The Masters

At a glance

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Facts and figures for the Masters:

Event: The 69th Masters Tournament

Dates: Thursday through Sunday

Site: Augusta National Golf Club

Length: 7,290 yards

Par: 36-36 – 72

Changes: There were no significant changes to the golf course for the first time since 2002.

Format: 72 holes of stroke play, sudden death playoff if necessary

Purse: To be determined ($6.29 million in 2004)

Field: 88 professionals, four amateurs

Defending champion: Phil Mickelson

Last year

Mickelson birdied five of the last seven holes, including an 18-footer on No. 18, to defeat Ernie Els by one shot and capture his first major championship. It was perhaps the most dramatic back nine at Augusta National since Jack Nicklaus won his sixth green jacket. Els took the lead with an eagle on the par-5 13th and stayed ahead with a birdie on the 15th. Mickelson nearly holed out with a wedge on No. 14 for a tap-in birdie, and the key was his 8-iron into 15 feet for birdie on the 16th that gave him a share of the lead. It was only the fourth time the Masters was decided by a birdie on the final hole. Mickelson closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 279.

Eye on Augusta

This is the 50th consecutive year the Masters will be televised on CBS Sports.

Aussie Rules

A record eight players from Australia are at Augusta National. The Masters is the only major championship an Aussie has never won.

Anniversaries

It has been 25 years since Seve Ballesteros won his first Masters, building a 10-shot lead going into the back nine and winning by four. At age 23, he was at the time the youngest Masters champion.

Key statistic

Phil Mickelson (2004) and Gary Player (1978) are the only Masters champions to make birdie on both par 3s on the back nine in the final round.

Noteworthy

Ryan Moore, of Puyallup, Wash., won the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Public Links Amateur, meaning there are only four amateurs in the field for the first time since 1997. Tiger Woods was the defending U.S. Amateur champion at the ‘97 Masters, but he already had turned pro. He won the Masters that year by 12 shots.

Quoteworthy

“It’s something I’ve been chasing since I was 10 years old.” — Ernie Els, on his desire to win the Masters.

Television

All times PDT

Thursday-Friday: 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., USA

Saturday: 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., CBS

Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., CBS