Here are a few Masters numbers for you:
99 - the number of players who began the tournament on Thursday. A small field for a major tournament, but due to the fact that Augusta can invite who they like. Apparently, each competitor is given a number (which you can see their caddies wearing) based on the order in which they check in for the tournament, apart from the reigning champion who gets number one. Number 99 is our current leader, Rory McIroy.
96 - the year in which we last had a British winner, Nick Faldo. That was the year in which Greg Norman rather lost it more than Faldo won it - Norman was leading by six coming into the final round, but pressed the self destruct button and ended up losing by five to Faldo. A decent number of Brits are still in the field and doing well, so maybe this year we will have another winner?
80 - the year of Seve's first win. Today is Seve's birthday and I'm sure that everyone in Augusta is sending the legendary Spaniard their very best wishes. One of Augusta's traditions is the winners' dinner which takes place early in the week of the tournament, and is attended by past winners and club members. The current holder gets to choose the menu, and this year, Mickelson, in a gesture which only serves to reinforce the impression one gets of him as being a jolly nice chap, chose a Spanish menu as a mark of respect for Seve.
64 - the lowest score of the week so far, carded yesterday by Jason Day, putting him into second place. As a result he will play in the last pairing today with Rory, who put in a 65 on Thursday and a 69 yesterday.
63 - the course record, held jointly by Nick Price and Greg Norman.
49 - the number of players who made the cut this year. The rules say that either the top 44 plus ties get through, or if there are more, all players within 10 shots of the lead stay for the weekend.
21 - the age of the youngest winner - guess who, Tiger Woods, who was 21 when he won in 1997. It was a record-breaking year for more reasons as well, as he also achieved the lowest ever winning score at 18 under par. Rory is also 21, but wouldn't break Tiger's record if he wins this year as he has more days since his birthday than Tiger had in '97.
19 - Ryo Ishikawa's age. He made the cut and is doing well. Worthy of a mention as he's announced that all of his 2011 tournament earnings will be donated to the Japan earthquake relief efforts.
12 - my favourite hole on the course, and the one that was proving most difficult for the players yesterday. Anyone walking off with a par 3 yesterday was no doubt mightily relieved, and could then look forward to pushing for a birdie or better on the par 5 thirteenth. I've already decided that on my trip to Augusta, I would like to sit behind the 12th tee, meaning that I can keep an eye on most of Amen corner - I could watch them putting on the 11th green, see all of the 12th, and then watch the tee shots on the 13th. (Got it all planned out!)
6 - the most times that one player has won the tournament - Jack Nicklaus won six times between 1963 and 1986. It was a real treat to see Nicklaus, Palmer and Player enjoying the par 3 tournament together on Wednesday - between them they have won the Masters 13 times.
1 - and there can be only one winner. Will be lots of fun to see who is putting on the green jacket tomorrow evening ...
In non golfing news (!) Jake has been sharing some more stories of his week away. Sounds like he had lots of fun with all of the activities, and put in a good show on the rope walk! Nicky has been making sterling progress out in the garden with fence painting, and it is pretty much finished, although a second coat may be called for in a few places.
As I mentioned earlier in the week, we went to Rochester for lunch on Wednesday, and whilst we were there I had a good rummage around some of the second hand bookshops (apart from Baggins, which whilst it may have the largest stock, is also the most unpleasant of them all!) and ended up coming home with seven books for the bargain price of £12. Just finished the first of them, Hemingway's Chair by Michael Palin.
Finally for today, and appropriately given the golfing theme, on this day last year, we headed south from Monterey, enjoying the sights of 17 mile drive along the way, and stopped in for a look at Pebble Beach as we passed through. Carrying on south we headed over Bixby Bridge and through Big Sur. And then to finish off the day we stopped to see the elephant seals.
