Friday morning at Augusta National and the sun is still shining. Not quite as bright as yesterday, but still shining all the same. Out on the course, veteran Larry Mize is one-over for the day through ten, and the crowds are steadily flocking for the second instalment of what could be a fascinating season opener.

As a one-time regional paper journalist, I have been intrigued with the quite excellent coverage in the Augusta local rag, The Augusta Chronicle, for which they carry a separate Masters 2009 supplement of sorts. It pretty much covers every base – and refreshingly, refuses to stick rigidly to home hopes.

As you would expect, Augusta’s own, Mize, steals a few columns on the front page. Woods and Campbell share the lead story: TAKING FLIGHT FROM START, but most of the coverage focuses on yesterday’s weather, and the fact that the Masters is back, bathing in the sunshine of old.

Interestingly, there is a strong British flag being flown in the Chronicle. Oliver Wilson is a diarist, while Ross Fisher, Europe’s leading light yesterday, is afforded a huge Q&A on page 11. Luke Donald gets a mention and Harrington also receives plenty of copy.

For today, the Chronicle sees the weather as declining somewhat late in the afternoon. There are a few clouds gathering, but it would be knit-picking to complain.

Thursday in review - Chronicle highlights:

Shot of the day: Andres Romero’s eagle on the 3rd hole, with the Argentine holing out on the 335-yard par 4 – Augusta’a shortest.

Hardest hole of the day: the par-3 4th. At 240 yards, only four birdies in total and, 56 pars and 34 bogeys.

Easiest hole of the day: the par-5 2nd. At 574 yards pretty much all downhill with two eagles, 44 birdies, 46 pars and only four bogeys.

Pace of play: five hours and five minutes.

Driving distance: Alvaro Quiros – 321.5

Greens in regulation: Jim Furyk (18/18)

Average score: 72.25


From Augusta

Well, you couldn’t really have asked for any more. Blazing sunshine with just a drop of wind for refreshment and wonderful golf. But what were the picks of the day…

1)    Watching Greg Norman roll back the years, playing some fantastic golf at times. Augusta National is a course that has ripped the heart out of the Australian more times than he would care to remember, and yet he was like a kid in a sweet shop out there today. His game is in fine shape. Of course he won’t win, but it’s good to see Norman having the final say against a tournament that haunted him throughout his greatest days

2)    Sorry, but it’s Amen corner again. For those of you who watched the coverage back home both online and on the box, I’m sure you can appreciate this point. It is just a fantastic theatre for golf. It gets extremely busy, but the silence is deafening. Not only do you get to see all the action from the 12th, but also the view of the players coming down the 11th isn’t too shabby either.

3)    Amen corner once more, this time watching the scoreboard and Chad Campbell’s unbelievable birdie surge. Oh, and Tiger taking all of two minutes (maybe even more) as he prepared to hit into 12. The World No.1 must have checked the wind at least ten times, changed clubs, and still wasn’t happy. Still hit the green though. Someone stick the clock on him…

4)    Having an ine-cold beer on the veranda of the clubhouse. The press pass gives you access, but you are still tip-toeing around as if you shouldn’t be there. Actually, think it may have been a coke...

5)    The galleries: I really was expecting the usual “You’re the man” rubbish, but that hasn’t been the case. There is courtesy from officials and plenty of room for all to see. Even for the few holes where I followed Woods, the open fairways allow for great viewing.

What a day – more of the same for Friday!

From Augusta

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Day one completed and what a day. The whimpering and whinging of the last few years is gone. Back are the roars, the excited tingles and, best of all, the ice cream. Why the ice cream? Because once again the sun is shining. Hallelujah. Large ones all round.

I can't begin to describe to you what a difference calm sunshine makes to The Masters. The players love it, the punters love it and I love it. Mostly I love it because the hot weather encourages a lot of very attractive women to wear not a lot. This is what has been missing in recent times, legs. Oh, and birdies and eagles of course.

Well, there were plenty of low numbers yesterday, a posse led by Chad Campbell. Starting with five straight birdies helped Campbell's cause, but to his credit he kept his momentum cranked up: four more birdies on the bounce over the back nine.

Even up on the clubhouse lawn the grenades of noise that greeted these birdies were clearly heard. So, happily, the old noise is back in town and good to hear.

Also back yesterday, of course, was my old mate Greg Norman. "Time to go,” he said as he exited the locker room and began to stride towards the first tee for the first time since 2002 courtesy of his Open heroics last summer at Birkdale.

