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There may have been some–a very few–who were better than these, but none had greater impact on how their games were played. Along with Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali and Pele, these were the people who shaped the century in sports –By Daniel Okrent BABE RUTH In sports’ first golden age, there was Babe Ruth–and then there was everyone else
There is one man who will be pacing around the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota this week hoping to make it three majors in a row — but you won’t find his name when you trail your finger down the list of starters at the 91st PGA Championship. Though his presence may be unnoticed by spectators lining the fairways, his influence on the players he coaches is becoming far more conspicuous.
Golfing legend Gary Player and 1979 winner Fuzzy Zoeller bade emotional farewells to the Masters while Greg Norman, quite possibly the best player never to win the hallowed major, may well have played his last competitive round at Augusta as he narrowly missed the halfway cut. Three-time champion Player was playing his 52nd Masters, finally giving in to Old Father Time at a still spritely 73, but taking in the unique atmosphere for one last time. The South African was cheered to the rafters at every hole and received a standing ovation as he walked up 18 on Friday — 17-over-par but nobody cared.
American legend Arnold Palmer got the 73rd Masters tournament at Augusta under way on Thursday by hitting a ceremonial drive up the fairway on the par-four opening hole. Palmer, who will be 80 this year, then retired to watch the action, with 1991 champion Ian Woosnam and American pair Chez Reavie and Briny Baird the first grouping off the tee. Former Masters winners Sandy Lyle, Craig Stadler, Ray Floyd, Gary Player and Woosnam were all among the early starters and all dropped shots over the early few holes.