Micheel confident in Masters debut

As the last person to win a major Shaun Micheel deserves to be heard. Especially as, come Sunday night, he thinks he could have won the last two.

Today brought the 35-year-old American’s first appearance in the Masters at Augusta, another of his rewards for that seven iron to two inches on the final hole of the US PGA Championship last August.

That was Micheel’s first US Tour victory at his 164th attempt and he has not added to that since.

But he said: “Everyone has told me that Augusta would suit my game. I am a pretty long, high-ball hitter and I feel like I can win, I really do.

“It is a golf course that rewards good shot-making and I feel I can do that. I don’t know [what makes a Major winner]. I have only played in three major championships and patience is probably the key. It is just a matter of how you handle adversity.

“Throughout 72 holes there are going to be times that you are going to be tested. You lose your focus for one shot and make a big number and then you are out of it.

“Last year was a life-changing event for me. We all go around out here trying to win a golf tournament, trying to play well and I just happened to win a really big event.

“I kind of started at the top and maybe a lot of people think that there is nowhere else for me to go except down.

“I am still trying to build upon that and hopefully can get a few more tournaments. Unfortunately, in this game you spend most of your time losing. I felt some pressure on myself, but I think we all do that as golfers. We play an individual sport and there is no-one out there to blame.

“I am just trying to elevate my game to where I can become a little bit more consistent. I certainly gained a lot of confidence from my win and I am just trying to progress and become a player like Tiger (Woods) or Vijay (Singh) where you are in contention each and every week.

“I think one of the reasons I won at Oak Hill was I really had no expectations and did not know much about the course.

“I went up there with a carefree attitude. I can imagine it must be difficult for Phil (Mickelson) or some of the other guys that have not won major championships because that is how a lot of people rate players’ careers.

“I am certainly glad I don’t have that on me. I feel I can still fly underneath the radar, so to speak.”

No Masters rookie has won since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. And he was the first since Gene Sarazen at the second tournament way back in 1935.

Open champion Ben Curtis is also playing for the first time – and so are Paul Casey, Phillip Price, Ian Poulter and Brian Davis.

The event counts for Ryder Cup qualifying and all four are in the running at this the halfway stage in the 12-month race.