Mize beaten by marker in closing round

Augusta amateur Jeff Knox wrapped up a memorable weekend as a noncompeting marker by beating another highly decorated Masters Tournament participant.

First it was former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy on Saturday. On Sunday, it was 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize.

Knox, a 51-year-old Augusta National Golf Club member who lives in Augusta, shot an unofficial 5-over-par 77 while Mize had 79.

It was hard to top what Knox did in the third round, when he had 70 to beat McIlroy, ranked ninth in the world, by one shot.

“That was the round of his life,” Knox’s wife, Catherine, said Sunday. “He was very excited about his round (with McIlroy). Not only how he played but who he played with.”

Said son Lee Knox: “He was pumped. I don’t think he realized how much media was actually talking about him. He was definitely excited. He felt bad for Rory because he was catching so much heat when he shot 71, which is pretty good. He was just excited to play well.”

Unlike Saturday, Knox did not putt out on every hole with Mize. He picked up a tap-in putt that was for double bogey on No. 4.

As noncompeting marker, his score doesn’t count anyway. A marker, used when there is an odd number of players in the field, keeps his playing partner’s scorecard and helps with pace of play.

Knox and Mize, off in the first group, played in three hours, 48 minutes. Lee Knox followed his dad for both rounds.

“He didn’t play as good as yesterday, but he played pretty solid,” said Lee Knox, who watched his dad strike for two birdies (Nos. 2 and 10) against five bogeys (Nos. 3, 11, 14, 16 and 18) and the double bogey on No. 4.

He noted that his father’s 36-hole score of 3-over 147 would have made the cut by a shot had he been in the tournament.

“I liked everything about his game,” Mize said. “He hits it good, he chips it good. He’s just a solid, all-around player. I didn’t see anything I didn’t like. He’s a great guy.”

Despite their area connections, Knox and Mize did not know each other growing up. Knox is from nearby Thomson, and Mize, who was born in Augusta, moved away and then returned to finish high school here.

“I really didn’t know Jeff until I met him here at the tournament that I remember,” Mize said. “I’m only four years older than him, but if I knew him, I don’t remember.”

Knox was not allowed to speak to the media for the second day in a row. Knox’s wife said he never mentioned that he knew Mize when they were growing up.

Mize, who shot 74-72 and made the cut for the first time since 2009, had an uneventful weekend with a pair of 79s.

“It wasn’t the weekend I wanted,” he said. “I just struggled. As good as I putted on the first two days, especially Friday, that’s as bad as I putted on the weekend. … It was a tough weekend. I didn’t get any breaks. My short game was pretty poor on the weekend.”