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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)