An early end to Sherry's fairy-tale

Andy Farrell watches the British Amateur champion struggle to live up to expectations in the Masters

Andy Farrell
Friday 12 April 1996 23:02 BST
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A tall order for a tall man. An amateur in a professional world is allowed to dream. Gordon Sherry hoped to make the top-24 finishers and earn a return invitation to the Masters next year. Making the cut would be hard enough.

No British Amateur champion had qualified for the final two rounds since Peter McEvoy in 1978. After a first round 78, Sherry, fourth in last summer's Scottish Open, needed something of a miracle to break that fruitless run.

The thing about Augusta National is that it chooses its own fairy-tales. Yesterday morning, bogeys at the third and fourth, where he tangled with the sand both times, put Sherry eight over par. After his 43 on the front nine on Thursday, the Stirling University student said he tried to relax and enjoy himself. Again paired with the uncommunicative Fred Couples, Sherry was again finding that difficult.

Couples had his own problems. The very fact that the American and the Scot were playing together again on the second day, when there is a redraw in score order, meant Couples had also ended the first day six over. Neither was living up to their differing expectations.

As the recent US Players champion, Couples was a hot favourite to win his second Green Jacket. Two weeks ago he won $630,000 (pounds 420,000) to push his career earnings in official US Tour events alone in sight of the $8 million mark. Sherry, as he turns an expensive hobby into his profession, has thousands of pounds to repay his parents on a student loan.

Holing a 10-foot putt at the seventh brought a smile to Sherry's lips, as did another birdie at the 11th, after a number of missed chances. He has gone down well with the galleries. "They should pull him down and rebuild him as a condo," said one spectator.

But the name on everyone's lips here is that of Tiger Woods. There are expectations and expectations. It must be difficult to lift a club after Jack Nicklaus has said: "This kid is the most fundamentally sound golfer I have ever seen at almost any age. He will be the favourite here for the next 20 years. Arnold Palmer and I agree if you add his Green Jackets and my Green Jackets, this kid should win more."

For a 20-year-old with only a blue blazer in his wardrobe, winning more than 10 Masters is undreamable. Who would have thought Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman would so far only have two Green Jackets between them?

And then there is Norman on Woods. After his 63 on Thursday, the "Great White Shark" told reporters: "The way I felt in our practice round was the way you would feel about playing with me."

Woods shot a 75 on Thursday and was a further two over to the turn yesterday. Speculation has been plentiful that he will give up his studies at Stanford and collect on some fat contract offers, but he has said, "I'm having too good a time at college."

Couples and Sherry both found the water at the par-three 12th, but the American enjoyed himself more from then on. A birdie putt at the last gave him a chance of making the cut at two under. Sherry found another bunker and finished his amateur career with a bogey and a 77 for 11 over.

"That's the worst experience I have ever had on a golf course," said the 22-year-old. "I haven't shot scores like that for four years. I knew the greens would be tricky but people almost put the fear of death into you. I've learnt a lot. Another time I'll know you can't worry about the course. There are spots to hit the ball and you have to hit them there."

He added: "I'm just another British amateur to miss the cut. But I'll be back. Maybe not next year, but I'll be back."

His first professional event will be in next month's Italian Open. He was asked how it felt to be a pro. "I haven't earned a penny yet." In the profession that only comes with making the cut.

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