PRESS CALL EXCERPTS AND REPLAY

REPLAY #: (719) 457-0820 (Allows fast-forward, rewind and pause)

CONFIRMATION CODE: 3975642

FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM CBS SPORTS' MASTERS PRESS CALL (4/1/08) with Jim Nantz, Masters anchor and host;  lead analyst and three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo;  Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports; Tony Petitti, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, CBS Sports; and Lance Barrow, Coordinating Producer, CBS Golf.

(On Tiger Woods and Grand Slam Expectations Beginning at the Masters):

Jim Nantz:   I don't think that the whole year hinges on Tiger's performance. Who knows what kind of breakthrough performance we might have there. Suppose Phil (Mickelson) wins it for the third time. I don't think it's going to set us up for a big fold if Tiger doesn't win. I will say that Tiger kind of brought all this on himself because he posted those remarks on his website indicating that he thought it was possible to do it this year.  If I may credit my esteemed colleague Mr. Faldo, the very first on-camera of the year at San Diego, I turned to Nick and asked him to put a headline on the year and Nick amplified in his own words what Tiger had said. Nick made that prediction right there at the Buick Invitational. I think it's exciting and we all know the odds are astronomical, but that's the thing with Tiger. It's just not that far-fetched to dream that big.

(On Who to Look For in Final Pairings on Sunday):

Nick Faldo:  We have to believe that Tiger is up there. The Aussie guys...It all depends. We believe the weather should be good next week.  If it's firm and fast as you've seen the last couple of weeks...a lot of the Aussie boys have been enjoying firm and fast conditions. There are some good players from all around the world who are challenging. (I'm) hoping for European players as well to be up there, obviously from my Ryder Cup team. I'm only good at picking winners. I can't pick pairings.

Nantz:  Next to last: Vijay Singh. Vijay has done remarkable things past the age of 40, so let's give Vijay another crack at a Green Jacket.  I'm going to pair him up with Adam Scott, as Australia once again hopes to have its first-ever breakthrough champion at Augusta. And the last group is going to be Tiger and Phil. That's the one that everyone really wants to see anyway.  When you talk about the fear factor that is out there and all the rest of the players in the world and how they are able to handle the pressure of being in Tiger's world or universe, I think that Phil is the one guy, more than anyone, who has no fear of Tiger. So that would be the ideal final pairing.

(On Preparation for Sunday's finish):

Nantz:  I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to put the right caption and the right story and the right description of what this means within that players heart. They have dreamt of that moment since they were a little boy and they wanted to go the Augusta and win there. And I do feel like I owe it to them to be on top of my game and be able to tell their story in an accurate fashion, to be able to reflect exactly what they are feeling at that moment. I have stories about certain players, anecdotal stuff that I've never used. I'm holding it back for the thought that one day they might win the Masters and if that moment arrives on Sunday, I'm going to tell a story that has never been told before.

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CBS Sports Contacts:  LeslieAnne Wade lwade@cbs.com

                                    Robin Brendle  rlbrendle@cbs.com

 In Augusta as of April 8 706/736-5662