guys can really hit them, but there are not a lot of shots like that in my bag. I don't want to be someone I'm not."
