New Zealand's Craig Perks has buried last year's Augusta hype and is determined to leave a different impression on the Masters.
Perks made his debut at Augusta National last year, three weeks after his maiden PGA Tour victory in the Players Championship.
It was the Louisiana-based player's first major and he made
an early exit after posting rounds of 81 and 71.
But missing this year is all the media hype that surrounded Perks in the weeks immediately following his Players Championship success.
This time around, Perks has been allowed to get on quietly with his preparations.
"It was a lot more serene driving through the front gates than compared to coming here last year," he said.
"I didn't know what was going on and this year I have been a little more focused on the tournament at hand. It was nice to come in under the radar screen and prepare for a good week.
"I really just don't remember too much about last year to be honest and that's why I am looking forward to it so much this year: to playing, as opposed to dealing with all the distractions."
Perks has not played since finishing 17th when defending his Players title a fortnight ago but has spent plenty of time practising.
"I have been working on a lot of things in my game and after a fortnight's break I have come here refreshed and that is a different change to last year."
Perks said the big change to last year was how the wet weather was making the Augusta National course play considerably longer than its 6666m.
"It is playing tremendously long and must have played about 8000 yards (7315m) long yesterday," he said.
"The changes they have made to five and 11 are making it play tougher.
"Take yesterday, when I played 18: I hit a three wood into the green and the rain has made the greens very difficult because instead of coming in with mid irons, we're all having to hit long irons and it's difficult to get it close to the pin.
"For that reason, I think it's lost a lot of its excitement and nostalgia and it's turned into a bear of a golf course."
Perks wound up his Augusta preparations by squeezing in nine holes of practice in the company of fellow New Zealander Michael Campbell and American Fred Funk before participating in the traditional par-three contest.
The third New Zealander in the field is Phil Tataurangi.
- NZPA
