ROCKY STARTS
Three teens made highly publicized Masters debuts last week, and all of them turned in less-than-stellar performances. Ryo Ishikawa (above, center) and Danny Lee (right) missed the cut, while Rory McIlroy came in 20th. Here's the good news: First-time results are not necessarily predictors of future performance. Among the 11 players who have won more than one green jacket in the last 55 years, the best first-time finish was a tie for 10th, by Arnold Palmer in 1955, while four of the multiple winners missed the cut in their first Augusta outings.
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Player | Debut Yr./Finish | Second Yr./Finish | Follow-up |
Arnold Palmer | 1955/T10 | 1956/21 | Tied 7th in third start, won in fourth |
Gary Player | 1957/24 | 1958/MC | Tied 8th in third start, won in fifth |
Jack Nicklaus | 1959/MC | 1960/13 | Tied 7th in third start, won in fifth |
Tom Watson | 1970/MC | 1975/T8 | Tied 8th in second start, won in fourth |
Ben Crenshaw | 1972/19 | 1973/24 | Tied 8th in sixth start, won in 11th |
Seve Ballesteros | 1977/33 | 1978/18 | Won in fourth start |
Nick Faldo | 1979/40 | 1983/20 | One of three to win back-to-back |
Bernhard Langer | 1982/MC | 1984/31 | Won in third start |
José M. Olaàbal | 1985/MC | 1987/MC | Tied 8th in third start, won in 8th |
Phil Mickelson | 1991/46 | 1993/34 | Tied 7th in third start, won in 12th |
Tiger Woods | 1995/41 | 1996/MC | Won in third start |
PHOTO
ROBERT BECK (ISHIKAWA)
PHOTO
ROBERT BECK (MCILROY)
PHOTO
ROBERT BECK (LEE)