Augusta Spruces Up for Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- When Augusta National decides to do something, it gets done -- with style.

Professionals arriving for this week's Masters were greeted by a new, state-of-the-art practice facility, a massive site featuring a 400-yard driving range, an area designated for short-, mid- and long-range iron shots, bunkers, chipping areas and practice greens.

Last year at this time, the same property was used as a parking lot.

This week, the facility appears as if it has been around as long as the azaleas.

"A decade's worth of planning and execution has resulted in the opening of our new practice area," Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said Wednesday.

To underscore the importance the club places on the Masters, the multi-million dollar addition will only be used during tournament week. The clubs members will continue to use the original range.

"The tournament has certainly grown and we have to accommodate the changes in the game, the need for the practice that they require, and as we are doing that, we are driven by the concept of doing it better than anybody else," Payne said. "So that's what you see out there."

Positive Response: Of all the subjects Tiger Woods touched on earlier this week when he finally spoke to the media, he may have gotten the most mileage out of an apology directed to his fellow pros.

With Woods not speaking for nearly five months, other players were left to take questions on his behavior and future. They were tired of it long before Woods finally started to talk.

"Yeah, I think that was very nice," Steve Stricker said of the apology. "If it was necessary or not, I don't know, but I thought it was nice. A lot of us golfers, everybody on tour has had to try to answer the questions.

"We're really in no position to answer those questions. I'm in the dark. Everybody's in the dark. We're all speculating. So it's very difficult to speak with any sort of facts. We don't know anything. He doesn't give us a lot, which is up to him, and it's just, you know, it's a tough subject."

It's Easier That Way: Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer will get Thursday's first-round play officially underway when the two golf greats go to Augusta National's first tee at 7:40 a.m. ET to hit the tournament's ceremonial opening shots.

Palmer has participated in the ceremony since 2007. Nicklaus is joining in this year for the first time.

"The only thing that's good about that, I don't have to go chase it," he said. "Doesn't make any difference where I hit it. I have never seen anybody follow one of those shots yet."

Not a Good Sign: When Tiger Woods makes his long-awaited return to competitive golf with a 1:42 p.m. ET first-round start, K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar will complete the group.

Both willingly accepted the task of playing before what is expected to be the largest gallery in Masters history, insisting they will enjoy the experience.

Past results suggest otherwise.

Woods has had more than 1,300 playing partners in his PGA Tour career. Only 18 have gone onto victory. The average finish of his playing partners is 22nd with 247 missing the cut. Seven partners withdrew and two others have been disqualified.

Floyd Steps Aside: After 44 Masters appearances, Raymond Floyd, 67, didn't come to play this year.

Floyd participated in Wednesday's annual par-3 contest and attended the Champions Dinner -- he won a Green Jacket in 1976 -- but chose not to compete.

"I had a good feeling about it," Floyd said of the decision. "It was something that I toyed with pretty much all year as to whether I would play or not. And I just feel that I've had so many fond, special memories here, and I didn't feel like I embarrassed myself out there on a big golf course. But it's getting to that stage that I wanted to leave with fond memories."

Beside his victory in 1976, Floyd had three seconds, that last coming in 1992 when he lost to Nick Faldo in a playoff.