Smith and Damon Swing into Roles

Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron are going all out to boost their new movie, The Legend of Bagger Vance, on screens Friday.

Smith turned up at Sunday's New York premiere in a costume of sorts, a handsome gray tweed suit with watch chain and '30s-style slouch hat with what he called ''a modern touch,'' a do-rag underneath. ''I always like to come in the vibe!'' he said. The golf tale of his title character takes place during the Depression.

Meanwhile, Theron made for eye-stopping photos in a long mauve chiffon Dolce & Gabbana gown. She said she ''hated'' golf before she read the script but got into it on location, and now she's a player.

Damon went the furthest during shooting. He'd never lifted a club, but he plays a Southern golden boy who has lost his swing, so Damon had to put in eight-hour practice days with a Hilton Head pro. He injured himself one day: ''I separated my rib, just by driving the club into the ground and twisting my body without following through. They kept having to pop (my rib) back in before I swung.'' He's still ''aware'' of the injury, ''but I'm all right.''

Damon enjoyed working with Smith: ''He's easy and fun to be around.'' Suave Smith plays a mystical caddie: ''We wanted to create a character who was really folksy and human, and the spiritual element is left to the individual viewer to decide.''

But he can't resist giving it away a bit by quipping, ''I thought it was really cool that the entire cast was white and the one black dude got to play God!'".