Crenshaw lies in wait

AUGUSTA, Ga. – There is no logical explanation for Ben Crenshaw’s performance over the first 36 holes of the Masters Tournament.

He is 54 years old, short and often crooked off the tee, a non-factor even on the Champions Tour, with no victories and just four top-10 finishes in 79 starts.

While Phil Mickelson was shooting 28-under par to win the BellSouth Classic last week, Crenshaw prepped for the Masters by playing in the member-member tournament at a golf course he designed in Austin, Texas.

Yet here he is, tied for 10th place at 1-under 143, five strokes off the lead going into the weekend at the Augusta National Golf Club, a 7,445-yard monster that should be chewing up Crenshaw and spitting him out.

“It’s attainable,” he said Friday. “Something is attainable.”

But what is attainable now?

Victory?

“It’s very remote,” Crenshaw said. “I don’t know where this is going to lead, but I’ve had so much fun playing this week. I’ve seen some great things happen. I’m just going to kind of see where it takes me.”

Crenshaw wouldn’t seem to have the length to contend at Augusta National, but he has a wealth of experience – his 34 previous Masters include victories in 1984 and ‘95 – and a passion for the course that borders on obsession. There isn’t a contour on these greens that he hasn’t committed to memory.

“There’s no one better than Ben on the greens here,” Ernie Els said.

Crenshaw has needed just 54 putts in 36 holes. Only one player has putted fewer times (Rory Sabbatini with 53).

“The guy can just roll the rock,” said Clay Ogden, who played with Crenshaw both days. “The putt he made on 17 was something. The way he has it going right now, he’s looking like he looked when he won (in 1995). He’s putting great.”

Crenshaw hadn’t made the 36-hole cut at the Masters since ‘97.