The old boy, he is now 54, didn't look much different either. But then he always has looked fit, tanned and, well, ready. Only disappointment for me as I followed him around most of Augusta yesterday was that he had decided to wear a baseball cap rather than the straw fedora that has made his silhouette so distinctive.

But his play was superb. He should have birdied the opening three holes - the longest putt he had was eight feet - and generally his ball striking was back in the old routine. Cheering from the sidelines was his bride of just ten months. Chrissie Evert is now apparently into golf more than tennis and Greg says he has promised to teach her the game. I cautioned against such a move as I believe the eleventh commandment should be: Thou shalt not teach thy woman to play the noble game golf or else calamity will descend on your house.

Anyway, everyone was very happy when Greg finished two-under-par, as did his playing partners, Bernhard Langer and Lee Westwood. Westwood, youngest by 20 years, was delighted not just by his own play, but also by the company.

"That's the nicest day I've ever had at a Major. Greg and Bernhard were heroes of mine when I was a lad, in fact they are two big reasons why I am now a pro golfer myself, so to play with them on the first day of the Masters and for us all to shoot 70 is a genuine thrill."

Thrill? The whole day was a kick. Roll on the weekend and the real rollercoaster ride...

From Augusta

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There never seems to be any middle ground where Sergio Garcia is concerned. Granted, I have only just watched him play nine holes on the opening day of the US Masters, but getting a read on his body language is almost as tough as reading the deep contours of Augusta National’s famous greens.

After completing the front half, the Spaniard had just sunk a ten-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole to go back to even. It was a rare highlight on the greens, where he seemed to take an age, using the belly putter (Taylor Made Itsy Bitsy Monza).

From the tee, his ball striking was magnificent. Playing with Oliver Wilson and Stuart Appleby, he consistently found himself in good positions only to lack conviction on the greens.

But you still get the odd smile. He is both jovial and accommodating: there was the joking with the crowd on the 2nd green, followed by a nice touch on the 4th tee when he chucked a couple of balls at some kids who waited.

Then come the irritations, like on the ninth fairway when he chatted loudly to someone in the crowd without realising Appleby was making his approach (which he sliced on the way to his third bogey in four holes). Purely accidental, and I’m sure it had no effect on the end result, but still…

With plenty of play left, this is not to detract anything from Garcia’s chances. Nobody wants to see him win more than me (why do you think I was following him). Rather just an early indication of where his form may take him if everything fails to click into gear…

From Augusta

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And they’re off… And the conditions are absolutely perfect...

The great Arnold Palmer got the US Masters ball rolling this morning at 7.50am local time, in an atmosphere far removed from the last three days.

There was an eerie silence out there. From Monday to Wednesday, crowds approaching 75,000 were granted access to the practice rounds, but today it’s well down on that (which means the gruff-style-goatee-beard-and-tragic-looking-bermuda-shorts count will be considerably down).

Some say 40,000 at the most…. And still the scalpers are roaming on Washington Drive. Where do they get so many tickets from?

Inside the media centre, it’s heaving. All late arrivals for the week are now here. With many of the guys working for dailies around the world, journos come and go and have their own schedule; they don’t really follow the action up close, but rather get a feel for the day to wrap round the one big story. Sat next to me is a guy called Robert Lusetich. He’s the chief sports writer for the The Australian (can you believe that country’s ONLY national newspaper?).

Naturally, in bullish Aussie spirit, The Australian newspaper has high hopes for their contingent of players. Headed by the ‘quite-cool-and-reserved’ Geoff Ogilvy, there is a quiet confidence that he can really rise to the challenge this week.

A veteran of 13 Masters, Robert made his first trip here in 1996. He was sent over as hopes for Greg Norman rose with the Aussie towering above the rest of the field. “Only he could have blown it,” Robert said.

“Not a lot of people remember this,” he added, “but Nick Faldo had to birdie the last hole in the third round. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been playing with Norman, Phil Mickleson would have. If that was the case, there was no way Norman could lose. Faldo just hunted him down – and Norman was afraid of that. It took me nine hours to file my tournament report that Sunday – and I wrote war and peace.” Hmmm

Elsewhere, all other talk is centred on Tiger – but I am really holding out for one of the European’s to do something special this week. A new era of great European golfers is now upon us, and I’m rooting for a change in the Masters guard… Talking of which, Sergio’s just off!

From Augusta

Well, we have arrived at the eve of the 73rd US Masters, and to be honest I’m done with all the pre-match Hollywood stuff. It’s time to get the main event started. But first, here’s a pick of the best bits from Wednesday at Augusta National

1)    Watching the trio of Adam Scott, Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy rib each other on the 12th tee during their practice round this morning. It seemed like there was a little bit of gamesmanship going on between them in terms of which one would hit the best – and worst – tee shot. Amusingly, all three players hit into the water, with Scott playing the worst shot of all, dropping straight into the drink about 20 yards short.

