Foreign dominance could continue at Masters

Foreign dominance could continue at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuter): Foreign dominance looks like a reasonable bet to continue at Augusta National when the Masters Tournament starts today in the year of the vanishing Americans.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer, whose four-shot win last season marked the fifth triumph by a European in six years, will try to become the first player to repeat at Augusta since all the way back in, uh, 1990 when Briton Nick Faldo won his second in a row.

"The course is probably in the best condition I've seen. It's a pleasure and fun to be out there playing," said an eager Langer, who in his second turn at dictating the menu for the champions' dinner ordered roast turkey with German potatoes, German dumpling and noodle soup and black forest cake.

Stemming the trend in exotic culinary requests laid before Augusta National's chefs, like the haggis ordered up by 1988 champion Sandy Lyle of Scotland, looms as particularly difficult for a U.S. contingent hit hard by injury and illness.

Fred Couples, the only American to interrupt the six-year parade of foreign Masters winners with his victory in 1992, is missing from the 86-man field because of a herniated disc.

Paul Azinger, the reigning PGA champion, is sidelined while undergoing cancer treatment. Rising star Phil Mickelson is recuperating from a broken leg suffered in a skiing accident.

"Freddie and Azinger would have been your top two," Faldo said in analyzing U.S. chances.

Fuzzy Zoeller, with three second-place finishes this year, and last week's New Orleans winner, Ben Crenshaw - both former Masters champions - have shown the best recent form among the local favorites but international challengers are plentiful.

This time, the foreign charge will likely come from areas other than Europe.

Australian Greg Norman, who longs to add the Masters title to his pair of British Open crowns, is coming off a sensational victory at the Players Championship where he smashed records with a winning total of 24 under par.

"It's the ultimate golf tournament," said Norman, speaking of his undiminished enthusiasm for the Masters despite some painfully disappointing near-misses here. "It's pure golf."

Joining Norman in the Masters chase are compatriots Steve Elkington, Ian Baker-Finch and Craig Parry.

The other heavy pre-tournament favorite is Nick Price of Zimbabwe, who like Norman, is eager to start piling up major titles since settling into the top form of his career.

"I'm at a stage in my career where another major win would elevate me to another level that I want to get to badly to establish myself as a great player," said Price, who broke through by winning the 1992 PGA championship.

Off recent form, the leading European contender could be Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, who finished one stroke behind 1991 winner Ian Woosnam of Britain. Olazabal ended a two-year drought with victory at the Mediterranean Open and also has a second- place this year on the European tour.

Langer said Norman and Price were logical favorites.

"Greg hits it very far, so does Nick. Both hit it pretty high if they have to and both spin it," Langer said referring to their ability to place the ball to best advantage on Augusta National's fast, undulating greens.

"Nick is an excellent putter and Greg has everything," he added.

"This golf course should suit both of them very much. Both of them should win here sooner or later."