Updated at 11:50 a.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Kaua'i's Watabu 'driving beautifully' at Masters practice
By Lanaly Cabalo
The Garden Island
Both he and Wilson are making their first Masters appearances there.
When Watabu first hit the course on Monday, he was "a little skittish" on the Par 3 holes. But by yesterday, he was getting better.
Art Fujita, chairman of the Kaua'i Sectionals for Public Links, is in Augusta with an entourage from Hawai'i, which includes Watabu's parents. Fujita told The Garden Island that Watabu is "driving beautifully" on the fairways and the speed coming down the greens is "lightning quick."
Watabu, 24, is paired off with Tom Watson, who won his first Masters 30 years ago and is making his 34th appearance at Augusta, and Fred Funk, this year's Champions Tour winner at Turtle Bay. This is Funk's 11th Masters.
They are scheduled to tee off at the first hole at 9:28 a.m. (3:28 a.m. Hawai'i time)
Watabu earned his invitation when he won the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.
For more Kaua'i news, visit The Garden Island.