Unable To Fulfill Contract, Ticket Broker Kills Himself

A businessman contracted to provide 100 Masters tickets for corporate clients killed himself Friday morning when it became apparent he could not meet his obligations.

Allen F. Caldwell III, 40, of suburban Martinez, was found dead at his residence by his wife. Police said Caldwell shot himself once with a 12-gauge shotgun, though they would not discuss a possible motive.

Caldwell’s company, The Concierge, was in a partnership with Atlanta-based World Golf Hospitality, which specializes in golf packages for corporate clients.

Tim Stoesz, an attorney and spokesman for World Golf Hospitality and The Concierge, said tickets Caldwell had planned to buy were sold to someone else.

“We contracted for a certain number of tickets,” Stoesz told The Augusta Chronicle. “Allen was unable to provide them.

“We continued working with Allen to do everything we could - and fulfill our obligations to our clients - until late Thursday.”

Stoesz said he was unaware of any other situation that could have led to Caldwell’s suicide.

One client paid several thousand dollars for a costlier package that included badges with lodging and rounds of golf at local courses.

Tough course

U.S. Open champion Steve Jones hadn’t played in the Masters in six years. He had forgotten how hard Augusta National can be.

“I got to admit it’s pretty tough,” a chastened Jones said Friday after a 6-over-par 78 added to his opening 82 caused him to miss the cut.

“I prepared wrong,” Jones said. “I needed to work harder on my irons. I forgot how you have to hit the ball to certain spots. It’s 70 percent of the game. You can’t afford to miss it in the wrong spot.”

Miller time

Amateur John “Spiderman” Miller finished his dream 36 holes and failed to make the cut, but made a friend in playing partner Billy Casper, who laughed as he came off the 18th green.

“He’s good company, that guy. I don’t know who he is, but he’s good company,” Casper said.

Miller, the U.S. amateur Mid-South champion who shot 82-81 for 163, sells beer for a living.

“I played bad, but that’s the way it goes,” Miller said. “What can I say? I had a lot of fun. It was a great time.”

Golden Bear on the King

Jack Nicklaus said Arnold Palmer’s problems this year stem from his battle with cancer, and there’s no doubt he will be back.

“The guy’s always been a fighter and always will be,” Nicklaus said. “He’ll probably be playing this game long after any of us are still here.” Nicklaus played a practice round with Palmer and “he really ran out of gas coming up those last four or five holes.”

“I think most people were just happy to see Arnold here happy, healthy and playing,” he said. “He expects more of himself, so I think he was disappointed.”

Palmer shot 89 and 87.

A kinder Augusta

Tom Watson said somebody on the Augusta National rules committee must have had a change of heart after the diabolical pin placements on Thursday.

“There were no ER (emergency room) pins out there today,” said Watson, who shot a 4-under-par 68 for a 143 total. “The course had much saner pins. The first six holes (Thursday) had four bad pins.”

Spike mark erasers

Men in rubber-soled shoes walked the greens in the afternoon and tamped down spike marks after players had holed out.

Colin Montgomerie loved it.

“It was a good idea. Why should players in the afternoon get punished by all the spike marks?”

Divots

International golf officials converge at the Masters each year. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews heads the list with 14 representatives. … Counterfeit Masters tickets surfaced Friday, and officials labeled it a “serious problem.” Organizers said admission would be denied to anyone trying to use tickets that were stolen, lost, counterfeit or purchased in the secondary market. … Faces in the crowd included Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer. … Mark Brooks, the PGA champion, was among the casualties. He shot 77-82 for a 159 total and a quiet exit down Magnolia Lane.