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American Morning

Chris DiMarco Leads Masters Tournament

Aired April 06, 2001 - 10:51   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.
LAURA OKMIN, CNN ANCHOR: Skill and a style we can only describe as unusual definitely have something to do with Chris DiMarco's first day at Augusta.

CNN/Sports Illustrated's Tom Rinaldi introduces us to your Masters leader.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM RINALDI, CNN/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From losing his PGA tour card in 1995 to leading the Masters after his first competitive round -- what a day for Chris DiMarco. With only one tour victory to his credit, DiMarco carded a single bogey and picked up three birdies in four holes on the back nine. What he lacked in experience, he made up for with poise.

CHRIS DIMARCO, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: Two years ago, if I came here, I would have been just happy to be here -- and I am happy to be here, don't get me wrong -- but I also came to play. It's a goal for everybody to win this tournament; that's the goal from the outset. If you don't believe that, then why even come?

GREG NORMAN, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: These greens are perfect, and the golf course is perfect. There's no wind. You just go out there early in the morning. There's a lot of DiMarcos out there who can do that.

DIMARCO: Everyone is saying he's 7 under, but he'll fade -- you know, that thing. But all I'm going to do is go out and play, and if it's there on Sunday, all that I want is an opportunity on Sunday in the back nine, and I'm just trying to put myself in position to that.

RINALDI: DiMarco's steady play seems contradictory to his putting style, in which he uses what he calls his psycho grip: Looking like a contorted Ty Cobb with hands spread apart, DiMarco used a remarkable 25 putts on his way around the course.

DIMARCO: I started in '95, and when I did that, it kind of rejuvenated my game, so of speak. It just made me more comfortable on the shorter and the longer putts, and I've been doing it for six years. It's nothing new.

RINALDI (on camera): It may be good, but is it lucky to hold the lead after the first round at the Masters? Consider that, in the last five tournaments here at Augusta National, only once, in 1998 -- with Fred Couples -- did the leader hold on after Friday, and in that span, no first round leader went on to win the green jacket.

Still, if Chris DiMarco putts as well as he did Thursday, there's a good chance he'll be there on the weekend.

At the Masters, I'm Tom Rinaldi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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