NICK FALDO will play with Tiger Woods in the first round of the Masters. The defending champion traditionally partners the reigning American amateur champion and Woods, although now a professional, won that title for a third successive time last summer.
The two superstars played together less than a fortnight ago in the final round of the Players' Championship in Florida. Faldo went to the turn in 32 to Woods's 36, but in the end scored only one better, 72 to 73. They finished 24th and 31st respectively.
There are other fascinating pairings. British amateur champion Warren Bladon, again as he expected, is with four-time champion Arnold Palmer; Colin Montgomerie with American Davis Love, one of the other main candidates for the title best player not to have won a major Ian Woosnam with South African Ernie Els and Seve Ballesteros with Japanese number one Jumbo Ozaki.
The first European into action is Sam Torrance, who is paired with Scott Hoch, the player who lost a play-off to Nick Faldo in 1989.
Unlike the other three majors, the Masters sends the leaders out last from the second round onwards. Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson, second and third last year behind Faldo, are also together.
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