Chicago Sun-Times: MASTERS NOTEBOOK Phil sidesteps gambling query

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Defending Masters champion Phil Mickelson was still on a high when he appeared at Augusta National on Tuesday, a day after winning the rain-delayed BellSouth Classic in Atlanta. A question in his pre-Masters news conference, however, brought him down in a hurry.

Mickelson was asked about a magazine article that reported he had decided to quit gambling two years ago.

I never said that,'' Mickelson said.

The questioner persisted, but Mickelson wouldn't discuss the issue. He said the matter was covered in Chapter 13 of his just- released book, One Magical Sunday.

Chapter 13 doesn't mention anything about gambling, but it does detail a difficult moment in Mickelson's life that he rarely has discussed publicly: wife Amy's scary pregnancy while delivering their son, Evan, in March 2003.

ONE TO REMEMBER: The shot of the week probably was pulled off during a practice round Tuesday. Sergio Garcia holed out a 253-yard 2-iron for a double eagle on the par-5 second hole, which measures 575 yards.

It's always special when you make your first double eagle, but if you make it at Augusta, it's an amazing thing," Garcia said. I hit a great shot and it bounced nicely, but I thought it was a yard and a half right of the hole. All of a sudden, the people went crazy on the green. It's a shame it wasn't in the tournament, but it was still nice.''

A SINGH-ALONG: Vijay Singh hasn't been the dominant player he was on the PGA Tour last year, when he won nine tournaments, including the PGA Championship. Singh has only one victory this season heading into the first major, but he isn't concerned about that.

I'm enjoying my game right now,'' Singh said. What can be better? I'm here at the Masters, the best player in the world [rankings] right now and ready to go win another one. I can't be any more happy.''

Known for his extraordinary practice time, Singh said he has cut back.

I don't spend hours on the range anymore,'' he said. I have a very good understanding of my golf swing right now, so I know where I'm going, what direction to take."

NO QUALMS: Padraig Harrington will try to win the traditional par- 3 contest for the third consecutive year today. No winner of the popular shootout has won the Masters in the same year, but Harrington said that's a mere coincidence.

It's all baloney,'' he said of the supposed curse. How could winning a tournament on a Wednesday affect how you play on a Thursday? That's rubbish.''

He said he'd like to refute the skeptics.

If they come up with a new excuse -- that if you win the par-3 competition three years in a row, you're assured to win [the Masters] -- there will be a new superstition,'' Harrington said. I've never hit a golf shot in my life where I haven't been trying. The only way I can't try and win the par-3 competition is to not put my name down on the sheet.''