AUGUSTA -- Though it could be argued that there are more accurate barometers of the country's economic fitness, the wallets of Masters badge holders declare that the recession is over.
On the ticket re-sale website stubhub.com, prices for various types of badges were higher than the past two years, some significantly so.
On Wednesday, a four-day tournament badge was going for an average of $3,414. Last year, the same went for $2,373 and in 2009 could be had for $1,831.
"You can speculate people have a little more discretionary income," said Stubhub spokeswoman Joellen Ferrer.
Helping hands
In charge of monitoring course traffic and essentially serving as tour guides, the tournament's gallery guards take on a lot of questions from fans. Two of the more popular are "Where's Tiger Woods?" and "What kind of grass is that?"
On Wednesday, guards shared some of the more unusual questions and comments they've fielded this week and in year's past.
"Where's that pretty hole at?" "I can't find any of the white or red tees." "Who's that?" (The questioner was pointing at a practice group of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.) and "Do they polish the shells of the turtles in Rae's Creek?"
Faldo goes bold
Three-time champion and CBS commentator Nick Faldo made a prediction Wednesday.
"I guarantee somebody under the radar will be leading after Day One," he said. "It almost always happens, doesn't it?"
The past three years, the first-round leaders were Fred Couples (2010), Chad Campbell (2009) and Justin Rose and eventual champion Trevor Immelman (2008).
Faldo also called Luke Donald his favorite to win, citing his strong iron play and putting. That said, Faldo said he counted about 40 players that he thinks have a chance to win.
GSU in the house
Georgia State golf coach Joe Inman was at the course Wednesday. Inman, who played on the PGA and Champions tours, won the par-3 tournament in 1979. Inman, whose best finish in seven Masters tournaments was a tie for ninth, had a ready answer in 1979 when media members asked him about the par-3 curse that no winner has ever won the actual tournament in the same year.
“I said I already I knew I wasn’t going to win the tournament," Inman said. “I already know. I’m a short hitter. Ain’t no short hitter going to win this golf tournament.”
True to form, Inman finished that year in a tie for 23rd.
Betting line
Phil Mickelson will go off Thursday as the odds-on favorite to win, according to betting website bodog.com. Mickelson has 6-1 odds, followed by Woods at 8-1, Lee Westwood at 14-1, Nick Watney at 16-1 and Martin Kaymer and Donald at 20-1. If you're looking for a long shot, try Tom Watson at 500-1.
Oldies
Masters heroes Nicklaus, Palmer and Player were competitive with each other in the par-3 tournament. That, apparently, was about the extent of it. Asked if anything was riding on their rounds, Nicklaus replied, "No. There isn't much riding on what we do."
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