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| Augusta National Golf Club |
McIlroy and Day look like golfers. Fowler looks like a leprechaun, except a little taller. His shirt, pants and shoes are so green they could have been watered. His green cap is big enough to cover a golf bag.
A man standing with his middle school-aged son nods at Fowler.
"Ask if you can borrow his Xbox," he says. "Talk Xbox stuff."
Talk it to all three. McIlroy is 21, Fowler 22 and Day 23.
"I am the old man in the group," Day says. "The thing is, it took me forever (to play Thursday's opening round). Like those two blokes were walking as quick as possible and I can't keep up with them. So I was just walking alone."
Youth must be served. But at the Masters it tends to be served up. Tiger Woods is the youngest winner in tournament history. He was 21 when he won in 1997.
Since then, only four winners have been in their 20s. Three of them were Tiger and the other was Trevor Immelman.
Experience is treasured at Augusta National Golf Club. Although this is only McIlroy's third Masters, he played Thursday as if he was a veteran of 25.
He shot a 65 and is tied with Alvaro Quiros for the first-round lead. Fowler and Day played their first Masters. Fowler birded four of the last five holes and shot 70. Day shot 72.
They are entitled to believe. The should believe. McIlroy won the 2010 Quail Hollow Championship and Day the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship. McIlroy and Fowler have played Ryder Cup. Fowler was the 2010 PGA Rookie of the Year.
We could be watching them a long time. Could we see one of them in a green jacket Sunday?
"Rory is certainly very close," says Day. "Obviously he's there right now. He's a very consistent player. You can just see how confident he is on the course. You know, Rickie is right behind him. I think I've got a little bit to go."
Day is from Australia, Fowler from Southern California (he played golf at Oklahoma State) and McIlroy from Holywood - Northern Ireland.
As McIlroy walks to the ninth tee Thursday, an averaged-sized guy next to the ropes says, "From seeing him on TV I thought he'd be 6-3. I'm bigger than he is."
"Yeah, but he hits it farther," says the averaged-sized guy's friend.
McIlroy, who is 5-foot-10, hit the ball far and straight. He didn't bogey a hole. He birdied five.
As they played, their gallery grew. I'd like to say their fans were younger and hipper than those in the galleries of the other golfers. But Augusta National Golf Club has many rules. Applying the term hip to its clientele is expressly forbidden.
The gallery included no skateboards and few tattoos, and if hair was dyed, it was dyed black. But there was enthusiasm. For a few hours, this was the future.
"You know, it was great out there," says McIlroy. "In the last six or seven holes, you could really feel the buzz of the crowd."
As the trio walked onto the 18th green, Fowler and Day together, and then McIlroy, the ovation with which they were greeted was warm and loud. Day knew it wasn't for him. Fowler touched his cap. When McIlroy arrived, he lifted his putter.
"Ror-ee!" the crowd roared, and McIlroy lifted his putter again, higher this time.
"Special," says Day. "Yeah, special."
Perhaps Fowler's outfits also will be. He'll wear blue today, green Saturday (he adds if he makes the cut) and Oklahoma State orange Sunday.
What if you win?
"Everything looks good with a green jacket," Fowler says.
Sources: http://www.charlotteobserver.com
