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CNN Live At Daybreak

Three Former Champions Not Competing at The Masters

Aired April 11, 2002 - 05:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Some of the world's best golfers, though, will be pairing off today as the 66th Masters gets underway. However, three former champions have been phased out, and that is a first.

CNN Sports Illustrated correspondent Tom Rinaldi explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM RINALDI, CNN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defined by tradition, measured in history, designed as timeless, yet at the Masters this year, a few former champions have discovered they've run out of time. Their eternal invitation to compete is now out of date.

GARY PLAYER, GOLFER: There comes a time when you cannot compete anymore, don't you think that we should make way for younger people to then come and fulfill our places. Because nothing, as the Chinese athletes say, nothing shall last.

NIC FALDO, GOLFER: But that's a very tough call. I mean I - they won't have to send me that letter, I'll know. When I can't -- when I can't hack it, I'll definitely call it a day.

RINALDI: For the first time, Augusta National has asked three former winners not to compete in the tournament. Their play judged as short of the Masters' standard. At least one of those former winners understands.

BILLY CASPER JR., GOLFER: You know it's time that some of us step aside. You know we just are not as competitive as we once were. You know I play a handful of tournaments a year. That's all I play anymore.

HOOTIE JOHNSON, CHAIRMAN, AUGUSTA NATIONAL: The decisions that we made this year on the champions and those that we asked to step aside, we made those decisions based on what we thought was in the best interest of the tournament.

RINALDI (on camera): If Billy Casper has accepted the club's decision gracefully, two other former champions have had a more difficult time. Gay Brewer, the '67 champion, decided not to attend the prestigious champion's dinner held here this week. And Doug Ford, the '57 winner, while coming to Augusta, has said publicly he was offended by the club's decision.

JACK NICKLAUS, GOLFER: I think that when you have earned an invitation to play in the Masters or any golf tournament, then I think it's a player's decision whether he should play or not.

FUHMAN BISHER, "ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION": I remember last year looking at Doug Ford trudging up that 18th fairway, up that hill after playing 18 holes, and I said I wonder if he'll ever really want to try it again. The next day he went out, played two holes and quit. No, I think he played the first hole and quit.

RINALDI (voice-over): Arnold Palmer would have to shoot his age, 72, to make par and hasn't made a cut here since 1983. Still, his invitation is open. A few former champions cannot enjoy the same.

ARNOLD PALMER, GOLFER: Oh I'm going to tee it up unless the good Lord takes me before that. But no, I have every intention of playing and -- but that's this week. I don't know what'll happen next week.

CASPER: The course was tough enough for me. You know when you're 70 years of age, it's not like you're 35.

RINALDI: This place values history. For a few champions, history is now all they have.

At the Masters, I'm Tom Rinaldi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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