European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes thursday april 9, 1992 56th master scan couples win Green jacket Ryder cup hero threatens domination by foreigners by Bob Green Augusta a. A first the Ryder cup. Then the top spot in the world Golf rankings. Could it be that America is also ready to reclaim the most american of Golf tournaments a the masters a and Fred couples will Wear the covered Green jacket an american has been unable to win at Augusta National the last four years six of the last nine years and seven of the last 13 years. But thanks to couples there is a Domestic Hope this year. The 56th masters the first of the years four major tournaments begins today with couples As the Center of attention and the european big sue hoping to extend their recent dominance. Through the first 43 masters South african Gary player was the Only foreign born Winner of the tournament founded and nurtured by the late Bob Jones. But since 1980, seve Ballesteros of Spain Bernhard Langer of Germany Sandy Lyle of Scotland Nick Faldo of England and Ian Woosnam of Wales have won a total of seven times. That along with the outright ownership of the top positions in the Sony world rankings and a 6-year hold on the Ryder cup gave the europeans claim to world Golf leadership. Then along came Freddie californian Laid Back easy going. And things began to change. Couples was the outstanding american player when the United states regained the Ryder cup at Kiawah Island . Last fall. But for couples it was just part of a spectacular Streak stretching Back to the 1991 . Open. Over that period couples has played better longer than anyone else in More than a decade. In those 9-plus months couples has won five times finished sixth or better in 19 of 24 starts and collected $2,396,725 in winnings. He capped a 4-week string in which he won finished second and lost in a playoff with a 9-shot Victory against an extremely Strong Field in the Nestle invitational three weeks ago. With that Triumph he became the first american to gain the no. 1 spot in the Sony rankings a rating system now recognized around the world. Now he is a Strong favorite in the Chase for perhaps the most cherished titles in Golf in a tournament that seems to sur the 56th masters 1992 past champs the 56th masters 1992 Augusta National Golf club year Winner score Par 288 1979 fuzzy Zoeller 280 1980 seve Ballesteros 275 1981 Tom Watson 280 1982 Craig Stadler 284 1983 seve Ballesteros 280 1984 Ben Crenshaw 277 1985 Bernhard Langer 282 1986 Jack Nicklaus 279 1987 Larry Mize 285 1988 Sandy Lyle 281 1989 Nick Faldo 283 1990 Nick Faldo 278 1991 Lan Woosnam 278 tournament Headquarters clubhouse i 56th masters 9-12 april 1992 Augusta Georgia a won in playoff a pass itself in drama and excitement on an annual basis. Faldo for one believes couples can respond to the masters pressure. A the Many a so hot he must be wearing Asbestos shorts a mused Faldo the English Ace who won consecutive masters titles in 1989-90. A runner up finish at the important players championship enabled Faldo to replace couples at the top of the world ratings and brings him into the masters High on the list of those those most Likely to succeed. Woosnam the Little welshman who won last year is not High on that list. He missed the Cut in his first two american warm  for the masters has not played Well and is struggling with swing problems and loss of Confidence. Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain at 26 the youngest of Europe a big six stars could be primed to break through to his first major Triumph. He won twice in Europe Early this season and proved he could play Augusta National with a runner up finish last year. Ballesteros also has won twice in Europe this season and is a threat any time he competes on a course that seems ideally suited to his game. Aside from his two masters victories he has two runner up finishes in addition to couples the other leading american Hopes arc Corey Pavin Hole Par Yards Hole Par Yards 1 4 400 10 4 485 2 5 555 11 4 455 3 4 360 12 3 155 4 3 205 13 5 465 5 4 435 14 4 405 6 3 180 15 5 500 7 4 360 16 3 170 8 5 535 17 4 400 9 4 435 18 4 405 out 36 3,465 in 36 3,440 total 72 6,905 Mark of Meara Davis love Iii Mark Calcavecchia and John Cook Winner of two tournaments earlier in the season. Paul Azinger is attempting to solve some putting difficulties and Payne Stewart is searching for the game that brought him the 1991 . Open title. For the nostalgia buffs a and in the masters nostalgia is thick As the Banks of azaleas Are Bright a there a Ray Floyd Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. At 52, Nicklaus is convinced he can still win among the games younger stars and has said his Best Chance is at Augusta a National where he has scored a record sue victories. Floyd 49, the 1976 masters Winner and 1990 playoff loser to Faldo became the oldest Winner in 17 years with a Victory at doral then ran off scores of 65, 66, 66 in a senior Triumph in Japan. Watson 42, twice a masters Champion had a tie for the Lead through 