Long And Strong

Romero was introduced to the game in his hometown of Yerba Buena, as a caddie at a nearby club, and was taught to play by an uncle. "Mucho, mucho talento," said his countryman Cabrera after Romero's run at Carnoustie . Romero decided to switch from the European tour to the U.S. this year. Why? "Too cold," he said.

The decision has paid off. He has conquered America , in a way, and next week he'll play his first Masters. He talked with other players, he said, "and they recommend me to especially practice the greens; that's the most important thing."

This week, those players who don't have a Masters invitation but can get one by winning a tournament have one last shot in Houston. They'd love to end up alongside Romero , practicing the greens.

NEWS & NOTES

QUOTABLE

"My son, who's 11, asked me where I bought all my trophies."
—STEVE ELKINGTON, 44, whose last victory was in 1999, on why he is playing more

Rough Recovery

Thanks to a $2 million contribution from the PGA Tour and some pro bono work by Pete Dye , TPC Louisiana has come back from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Other courses in New Orleans haven't been as fortunate.

COURSE: Bayou Oaks
TYPE: Muni
STATUS: Closed
The three 18s used to get 200,000 rounds a year, but only the range has reopened. So far $1 million has been spent to refurbish the North course, which could reopen this summer.

COURSE: Lakewood
TYPE: Semiprivate
STATUS: Closed
One of the original hosts of the New Orleans Tour stop is being renovated—six of the original holes will remain, along with 12 new ones designed by Ron Garl—and could reopen this fall.