Begay's downfall? Most putts at Masters.(Sports)

Publication: The Albuquerque Tribune (Albuquerque, NM)

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COPYRIGHT 2000 Albuquerque Tribune

Byline: Sean McAfee smcafee@abqtrib.com / 823-3662

AUGUSTA, Ga. For four rounds, Notah Begay III hit the ball like the Masters champion he hopes to one day become.

But he putted like the rookie he is.

Begay finished his first Masters Championship with a final-round 73 on Sunday, 1-over par, to finish the championship tied for 37th place at 6-over. He earned $21,620.

And while Begay said all the right things about what a great learning experience it was to make the cut and play four rounds at fabled Augusta National Golf Club, his inability to find the hole with his putter throughout the week left him wondering what might have been.

"I've been preparing my whole life for this tournament," Begay said. "But local knowledge really helps here, and this really is a place where you need to get around a few times and get to know it."

Begay's 131 putts over four rounds ranked him dead last among the 57 players who made the 36-hole cut. On Sunday, the Albuquerque native left birdie chances...

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