Golf: Dimarco thanks Augusta crowd

Chris DiMarco, the Masters debutant and shock halfway leader at Augusta, has thanked fans for the part they have played in putting him where he is.

‘‘They are so much more respectful here,’’ said DiMarco, who in trying to become the first rookie winner since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 took a two-stroke lead over the world’s top two Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson into today’s third round.

‘‘I’m not saying that at most tournaments they’re not, but it’s all about golf here. They are not out there to drink 75 beers and scream and yell at every shot you hit.

‘‘They are here to watch golf and see everything unfold. It really is special.

‘‘I mean, walking up 16 (in his second round) I’m watching people and they are giving me a standing ovation when I’m walking up to the green. It’s unbelievable.’’

With only one victory in 175 US Tour events and only four other Major appearances behind him, DiMarco was not expected to be able to stay out in front over the testing final 36 holes.

But he said: ‘‘I’ve got a lot of people pumping me up. They all believe in me, and I believe in me.

‘‘I’ve just got to prove to everybody they should believe in me. That’s my goal.’’

The 32-year-old, beaten five-and-four by Paul Lawrie in the first round of the Accenture World Match Play Championship at Melbourne in January, had the added pressure of partnering Woods today a Woods hell-bent on completing golf’s first-ever clean sweep of the four majors.

‘‘The only time I’ve played with him was in a practice round in Westchester six or seven years ago when he was still an amateur.

‘‘I said back then he was an aggressive player and had to learn a little bit. He learned quickly.

‘‘We go to a normal tournament, and everything is pro-Tiger. I’m sure there will be a lot of pro-Tigers here but I think I gained a lot of fan base out there, so I’m sure I will hear a lot of ‘Go Chris’ which will be nice.

‘‘The bottom line is that he’s got to play the course too and he’s got a lot going this week also. He’s just all business, and I’m going to try to do the same I don’t think there will be much chit-chat; I can promise you that.

‘‘Obviously, it’s the biggest tournament in the world. But in the whole scheme of things it’s 72 holes, just like we play every week.

‘‘If I start thinking about how big it is I’m going to get in my own way and I can’t do that.’’

That is easier said than done, of course. Masters history, indeed major history, is littered with those who thought they could put the magnitude and the implications out of their mind ... and then discovered they couldn’t.