AUGUSTA -- The Augusta National gift shops have done their typically brisk business this week. Robert Bendure of Tulsa, Okla., spent $700 there Saturday. Making the trip to Augusta for the third year in a row, he was filling out wish lists for family and co-workers, mostly shirts. He also managed to pick out something for himself.
"My wife says I've got a whole wardrobe of Masters clothing," he said.
Among the priciest items: an alligator-skin checkbook holder for $750, a four-ply cashmere sweater for $450 (nearly sold out Saturday afternoon) and a rolling duffle bag for $275. For the more budget conscious: $5 for a lanyard and badge holder, $7 for a commemorative pin or sunscreen.
Orange crush
Australian Jason Day had fans in his gallery who were as traveled as they were difficult to miss. A group of 12 friends from Australia have been at the tournament all week and all wear bright-orange polo shirts.
"We wash 'em," assured Frank Restuccia, one of the 12.
The trip has been a year in the planning, nearly all of whom are at the Masters for the first time.
"We love it," Restuccia said. "The hospitality is magnificent. The food is sensational. The Australian dollar conversion rate is even better."
Heat wave
Some fans started heading for the gates Saturday by 2 p.m., even as other fans were still making their way to the course. The 85-degree heat combined with the course's many hills made for a formidable pairing.
"We've probably walked eight miles," said Casey Skopil, visiting from Oregon.
Branding
A few of the more obscure logos that some leading players are wearing on their hats and shirts: SK Telecom, an international mobile-service provider, is on K.J. Choi's hat and SGF Superior, an apparel company, is on his shirt. Jumeirah, on Rory McIlroy's hat and shirt, is an international resort chain. Burner, on Day's hat, is a model of TaylorMade golf clubs. McIlroy, Lee Westwood and others wear an AP on their shirt sleeves, which stands for watchmaker Audemars Piguet. Tiger Woods wears the logo of Nike, an Oregon-based sneaker company.
Odds talk
McIlroy was given 2-3 odds to secure the green jacket after the third round by betting website bodog.com. Choi is next at 9-1, then Angel Cabrera and Luke Donald at 12-1, followed by Charl Schwartzel and Day at 14-1 and Woods at 20-1. Bodog's pretournament odds for the third-round leaders: McIlroy (28-1), Cabrera (100-1), Schwartzel (50-1), Choi (50-1), Day (80-1), Donald (25-1) and Adam Scott (66-1). Phil Mickelson was the favorite at 6-1.
Etc.
Among those spotted in the gallery Saturday: former Braves star Fred McGriff, former football star Cris Carter, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and former Georgia Tech football star Lucius Sanford, Tech's letterwinner association executive director. ... Weather forecast for Sunday: mostly sunny with a high of 90 degrees and a 10 percent chance of rain.
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