SNOQUALMIE — In a typical week, Larry Mize is often reminded of his 1987 Masters victory. The questions and comments come from fans, pro-am players and fellow pros alike.
And, of course, the media, which is what happened after Friday’s opening round of the 2015 Boeing Classic.
Not that Mize minds. “It’s a good subject,” he said with a smile. “I enjoy talking about it.”
After taming TPC Snoqualmie Ridge with a 5-under-par round of 67, a score that has him atop the leaderboard with a two-stroke cushion — among those in a five-way tie for second at 3-under 69 is hometown favorite Fred Couples — Mize took time to recall one of the most memorable outcomes in Masters history. And, indeed, the highlight of his own golf career.
It happened after Mize, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros were tied through 72 holes of regulation. Ballesteros was eliminated with a bogey on the first playoff hole, and on the second hole — the par-4 No. 11 at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club — Mize mis-hit his approach, pushing it about 140 feet right of the hole.
Dramatically, and perhaps miraculously, Mize’s third shot was a low chip that bounced twice before reaching the green and then rolling into the cup for a birdie. Moments later Norman missed a long putt with his third shot, making Mize the winner.
The victory was “definitely life changing from the opportunities that it gave me and the confidence that it gave me,” said the 57-year-old Mize, an Augusta native. “And financially it’s been very rewarding. … It’s been a tremendous blessing in my life to win the Masters.”
Though a first-place finish at this week’s Boeing Classic would hardly measure up to his Masters win, it would be welcome nonetheless. Mize has just one career win on the 50-and-over Champions Tour — the 2010 Montreal Championship — and his play this year has been sporadic at best. His top finish is a tie for 24th, and he is 69th on the season money list.
The problems, he said, have “been a little bit of everything, but I think it’s been more ball striking than anything. I really got my swing out of whack and I’ve just been having a hard time getting it back again. … So today was really an encouragement to me to get things turned around.
“I was home the last two weeks, working hard to get things turned around, and I was optimistic I could have a good week this week. … But a 67, I am pleasantly surprised,” said Mize, who had five birdies in a bogey-free round.
Friday’s play began in breezy, overcast conditions that gave way to afternoon sunshine. Twenty-one players in the field of 81 slipped under par, though birdies were hardly abundant due largely to unusually firm greens. In 10 previous Boeing Classics, the first-round leader has been lower than 67 every year but one (in 2008 co-leaders Scott Simpson and Mark Wiebe also opened with 67s).
“Larry Mize, that’s a phenomenal round,” said Couples, whose own round included four birdies and one bogey. He is tied with Billy Andrade, Chien Soon Lu, Jeff Freeman and Carlos Franco.
Afterward, Couples said he was “very happy. … I hit the ball pretty well.
“It could’ve been better,” he added, “but I also made a couple of nice 6- and 8-footers (putts) for pars.”
No question, the fans at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge are pulling for Couples, a Seattle native. He has yet to finish higher than third place in five previous Boeing Classic tries, and he would very much like to win — just as the crowd would no doubt love to watch him win.
Does he feel the fans behind him? “Always,” said the 56-year-old Couples. “(The noise) is a little different than maybe Seahawk games, where that’s a huge advantage. But it’s fun.
“I saw a lot of people out there that I know. I can’t go up and say hi to them because if you go say to two people, then you have to say hi to 22 people and then you have to say hi to everyone. And you are out there trying to focus a little bit. But it’s nice.”
Defending champion Scott Dunlap struggled in his first round, combining two birdies with two bogeys and a double-bogey for a 2-over 74. He is one of 14 players tied for 45th.
Also at 74 is Jeff Maggert, the tour’s money leader this season, who had four bogeys on the first 16 holes before closing with birdies on the final two holes.
Saturday’s second round begins at 9 a.m. with the leaders teeing off shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday’s final round also begins at 9 a.m.
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