TOUR SCENE: Once Paul McGinley knew his world ranking would earn him a place in the US Masters, he set about organising some partners for the practice days. Former winners.
Men like Ian Woosnam, and his all-time hero, Tom Watson. Men he could listen to, and learn from. Men who knew their way around the course, knew all the nuances and intricacies of Augusta National. Men who would talk about them. Show him things.
"It's not a coincidence that rookies never perform very well in their first year, and I can see why," explained McGinley after playing a round alongside Woosie and Watson yesterday.
Indeed, he showed them a thing or two too, holing out with his second to the first hole; a shot that he would prefer to have saved for when it really matters.
From the time that McGinley was a schoolboy in Dublin, and scribbled down the words of inspiration that he read in a magazine article about Watson in his school jotter, the American has "always been my favourite player. I could watch Tom Watson all day."
Last year at the US PGA, he walked up to the first tee and Watson was waiting for the next player to come along. Introductions were made and, formalities over, they played a practice round, struck up an accord, and McGinley listened and learned. When McGinley approached him recently about playing a practice round at Augusta, the agreement was instant.
"He stands for everything that is good in the game," remarked McGinley of Watson. "The way he plays, his smartness, his intelligence. The way he speaks, the way he carries himself, the way he confronts things straight on, the controversies and the way he will always give his ideas. I like the way he stands up and is counted, and also the way he plays is fantastic."
While McGinley's mind soaked up the tit-bits of information provided by Woosnam and Watson - advice on pin positions and how deceptive certain approach shots can be - his next move is to play a practice round with two other former champions, Bernhard Langer and Mark O'Meara, today. The quest to become a rookie who knows his way around the course continues.
