As the scent of spring slowly begins to appear in all of its glory, the pink blossom has sprouted on the Dogwoods, and the echoes are about to erupt around the azaleas at Amen Corner. Yes, the Masters is once again upon us.
This week the invited field of 94 players will take the iconic drive down Magnolia Lane with a look of awe on their faces. For many it's their first trip, while for others it has become a regular visit. Either way, the wonder and sense of occasion never leaves them. That same emotion resides in us, the viewers, who have all grown up with our own collection of Masters memories. It's almost certainly the most magical week in all of Golf.
It is a week of evoking great moments of the past, and one of forging new ones. The days of Sarazen, Nelson, Hogan, Snead, Palmer, Player and Nicklaus may have come and gone, but their presence still hangs over undulation and every blade of grass at the majestic Augusta National. Since it's inception in 1934, the Masters Tournament has been an indicator of greatness. It is a chance for a player to etch his own name into the storied history of Golf. And since 1949, the Green Jacket has become that symbolic emblem of excellence. History, drama, beauty encapsulate what is truly great about this game, and the Masters itself has progressively become the ultimate representation of those facets.
We are all aware of these historic moments from years gone by. Some of us even witnessed them at the time, and recall them with significant fondness as each Masters Tournament approaches. Everyone, from every generation, has their favourite and individual memories, and that is testament to the tradition and personal affiliation that the Masters Tournament annually provides. Looking back, every Masters has had something to it. Going way back to the 1960s, and the incredible dominance of the "Big Three" which dramatically increased the popularity of golf, this event has consisted of dramatic moments involving the greatest players of their own era.
We can remember the rise of Europe in the 1980s and 90s, as Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam kept everyone in Britain and Europe on the edge of their seats. This year, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Lyle's iconic victory, inspired by one of the greatest shots in Masters history, from an 18th fairway bunker. Tiger Woods then took the sporting world by storm in 1997, as his extraordinary 12-shot win changed the face of golf forever.
In more recent years, the event has continued to provide these defining moments. From the remarkable back nine in 2011 when nine different players at one point at least had a share of the lead. It took a record breaking birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie finish from Charl Schwartzel to defeat the talented chasing pack. To 12 months ago, as Bubba Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff after producing a recovery shot from the most improbable position on the 10th. That victory, as many of them do, brought tears to the eyes of the victor and his family.
This course, this tournament, generates emotions unlike any other, and we have witnessed many other victories that have even brought a tear to our own eyes. From Jack Nicklaus' incredible back nine charge 27 years ago to win his 6th Green Jacket at the 46, Jose Maria Olazabal returning to golf to win in 1999, and Ben Crenshaw defying all sort of logic by claiming his second Masters title at the age of 43, having just buried his mentor Harvey Penick in 1995. Such unpredictability, emotion and tension have also resulted in some of the more devastating moments in major championship golf.
From Larry Mize chipping in to take away yet another major from Greg Norman in 1987, to Norman's own dramatic collapse to Faldo nine years later, to more recently Rory McIlroy's nightmare but character defining experience around Amen Corner on the final day in 2011.
The list of moments to look back on are almost endless, but we are sure to be reminded of them throughout a week that is as much about history as it is the present.
But, those moments are all in the past, and new Augusta moments will be forged in this, the 77th edition of the Masters Tournament. The traditions remain the same, but the characters change throughout each era, and that itself is a strength of this event.
2013 has been dominated by the continued resurgence of Tiger Woods, who has already claimed three PGA Tour titles this season. He comes to Augusta National, having not won here in eight years. The course has changed significantly since then, with it being lengthened the following year, and his lack of success since then could be telling. These days, it is even more crucially important to find the right parts of these astonishingly undulating fairways. Often requiring a draw with the driver to find the correct spots, which is a shot that Tiger has failed to produce on a consistent basis. You would still expect him to contend, as he seeks a 15th major championship, but such deficiencies may prevent that from happening.
Rory McIlroy has faced much negative attention this year, following a slow start to the season after his equipment change to Nike. However, we have seen such slumps before with Rory. Not least last summer, which he bounced back dramatically to win the PGA Championship by eight shots. McIlroy is a mercurial talent, and his ability is undisputed. With his form coming together in recent weeks, and particularly after a second place finish at the Valero Texas Open, do not rule out Rory proving the critics wrong and claiming a third major at the age of 23.
However, as much as the attention will be on these two, many other stories can be told at Augusta this April. As he turns 40, can Lee Westwood finally win that elusive major championship at the venue where he came so close in 2010?
Three time Masters champion Phil Mickelson is a winner already this season and will be returning to his favourite hunting ground in the hope of joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer in having won four Green Jackets. Can the likes of Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter finally win a major and end a British Masters drought that dates back to 1996. Or, in a year that the Americans have dominated thus far, will a home victory come in the form of Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney, Rickie Fowler or Hunter Mahan.
Or perhaps Louis Oosthuizen can go one better than last year, and become the third South African to win a Green Jacket. The 2013 Masters may even become nostalgic, as a former champion of yesteryear thrills us one more time. Fred Couples has finished in the top 15 in each of the last three years, and should 63-year-old Tom Watson make the cut, he will become the oldest player to have ever done so in the Masters.
The questions are almost endless, as are the moments, memories, magic, history, beauty, excitement and greatness and wonder of this special Tournament. It’s more than just a major. It's the Masters.