Masters golf features plenty of oldies, including the music

I hate the music, but love the Masters. It’s my favorite of the four majors, partly because it’s the first of the year, but mostly because of the golf course and some of the old characters who play in it.

And nothing looks as spectacular in high definition television.

But let’s be realistic here. It’s by far the weakest field of the four majors. The field is small ? just 96 players ? and less than half has any chance whatsoever to win the tournament. And maybe a fourth have a realistic shot.

Still, as long as it doesn’t get embarrassing, I enjoy seeing former champions like Raymond Floyd, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Sandy Lyle and Gary Player in the early rounds. And after what 54-year-old Greg Norman did at the British Open last year, watching the Shark should be intriguing, too.

Player, who is in better shape than 90 percent of the guys half his age, shot 83-78 last year. That may not sound impressive, but he couldn’t reach most of the par 4s in regulation.

Last year, Player, who won the first of his three Masters in 1961, surpassed Arnold Palmer for the most Masters played at 51. At 73 years old, how cool would it be if shot his age this year?

By the way, in case you were wondering, Dave Loggins wrote the original score for CBS’s coverage of the Masters in 1981. It’s been played on every single break since. Not quite as long as Player’s streak, but long enough.

Time to commission some new music, please. (I’m thinking U2.)