BREAKING: MASTERS CHAMP GIVES US NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW, AND…TIGER CAN HOOP?

by Chris Sprow

On Monday, Trevor Immelman was in New York City. A serious hoops junky since he came to the U.S. from South Africa, the newly minted Masters champ hit up the Knicks-Celtics game at The Garden. This prompted Celtics coach Doc Rivers to bring Immelman into the locker room, and tell his players to shake the hand of a champion. "For good luck," said Rivers. Immelman wasn't wearing his matching green outfit at the time. He also didn't bother to tell Doc he'll be rooting for his hometown Magic in the playoffs. But he told us.

Mag: You get a green jacket and now you're telling Kevin Garnett how to play, right?

Oh man, I was pretty awestruck at the time, meeting 7-footers I've been watching for years. Mostly, I was talking golf; some of the guys had watched some of the coverage and we talked some golf.

You're a Magic fan and now you're working with the Celtics. Not cool. So who do you have coming out of the East?

Hey, I'm a Magic man through and through, but I always like the Celts and was a big Larry Bird fan, but you know, I gotta' go with my home team out of the East.

Pretty hopeful. What about out West?

The West is crazy, because it seems like every team is so damn good. You know, I just have a funny feeling it's going to turn around. Last year the Mavs won all those games, and then got knocked out early, and something tells me they will turn it around and come out of there.

Who wins it all?

I gotta' go with the Magic, which is my heart over my gut, just because it would be sweet.

MVP: Chris Paul or Kobe?

I'll go with Kobe; what he produces night in and night out is incredible.

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Who's the best player on the PGA Tour, hoops-wise; anybody that can play?

I heard Bubba Watson is pretty good, and I've seen Tiger in action—he's got a bit of game, but it's a little bit unfair, because he's getting tips from Michael Jordan all the time…

But you're getting tips from the Celtics; that's not too bad.

Yeah, but the problem is I'm about two feet too short.

So twenty years from now, you have a daughter and she says, "Dad, I'm dating an NBA star." Who do you hope shows up at your front door?

Oh man, I don't know, but the guy better be careful.

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You live in Orlando, so we're guessing it gets a little hot wearing a green jacket everywhere.

Yeah, I must say since I've been home I haven't worn it yet, but I have looked at it a few times.

You get to keep it for a year though.

Yeah, that's exactly it. For the year that I'm the champion, I get to hang onto it and use it when I need it, then I have to give it back.

You gonna' take it out, like the Stanley Cup, travel around and wear a green jacket in different places, add some clout?

No plans just yet, but you never know.

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