Tiger is my Master

By Jamie Elson European Tour rookie

Most golfers would give their right arm to play at Augusta.

But having studied at Augusta State University I can safely say that I've graced heaven with my limbs intact.

JAMIE ELSON FACTFILE DOB: 23 May 1981 Lives: Kenilworth, Warwickshire Career highlights: Member of winning 2001 Walker Cup team; Turned pro March 2003; Maiden Challenge Tour win in 2003 Finnish Open; Qualifies for European Tour in debut season

One of the biggest perks of playing for the University golf team was that we got to play Augusta National once a year. Whisper it quietly but I've played there five times in all.

For me the Masters is the biggest tournament in the world, even bigger than The Open.

The first time I went round Augusta I used a new ball on every hole and got my granddad to mount them in a wooden plaque which is now nailed to my living room wall.

I shot a 74 after dropping a shot at the last two holes. But what you see on TV is exactly how it is - it's like you're playing in a dream.

Studying at Augusta State meant that I was never far from the course. I stayed in an apartment which was a short wedge from the 13th green.

It was very tempting to jump the fence for a sneaky round but there was no chance of jeopardising a yearly trip to the heavens!

Witness to a Master

I know this year that it's Arnold Palmer's 50th Masters but for me the greatest Master is Tiger.

I don't think anyone will beat his record of winning the Masters by twelve strokes at the age of 21 in 1997.

That happened the year before I went to the States but luckily I got to see the Masters up close when I worked for the local paper, The Augusta Chronicle.

The Tiger is crowned in 2001

I was a runner for the photographer and worked for four Masters championships in all, including the year Woods completed his Tiger Slam in 2001.

To witness the green jacket ceremony from the same putting green was awesome.

Even though I got close to him then perhaps a meeting in the future may not be a million miles away after the Dubai Desert Classic.

I was nowhere near to him on the course as I missed the cut, but I had dinner with Tiger's manager, Mark Steinberg.

We share the same management company so it was interesting to hear the stories about Tiger driving balls from a US battleship to a crowd of 7,000 screaming troops.

Mark even suggested to me that I should introduce myself to Tiger next time I'm on the range and mention that we're from the same stable.

I get the impression that some players are a bit frightened of approaching Tiger because of the aura surrounding him.

But Mark said that everyone is so stand-offish with him that he'd probably appreciate someone going over and chatting to him.

I didn't bite the bullet this time but maybe one day I'll take a deep breath and say hello.

Whilst we were dining, the man himself ate in the presidential suite of the seven-star Burj Al-Arab Hotel. Apparently the room he was staying in cost $23,000 a night!

When you hear that, combined with his amazing achievements, you realise saying hello is going to take some bottle.

Jamie will be filing monthly insights for the BBC Sport website on life as a rookie on the European Tour.