Apr4 Augusta snippets day3

David Howell has just finished a practice round with fellow Brits Paul Casey and Luke Donald. But as he walked off the ninth green, after playing nine holes in 25 degrees plus, he turned to his caddie and said: “Right, practice range then…” Doesn’t bode well for tomorrow.

As if it wasn’t hard enough already, Augusta National is getting firmer by the hour. Warm sunshine and a light breeze is baking the greens up a treat – we watched as several short irons just bounced on the short grass with hardly any spin.

The traditional par-3 tournament is supposed to be a light-hearted affair – but try telling that to the patrons. Security guards had to be despatched several times as the growing crowds took to their feet and blocked out the views of those who’d been sitting down for hours. Cries of “Hey buddy, down at the front!” echoed all around.

Ernie Els has just been getting some putting practice. But unlike everyone else, who stuck to the putting green by the 10th tee, the South African did it on the ninth green – waving players on as they completed their practice rounds.

The qualifying criteria for the Masters has been tweaked. Now, anyone who wins a PGA Tour event, those qualifying for the season-ending Tour championship and the 30 leaders in the final money list will get into the 2008 tournament.

Augusta Chairman Billy Payne had some interesting observations in his first press conference at a Masters. As well as confirming a new practice ground is being built here for 2010, he revealed that the Olympics were “very close” to coming to Augusta National – Payne was instrumental in staging the 1996 Games in nearby Atlanta.

Pictures by Getty.