More than a game: The final countdown

The Masters kicks off tonight so today is passing excruciatingly slowly. I?m like a child on Christmas Eve who?s expecting the best present of all time and is bouncing off the walls with excitement. I keep looking at my watch and suffering bitter disappointment that only 15 minutes have passed since the last time I checked. The fact it?s the nicest April day on Deeside since records began isn?t helping. Chipping around my study with the window open just doesn?t cut it. I?m going to have to try and get a game this afternoon.

The Masters heralds the start of a new golf season. Like the first daffodil or first returning swallow, its coming always gives me strong feelings of hope and promise that my golf game will be great this year. After four days of watching the world?s best negotiate the 7,445 yard monster and deal with greens that make Michael Schumacher look slow, I?ll have convinced myself I?ve got the potential to win the club championship and get my handicap into plus figures. This incredible self-belief will last at least a week and I?ll enjoy every moment of it.

I?m more than a little concerned with my preparation for the year?s first major. Last night I fell asleep very near the start of Grand Designs (start time of 9 pm) and I woke very uncomfortably on the sofa at 1 am. If that form continues I will see approximately none of the first two days of Masters coverage. With this in mind I?m planning a radical approach: a power nap between 7 pm and 9 pm. This crucial siesta will recharge the batteries and allow me to watch the coverage in its entirety. Also, I will drink no liquids from 5 pm onwards. That way I wont succumb to the call of nature and I wont miss a second of the three hours on BBC.

It?s absolutely ridiculous that you can only watch three hours of the first day?s play. Ian Poulter is in the first group and he tees off at 1 pm BST. So we?re missing eight hours of golf! I understand the exclusivity of the Masters is one of the things giving it such a unique charm, but really. If you have a good internet connection you can log on to the Masters website and watch footage of the players going through Amen Corner plus they?re showing an hour of action prior to the TV networks. A whole hour! Oh Hootie, you?re such a tease.

Luckily visitors to this website can keep up to date with exactly what?s going on through our extensive Masters coverage. Mike, Neil and Bill are out in Georgia working tirelessly to keep GM readers in the loop. Thanks guys.

Now could everyone spare a thought for my father. He will not have access to this website over the weekend and will be unlikely to see any of the live footage as he?s travelling to Holland, accompanying my younger brother?s football team on a short tour. He returns on Monday. Don?t worry dad I?ll tape it all for you.

On a more personal note, Saturday will be my first medal of the season. I should be in with a shout having played regularly and reasonably well through the winter. No doubt the golfing gods will have other plans and will conjure up some calamity totally out with my control to take me out of the picture. I?m going to start writing my weekly blog on a Monday from now on to keep you up to date with my competitive progress. For your information, my aim for the season is to get my handicap down to two.

I forgot to mention that I finished second in the Alliance Order of Merit for Class 1. It was quite a surprise actually but a good confidence booster nonetheless. I got £20 for it.