Masters

Despite the Chatter, a Wide-Open Masters

Phil Mickelson watched a shot during a practice round at Augusta National on Wednesday

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Aside from the back nine on Sunday, when results crystallize and the winner emerges, the best part of the Masters is the entire day on Thursday, when the tournament finally begins and all the speculative chatter ends.

There is no sound like the silence that envelopes the first tee behind the manor clubhouse at Augusta National just after the starter says, as he will for the 7:45 a.m. threesome: “Fore, please, Jonathan Byrd driving.”

Byrd may or may not emerge as a story line in this 75th Masters. But when he strikes the first tee ball, the loud report will mark the official start of the year’s first major, an event that is still — despite what one might have read, heard or seen in the run-up — wide open.

Phil Mickelson leapt into the unfilled role of favorite when he won easily at the Shell Houston Open last week, blistering the weekend with rounds of 63 and 65. He will have two drivers in the bag this week, just as he did in 2006 when he followed an 11-stroke win at Atlanta with his second Masters championship.

“To be able to have that type of performance heading into here feels very good,” Mickelson said. “Reminds me a lot of 2006 when I was able to put it together the week before and carry the momentum through.”