MASTERS BITS

The traditional dinner of champions was less than a success.Defending champion Sandy Lyle, who picked the menu and paid the tab,showed up in kilts and provided haggis, a dish traditional in hisnative Scotland but not as well received by the former winners. Mark Calcavecchia, who finished second last year, believes GregNorman may be trying too hard. "He seems so intense, slower than I'veever seen him," said Calcavecchia. "He's grinding so hard. That'snot Greg." Norman concedes Calcavecchia may be right.

Norman said Seton Hall's Andrew Gaze, a fellow Australian, inspiredhis interest in the NCAA tournament. "I'm not a fan, but I watchedbecause of him," said Norman. "He looks a couple of years youngerthan I am, and when I grew up basketball wasn't that strong inAustralia." Six-time winner Jack Nicklaus has an aching back again. "I spent allMonday on the floor and wasn't sure I could play," he said. But hecarded a 34 for nine holes Tuesday and expects his back to improveeach day of the tournament. Tournament chairman Hord Hardin admitted he was bothered by FuzzyZoeller's criticism of the course last year. "When one of our formerchampions shoots 66 and is that critical of us, I have to worry," hesaid. "The players have been complimentary so far this year.Hopefully they'll remain so after they've three- or four-putted underthe strain of the tournament, but I know better." Lee Trevino, perhaps playing in his last Masters, always has beencritical of the tournament. Hardin hasn't taken it personally. "Iadmire the guy," said Hardin. "He's talented, funny and I like theway he handles his job on TV. It would be nice if he had a goodtournament because he's never had his best game here. Even if hewon, that would be fine with me." Rain hit the course Wednesday, but Seve Ballesteros echoed thethoughts of most of the players in saying, "I've never seen thecourse in better condition." Ballesteros is playing in his 13thMasters, but his first as a married man. His wife of four months iswith him. Bob Gilder parred the first extra hole to win a playoff from AndyMagee and capture the par-3 contest. The bad news for Gilder is thata par-3 winner never has won the Masters the same year.