Jack can't resist parting shot at Masters

Jack Nicklaus has gone fishing after hitting a shot to remember before the 1999 Masters.

Nicklaus, who will miss his first Masters in 40 years because of January hip surgery, was being shown changes to the course by chairman Hootie Johnson on Tuesday when they came to the famous 12th hole, a diabolical 155-yard par-3 over Rae's Creek.

"I got a nice reception," Nicklaus said. ``I saw Carlos Franco on the tee and asked him if I could borrow a club and a ball. I asked for a 6-iron, but after thinking it over I decided to use a 5-iron. The ball hit at the top of the bank and popped up on the green."

The crowd roared like it always has on Amen Corner for the six-time Masters winner.

Nicklaus reiterated he will be long gone when the tournament starts on Thursday.

He attended the traditional champions dinner Tuesday night, then took a plane to the Bahamas to fish.

"I really have no interest in watching a tournament," he said. ``If (son) Gary was playing in it I would. I've always been a spectator for my kids."

Would he watch on television?

"I might watch on TV some, but if the tournament is played during the daytime I'll be fishing," Nicklaus joked.

Last year, Nicklaus became the oldest player to finish in the top 10 at the Masters, recording a final round 4-under-par 68 to tie for sixth.

GLITTERING TRIBUTE TO NICKLAUS: Greg Norman said a Masters without Nicklaus is "like your wife losing a diamond out of a wedding ring."

Nicklaus will miss his first Masters in 40 years because of hip surgery and Norman said all the players will miss him.

"He put the Masters on the map for the modern day player," Norman said. "He is it, the Masters. It will be a sad weekend without him."

TIMES ARE A CHANGING AT AUGUSTA: It's been a year of changes under Johnson and there will be another tradition change when players tee off Thursday.

No longer will the players go off in twosomes. They'll play in threesomes the first two days, but switch to twosomes for the weekend. The low 44 players and ties, plus any player within 10 shots of the leader, qualify for play on Saturday and Sunday.

Pairings will stay the same for the first two days, with set tee times. In the past, pairings were redone according to the score after the first day of play.

Masters officials cited increasingly larger fields as the reason for threesomes.

"We could have rounds taking closer to five hours," Couples said. ``At Augusta we're used to a quicker pace. I can only remember a few times we played threesomes because of the weather."

Defending champion Mark O'Meara will be paired with U.S. amateur champion Hank Kuehne and England's Lee Westwood for the first two days, going off at 1:12 p.m. on Thursday and 10:16 a.m. on Friday.

Other changes this year include the growing of rough; alterations to four holes to make the course play longer and harder; and discontinuing the annual international players dinner.

KUCHAR ILL BUT HOPES TO PLAY: Amateur Matt Kuchar captivated the Masters crowds in 1998 with his 21st place finish, but he's battling a stomach virus that might keep him from playing this year.

Kuchar, a junior at Georgia Tech, was taken to a hospital emergency room on Tuesday in a run-down condition after he practiced for nine holes.

Chest X-rays showed no problems and he didn't have a fever. Father and caddie Peter Kuchar said his son still "hopes to tee it up on Thursday."

DEFENDING CHAMPION BATTLING A COLD: Defending champion Mark O'Meara caught a cold from one of his kids and it kept him and Tiger Woods from their annual pre-Masters week battles at their home club in Isleworth.

"I'm feeling better, but I'm not 100 percent," O'Meara said on Tuesday. "I was a little run down from playing three weeks in a row and got the cold from one of my kids. Tiger and I didn't get to play against each other like we usually do. There was no reason to push it. I feel better after a good night's sleep."

Woods said, "Mark was really under the weather. He needed to take it easy."

The two only played once. O'Meara won the money.

While he was off, O'Meara worked on the menu for Tuesday night's champions dinner, in which the defending champion plays host.

Entree choices included chicken and steak fajitas, Italian food, and sushi.

"Sandy Lyle had haggis one year, so I thought I could have sushi," O'Meara said. "I don't like cooked fish, but I like raw fish."

LMER HOPES TO MAKE THE CUT: Arnold Palmer has missed 15 consecutive cuts, but the four-time Masters champion says he always is hoping he get to the weekend again.

Palmer, standing in the parking lot with wife Winnie, said he is feeling good, but not playing well.

"I'm hoping lightning will strike Friday and I will make the cut," Palmer joked.