Thursday 9 April 2015 09:43, UK
On the eve of the 79th Masters, golf editor Keith Jackson reveals a few of the lighter moments behind the scenes at Augusta National.
Ryder Cup banter
Many practice rounds at any tournament are impromptu and hastily arranged.
Hunter Mahan's caddie had been hanging around the first tee for a while, armed with his bag, when the bagman for Darren Clarke enquires about the possiblity of a three-ball with Graeme McDowell.
Obviously the answer was yes, and Mahan, G-Mac and the new European Ryder Cup captain soon appeared on the tee.
Clarke, looking fitter than ever decided to take the honour. But as he teed up, he decided this could be a good opportunity to get some "inside info" on the USA's Ryder Cup plans for Hazeltine next year.
"Are you on that task force," he asked Mahan. "No, wasn't asked," replied the American with a hint of embarrassment.
"We'll see about that," added Clarke with a huge grin before striping one of the biggest drives of the day way up the opening fairway.
Do the Jimenez
Much has been made of the Tiger Woods demeanour this week, in particular his warm greetings and many hugs issued to several fellow pros on the practice range at Augusta.
After an embrace with the evergreen, and ever-popular Miguel Angel Jimenez, one of the patrons decided it would be good theatre for Woods to mimic the Spaniard's audacious and entertaining warm-up routines.
"Do the Jimenez," was the cry from the gallery. Declined!
Bullseye
Fuzzy Zoeller almost holed his tee shot to the ninth and final hole of the par-three contest and made his way slowly around the lake to the green.
En route, he gave a cheerful wolf whistle to Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher before approaching the ESPN studio.
Plucking a fresh ball out of his bag, the 1979 Masters champion - the last to win on his Augusta debut - took aim at Mike Tirico and Curtis Strange as they were live, and unsuspecting.
And the throw was gentle, but right on the money. Strange could have a slight bruise on the back of his neck on the morning.
Busy medics
While hitching a ride with one of the on-site medical staff late in the day, the good doctor reflected on his long shift.
"Masters Wednesday is always our busiest day," he said. "It's always hot and sunny year after year, which means several hundred heat-related injuries.
"Some of our patrons are genuinely ill before they get here and have no place wandering aorund on a golf course, but I suppose folk will give anything to experience a trip to Augusta whatever shape they're in.
"But the worst ones are the folk who decide to keep cool by drinking beer, and lots of it. Keeps me in a job I suppose."
That curse
It's time for your annual reminder that, since the par-three contest was first played in 1960, nobody has won the par-three and the Masters proper in the same year.
So if you were thinking of backing Kevin Streelman, don't waste your hard-earned.
Texans stick together
Ben Crenshaw is fully focused on competing in his 44th and final Masters and is prepared for an emotional farewell, hopefully on Sunday.
But the two-time champion thrilled young pretender and fellow Texan Jordan Spieth with a text message asking him if he would like a practice round together.
And then Spieth's day got even better ...
"I've always wanted to play here with Ben, and to get him on his last practice round is pretty cool," Spieth said. "He texted me last night and I was pretty excited. And then Tiger joined us, and it was even better."
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