2)    Some of the crowd appeared to be getting on Ian Poulter’s back as he partnered DJ Trahan. One shout from the galleries came: “So you think you’re better than Tiger.” While his check trousers (deep red with a hint of blue) simply handed them more ammo. To be fair to the Englishman, he saw the funny side, and was playing some pretty solid golf.

3)    Miguel Angel Jimenez is always one for a laugh, it seems, and at one point today on the driving range the likeable Spaniard appeared to be in the middle of a long-drive competition with American star Nick Watney. After Watney departed, Jimenez proceeded to take on Sandy Lyle at the same game. Both were nailing their drives against the back net of the range – Lyle with a 3-wood!

4)    Being in the press centre when Gary Player hit his hole-in-one on the 9th during the par-3 competition. With most of the journos watching the Liverpool-Chelsea game on their screens, there was a huge roar when Player’s ball eventually dropped in the hole with pretty much everyone oblivious to what had gone on.

5)    Watching Vijay Singh during his practice round. The Fijian was hitting the ball harder, straighter and further than anyone else I have seen this week. If his short game is on form, he’s surely a serious contender for honours this week.

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Okay, as an 18-handicapper I am allowed to dream, so here goes. After walking the famous fairways of Augusta National this week, I decided to get the sticks and give it a whack round – just for a bit of fun. This is all in my head, you understand

Here’s the damage…

1st - Tea Olive
Par 4 - 445 Yards

Tip my hat to the crowd and hastily take my driver from the bag. Rushing my swing in eagerness to get away, I slice the ball high and into the trees aligning the right of the fairway. Nobble a 7-iron back in to play, before hitting a sweet 5-iron just shy of the green. Chip-and-run the ball up to ten feet. Two putt for a double bogey. Walk off saying to my caddy: “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

2nd - Pink Dogwood
Par 5 - 575 yards

Nice Open fairway, but still need to keep it right. I achieve this with my trademark slice, which I tell my partner was meant to be a gentle fade. Top a 3-wood 50 yards. Fly my 4-iron and think I’ve gone through the back of the green, but look slightly embarrassed when I’m still 100 yards short. Wedge on to the green. Get the read on the putt all wrong and can it 20 feet past. Takes three more putts for it to drop. Triple bogey eight.

3rd - Flowering Peach
Par 4 – 350 yards

Fancy my chances here. Nut my drive slightly to the left, leaving me with 120 yards to the front of the green. Knife a 9-iron, which trickles through the back. Duff a chip, but then hole a 20-foot triple breaker and give it double fist pumps to the joy of the 20-something gallery. Par

4th - Flowering Crab Apple
Par 3 – 240 yards

Not confident with the 3-wood after my nobble on the second hole, but am talked into it by my caddie. The inevitable top is followed by a fit of pique and “I’ll never work with you again accusations.” Play my second from where the ladies tee should be, catch my 5-iron thick, but it runs down the hill and onto the fringe. Leave the first putt ten feet short, force the second ten feet by. Two more putts for a triple bogey six.

5th - Magnolia
Par 4 - 455 yards

Still at odds with my caddie, I drill my drive all of 230 yards. Pick the tee up in one swooping movement with a pat on the back for my bagman followed by a Monty-style skip which hopes to suggest that my previous moment of rage was all in good humour. Hit approach into the trees, chip out, 6-iron runs onto green and two-putt. Bogey five.

6th - Juniper
Par 3 – 180 yards

Hit a nice draw with a gentle six-iron downhill. Get the ball on the dance floor and have a 15-footer for birdie. Read it all wrong though and it rolls 16 feet past. Two more putts. Bogey four.

7th - Pampas
Par 4 – 450 yards

Slice my drive so badly that it runs onto the 17th fairway. Apologise to Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle. Then get the fear and top a 4-iron as I rush to get out of their way. This begins a ‘top fest’, which results in me picking my ball up and pencilling down a quadruple bogey eight.

8th - Yellow Yasmine
Par 5 – 570 yards

Pretty much all uphill, I give my drive everything only for another slice which this time ends up in the trees that run along the left-side of the 18th fairway. Manage to rip a 7-iron over the trees, and then somehow connect with my 3-wood, getting the ball up to the fringe. Putt off the green rolls to the right-hand side. Three more putts. Double bogey seven.

