Golf Central

On this day in 1997,  some cat named Tiger Woods carded a 2-under-par 70 in his first professional round at Augusta ... and we all know now how that turned out. The 21-year-old Woods turned into an unsinkable juggernaut, firing rounds of 66-65-69 over the next three days to wax Tom Kite by 12 shots with a tournament-record 270. And Tiger wasn't done, either ...

Eight years later to the day, Tiger was slipping on his fourth Green Jacket after beating Chris DiMarco in a playoff, joining only Jack Nicklaus (six) and Arnold Palmer (four) as the only players with that many Masters titles ...

It has been an historic day in Masters history for other reasons as well, for in 1975 Lee Elder became the first African-American golfer to compete at Augusta, opening the door for you-know-who ... and in 1980 poor Tom Weiskopf and his Reverse-C finish fell apart in the first round with a whopping score of 13 on the par-3 12th in Amen Corner ...

Of course April 10th is rich with men claiming Green Jackets on this day, and one of the most memorable was Gary Player's one-shot victory in 1961, with an amazing up-and-down on the final hole, to beat Palmer and Charles Coe and become the first non-American to win at Augusta. Other Masters winners this day include Sam Snead (1949); Dr Cary Middlecoff (1955);  Palmer (1960, second title); Tom Watson (1977); Seve Ballesteros (1983, second title); Sandy Lyle (1988) and José Maria Olazabal (1994) ...

There's a real world outside of Augusta, Georgia - and in it 96 years ago today the unsinkable ocean liner Titanic left Southampton on its fateful maiden journey. At least Tiger hasn't hit any icebergs or inspired crummy films and Celine Dion tunes ... yet. In 1998 the Good Friday agreement was signed by the British and Irish governments in Norn Oireland ... And in 1916, the good old Professional Golf Association of America was formed. Well done, boys! ...

And strangely enough, it was on this day in 1977 that David Soul (better known as Hutch of Starsky & Hutch) reached No. 1 on the US Billboard charts with his smash hit ballad Don't Give Up On Us, Baby ... How do we know that? Because we have access to the charts! So stop bothering us with silly questions like that during Masters week, we're busy ...

So it's Zach Johnson! as they exclaimed with joy in Iowa City, Iowa in 1976 to the defending Masters champion; to Lawrence of Arabia actor Omar Sharif (76) and his splendid 'tache; to pony-tailed badass Steven Seagal (57); to wickedly tattooed and enormously brilliant guitarist Brian Setzer (49) of Stray Cats fame; and to murderess of the dance floor Sophie Ellis-Bextor (29). ... 'Til tomorrow!