Masters Insider

Where to go: Main leaderboard

The main leaderboard, on the golfers’ right side of the No. 1 fairway, is an excellent source of information.

The leaderboard is a recognizable because it contains flags representing the countries of Masters Tournament participants, and it contains hole-by-hole scoring information for each player in the field.

The unique system used on this board shows eagles in bright red on a yellow background, birdies in red, pars in black, bogeys in light green, and double bogeys or worse in green on a yellow background.

It’s a good place to see which golfers made the 36-hole cut, and serves as a popular meeting place.

Under the oak tree: Fuzzy Zoeller

Fuzzy Zoeller, 61, won the 1979 Masters in his first attempt at Augusta National Golf Club. He retired from competition at the Masters in 2009 but still comes back every year to attend the Cham­pions Dinner and play in the Par-3 Contest.

On Thursday morning, he stood under the oak tree and watched Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player hit their traditional honorary tee shots.

Q: What brought you out so early?

A: Respect. I owe those three birds right there everything I’ve got. It’s totally out of respect for the three of them for me to be here. I know it’s early to get up, but I love every minute of it.

Q: What have you been doing since retiring from golf?

A: I’m doing very little. Actually, I’m quite busy.

We’ve got the vodka company rolling. We’ve got the IndyCar with Eddie Carpenter’s No. 20, the fastest golf ball rolling (the car features a golf ball motif). And a little bit of golf in between. I’m one busy man right now.

Q: Any regrets about not playing in the Masters?

A: My last year I ripped it down No. 1, and I couldn’t see the green because of the hill. My daughter was caddying for me, and she came back and said, you’ve got 235 to the front and 30 (to the pin). I’ve got to tell you: I don’t have that shot (laughs). So it was time to step aside. It was no fun.

Yes, I do miss it, but I’ve got to have fun when I’m out there. If you’re not having fun, why put yourself through the misery?

Q: Will a first-timer ever win at Augusta again?

A: You never say never. It is amazing when you think about all the talent that has walked through from that practice range to that first tee and it hasn’t happened.

Can I explain why? No. Will it happen again? Somebody will do it. History is history, and it’s been 34 years now. I have a lot of great memories.

It’s unbelievable.

History lesson: The Cut

The Masters instituted the 36-hole cut in 1957. In changes made this week, the low 50 and ties and those within 10 shots of the lead qualify for the final 36 holes.

The highest cut score, 154, came in 1982. The low score of 145 has occurred six times, most recently in 2011.

Gary Player holds the record for most consecutive cuts made at Augusta National, 23. Tiger Woods, with 16 (1997 to present), and Phil Mickelson, with 15 (1998 to present), have the longest active made cut streaks.

– John Boyette, sports editor