Hello Golf Fans, Masters fans, and sports fans! Masters! Masters week will begin on Monday, April 5, 2010. People say that this Masters must be the most exciting, interesting, and historical Masters, ever.

Tiger Woods, following the well-known scandal, exercised self-restraint for any PGA Tour, and came into Augusta very quietly last week. People said he practiced last Sunday and Monday. Fans and media are saying such things about Tiger Woods as “At his first shot of this year’s Masters Tournament, his hands must be shaking” and “At his first shot, which one is bigger, the booing or the applause?” Tomorrow at 2 p.m., at Tiger’s press conference, fans and media will be paying attention to what Tiger is going to say from the beginning.

Happy Easter! Today is the holiday Sunday and here, Augusta has a high of 89 degrees – such a warm, sunny day that people can wear just T-shirts all day. On Washington Road, which is the main street close to our hotels, and on surrounding streets, there are groups of people and the fans at almost each block with placards reading “I need a ticket,” as well as groups of people who have set up what look like temporary shops in simple tents with signs that say, “Buy and sell tickets.”

Poplar pollen comes from everywhere around the Augusta since the geographical features of Augusta look like a basin, meaning that Augusta is lower than other locations around here. So people who visit the Masters had better prepare for allergies.

The driver, whose name is Keith, is a friendly person, and works during the Masters for the company which has been the long time exclusive partner with us, Bryton Harry, particularly targeting Japanese markets regarding providing Masters passes, hotel accommodations, transportation, and executive clubs. Keith is a high school teacher and football coach. Most of the people and volunteers who work for and help with the Masters event here come from occupations such as teaching and coaching, like Keith, as well as high school and college students.

The schools in Augusta close for one week of the Masters week as a spring vacation so that people can work for the event or take a vacation during the Masters. The Masters really connects to the local community in this way. The people in Augusta are very kind, nice, and open-minded, and make you feel at home.

The U.S. was excited to watch the Final Four yesterday. And tonight, there will be a Yankees vs. Red Sox game, which is the first game of the MLB opening games ahead of any other MLB teams. Starting tomorrow, Monday, the practice round of the Masters will run until Wednesday. Some events are in Downtown Augusta.

Augusta, which is the second largest city and the second oldest city in Georgia, gets many visitors and seems to be ready for the Masters!