71 noles last year. He broke a 5-year Victory drought in Hong Kong earlier this year. Pea Champion John Daly will take his longest in the game action off the tee to Augusta National for the first time. The nuts and bolts of year s first Golf major Hole by Hole at Augusta National facts and figures Augusta a. A fact and figures Lor the 1992 masters event 56th masters. Date april 9-12. Site Augusta National Goll club Par 36-36 72 length 6.905 Yards format 72 Hole 18 holes daily stroke play Cut alter 36 holes Field Cut to Low 44 scorers All tied Tor 44th and All within 10 strokes of the Lead. Playoff if Naca Alary sudden death Field -86 82 pros. 4 amateurs. Pure to be announced. $1 35 million in 1991 Winner share to be announced. $243,000 in 1991 defending Champion Lan Woosnam former champions in Fields Tommy Aaron George Archer seve Ballesteros. Gay Brewer. Billy Casper Charles Coody. Ben Crenshaw. Nick Faldo. Ray Floyd Bob goal by. Bernhard Langer Sandy Lyle Larry Mize Jack Nicklaus Arnold Palmer Gary player Craig Stadler Tom Watson. Fuzzy Zoeller Augusta a. A Hole by Hole description of the Augusta National Golf club course site of the 56th masters april 9-12 no. 1, 400 Yards Par 4 one of two Par 4 holes favouring a left to right tee shot. Fairway Bunker on right is in play off the tee. Landing area for tee shot is on an up slope. Bunker guards left front of Green. No. 2, ass Yards Par 5 Dogleg left. Fairway drops sharply in Landing area of drive setting up downhill lie for second shot. Fairway Bunker on right. Two bunkers in front of Green. No. 3, 360 Yards Par 4 drive is Uphill second shot is Short Iron to a shaped plateau Green no. 4, 205 Yards Par 3 very wide Green is about 20 Yards below tee but even Long h tiers May need a Wood. Large Bunker front Rigi. No. 5, 435 Yards Par 4 drive is across a Valley to an Uphill Landing area on the slight Dogleg right. Green is open at front allowing a run up approach to a 2-level Green. No. 6, 180 Yards Par 3 an elevated toe looks Down on a 2-level Green that has a Large Hump on right. No. 7, 360 Yards Par 4 one of Augusta National s tightest fairways. Approach is Uphill to Small elevated Green. No. 8, 535 Yards Par 5 Uphill drive must avoid Bunker in right portion of Fairway. Can be reached in two. Green nestled Between High Mounds. No. 9, 435 Yards Par 4 downhill Dogleg left. Second shot is Uphill to a Green that slopes sharply to the front. No. 10, 485 Yards Par 4 Hill on the right and severe downhill slope compensates for extreme length. A Well placed drawn tee shot can set up Short Iron approach to shaded Green that often is among the fastest on the course. No. 11, 455 Yards Par 4 tee shot is out of narrow Chute to open Fairway. Approach from the right gives better View of Green which has water on the left. No. 12, 155 Yards Par 3 the narrow canted Green is guarded in front by Rae s Creek Sand shot from Bunker in Back of Green toward the Creek is one of the most intimidating in Golf. No. 13, 465 Yards Par 5 Rae s Creek runs along the left Side of the Fairway and crosses in front of the Green. Can be reached in two. Hooked drive around the Corner on Dogleg left can set up mid Iron second shot. No. 14, 405 Yards Par 4 straight away Hole with a severe Green the dominant feature. Ridge at front with 6-foot depression that must be avoided. No. 15, 500 Yards Par 5 Mounds in right Side of Fairway can Rob drive of distance if Mounds Are avoided the straight away Hole can be reached in two but second shot is Over a Pond fronting the Green. No. 16, 170 Yards Par 3 carry is All Over water to Green that provides some treacherous pin positions. No. 17, 400 Yards Par 4 Landing area is Uphill. Green fronted by two bunkers and has a slight Crown that makes it difficult to hold. No. 18, 405 Yards Par 4 slight Dogleg right. Fairway bunkers on left. Second shot Uphill to 2-level  Field american Section Tommy Aaron Billy Andrade George Archer Paul Azinger Chip Beck a David Berganio Jay Don Blake Gay Brewer Mark Brooks Billy Ray Brown Mark Calcavecchia Billy Casper Russ Cochran charges Woody John Cook Fred couples Ben Crenshaw. John Daly Brad Faxon Bruce Teisher Ray Floyd Jim Gallagher Bob Gilder Bob Goalby Nolan Henke Scott Hoch Mike Hulbert John Huston Hale Irwin Peter Jacobsen Lee Janzen Kenny Knox Bruce Guetzke Davis love Iii Andrew Magee Billy Mayfair Blaine Mccalister Mark Mcc umber Rocco mediate Larry Mize Jodie Mudd Larry Nelson. Jack Nicklaus Mark o Meara Arnold Palmer Steve Pate Corey Pavin David Peoples Kenny Perry Dillard Pruitt Tom Purtzer Ted Schulz Scott Simpson Jeff Sluman Craig Stadler Payne Stewart Curtis strange a James Stuan. Hal Sutton a Mitchel Voges Lanny Wadkins Quot Quot a a Zoeller. Tom Watson a Weibring fuzzy foreign Section Fulton Adem Gary player Manny Zerman Lan Baker Finch Rodger Davis Steve eking on Wayne Grady Greg Norman. Craig Parry seve Balesteros. Jose Maria Olazabal Nick Faldo Steven Richardson a Gary Wolstenholme David Dehorty Bernhard Langer Sandy Lyle Colin Montgomerie Tommy Nakajima Joe Ozaki Nick Price Lan Woosnam. A a