9th - Carolina Cherry
Par 4 – 460 yards

Drive finds the middle of the fairway. Decide to take a 5-iron for my approach as wind is slightly behind and downhill. Catch it flush and give out a far-too-loud “Get in there” before watching the ball sail into the left-side bunker. Fail to get out first attempt. Second runs through the green. Three putts from there. Triple bogey seven.

Next page: Undone by Augusta - Camellia to Holly

It’s a tough walk. That’s the most notable observation after traipsing the 18 holes of Augusta National for the first time this week. Unlike so many other journalists who have been here before, I made a conscious effort to really take in the subtle intricacies of this famous golf course. As a first-timer, it seemed only right…  

Without wanting to gloat, the pictures on television really don’t do this place the justice it deserves. Some of the greens are simply treacherous. You are talking 20-foot breaks and in many cases it’s better to be off the green but below the pin rather than above it and on. If your distance control is a bit shabby, it isn’t going to be your week…

Over the years, course extensions mean the days of pumping a mid iron into the par 5s are long gone. In 1997, Tiger Woods was hitting a wedge into 15. In Monday’s practice round Soren Kjeldsen ripped what looked to be something like a 5-iron, and still had a firm wedge over the water. Granted, the wind played a part, but eagle opportunities here will surely be thin on the ground...

While Augusta is by no means tight (although it is tigther now), and of course there is no such a phrase as ‘rough’ round here, every shot requires good ball movement. Take the 9th hole, a slight dog-leg left. Hit a good tee shot to find the fairway, and you’re faced with a draw to avoid the greenside traps and the distinctive slope at the front of the green. In 1996, Greg Norman hit a 9-iron flush against this, before watching his ball trickle 30 yards back down the fairway. Yesterday, Shingo Katayama had the same result, although he nailed a sweetly struck rescue club.

And the 14th green is terrifying. Land the ball above the pin and your putt has to be hit with such precision or you face rolling back down the fairway from where you just came. The breaks and slopes really are that severe...

Augusta requiring bags of creativity is hardly news, but the most startling observation was the hard yards you need to put in to get round. It is physically demanding. It may look pretty and sweet, but it’s a monster at 7,435 yards – and plenty of that is uphill with flat lies being a luxury.

All in all, on the eve of the 73rd US Masters, this course could hardly be in better shape. The same may not be said of the countless victims it will claim over the next four days.

May the best man win, as they say…

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Well, we are about to witness the start of this US Masters. Thank goodness. Few things in life are more irritating than the dog days before a Major begins. It is during this period that grown men interview other grown men about what they think they are going to do on a golf course and then these grown men write lots of words and other grown men read them. Yawn.

So let's cut to the chase here. Never mind what the golfers are saying - subbed down it amounts to: "I am playing really, really well and feel, god willing, that I can win this Masters.”

So, let us talk about the course. Fact: It is in the best shape I have ever seen and that is saying something. Fact: The greens are promising to be swifter and more treacherous than ever. Fact: The weather forecast is good, the first time for a few years, and so at last we have a chance to see some birdie-eagle action again at Augusta National after the negative play caused by foul weather in recent Masters.

All this is good news and the anticipation gauge should now be racked up. Meanwhile, the even better news is that my head seems to be recovering from the excesses of the annual European Tour International Media Dinner at Augusta Country Club. This is always a terrific occasion, the champagne and wine flowing like several small rivers, the food sensational and the service impeccable.

Two memorable incidents from the evening: my dining companion, the great Hugh McIlvanney, supreme sportswriter for the Sunday Times, alarmed me when he stopped chatting and instead turned purple, then began to clearly choke.

Hugh staggered away from the table and I followed while I contemplated having to execute my first Heimlich Manoeuvre. As I placed my arms around his chest I realised that if I got this wrong the big man – whose reputation as handy with his fists is well deserved - might well chin me. Indeed, even if I got it right I might still end up on the deck.

Fortunately, he coughed up the offending piece of meat just as I started to squeeze and all was saved. After a consoling glass of water and a couple of cigars we returned to the table where we found Jose-Maria Olazabal had joined us for dessert and coffee as he made his way home from the Champions' Dinner where Trevor Immelman's South African theme supper was adjudged "interesting" by all who attended.

It turns out that Ollie had enjoyed a practice round in the company of Alvaro Quiros, the longest hitter on the main tours. I asked Ollie how much longer Quiros was than him. He started laughing, eventually calmed down, and then said while shaking his head..."On average, compared to me, five clubs. Scary isn't it?" So scary we felt we had to crack open another bottle. Or was it two?

Enjoy the action.

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