Two-time champ Ben Crenshaw said next year may be the last in which he competes at the Masters.
“I’ve been thinking about it a long time,” he said. “It won’t be long. I’m resigned to it. It’ll probably be soon. I’m thinking about next year, possibly.”
Crenshaw, who won his green jackets in 1984 and 1995, shot an 83 in Thursday’s first round and followed it with an 85 in Friday’s second round.
Reflecting his status as one of the tournament’s great champions, the operators declined to put Crenshaw’s inflated score on the scoreboard as he played the 18th hole. His 24-over finish was the highest score he has posted in his Masters career, which dates back to 1972.
Crenshaw, 62, has made the cut just twice in the past 17 Masters. He hasn’t broken par since shooting 14-under to win in 1995.
“I know I can play better than this but my scores are a train wreck,” he said.
Just because he may stop playing doesn’t mean he won’t have an annual place at Augusta National.
Crenshaw said he would whatever he could when asked if he was interested in becoming an honorary starter.
His day started off poorly on Friday when his drive on the second hole struck a spectator in the head. She was later treated and released.
Because he wasn’t competing, Crenshaw said he began to cheer for the others in his group, Jonas Blixt and Y.E. Yang. He also enjoyed the time with his longtime Masters caddie, Carl Jackson.
“This is his 53rd Masters,” Crenshaw said. “He’s been up and down these hills a few times.”
Crenshaw was one of several of the older generation of champions who had difficulty in the first two rounds.
Craig Stadler, the 1982 champion, finished 15 over. Tom Watson, champion in 1977 and ’81, also finished 15 over. Ian Woosnam, the 1991 champ, finished 6 over. Mark O’Meara, the 1998 champ, finished 8 over.
Others will get another chance to add one more green jacket to their collection.
Former Georgia Tech standout Larry Mize shot an even par-72 in Friday’s second round to stay at 2-over 146. It was his third made cut at the Masters in the past 14 years.
He will be joined by 1992 champ Fred Couples, 1985 and ’93 champ Bernhard Langer (2 over), 2000 champ Vijay Singh (2 over), 1988 champ Sandy Lyle (4 over) and 1994 an d ’99 champ Jose Maria Olazabal (4 over).
“It’s always great to be playing on the weekend,” Mize, the 1987 champ, said. “It’s been … geesh, it’s been a few years. I’ve been looking forward to this week all year to get back to playing on a weekend. I’m excited to be playing.”
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