Paul McGinley has abandoned his usual practice partners Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington for more experienced duos as he prepares for his US Masters debut at Augusta on Thursday. The Dubliner took to the fairways for the first time on Sunday with former winner Ian Woosnam and the man he pipped in 1991, Tom Watson, while two more Masters champions - Bernhard Langer and Mark O'Meara - join him today and tomorrow.
McGinley, typically unphased by his more illustrious partners on Monday's second round, began with a 300-yard drive and 143-yard wedge into the hole for an eagle two. Afterwards, he admitted to learning so much from Watson, a player he has always admired. He revealed: "He's always been my favourite player. The way he plays the game, his smartness, his intelligence, the way he speaks, the way he carries himself, the way he addresses controversies straight on. I played a practice round with Tom at the US PGA last year and that was beneficial. This was even more so and Woosie was great too."
Speaking of his decision to find new partners, he added: "I've gone out of my way not to practice with Darren (Clarke) and Padraig (Harrington) as much as I normally do because I wanted to learn as much as I could from guys who have been here a lot more times than them. I know the course can change a lot in the tournament from what I see in practice. I am bearing that in mind and asking about conditions such as the various wind directions and, obviously, pin positions. Like everybody I know every hole backwards from watching on TV for many years. But it's a lot tighter than I expected, a lot tighter, and the greens are a lot quicker for the start of the week than I thought they would be. That took me by surprise. They're the fastest I've ever putted on by far."
McGinley knows all too well that since the second Masters in 1935, when Gene Sarazen won after making an albatross two on the 15th, only Fuzzy Zoeller has won on his debut appearance. He continued: "The performance of guys playing their first Masters is well-documented. It is difficult and I can understand why, so I would be happy to make the cut and finish in the top 16 to earn another chance next year. Anything better than that would be a bonus."
Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey, the British amateur champion, is one of two Europeans on their first visits to the hallowed turf. Swede Niclas Fasth joins him.
Filed by Shane Murray
