The Augusta Sports Council has decided that it would be a good idea to blog about the 2010 Masters golf tournament and about what goes on behind the scenes in the Media Building.  I guess that means I should introduce myself, and give you my credentials... Sorry, but credentials are a big deal here at the Masters.

My name is John Patrick, I'm a member of the Board of Directors of the Augusta Sports Council and I've been covering the Masters in various capacities since 1985. Through the years, I have covered this tournament for the local stations for which I've worked here in Augusta (Too many to mention…the internet is but so big).  I've covered it on a national scale for the broadcast company for which I've worked.  I've contributed to reports around the country and in some cases, around the world.  I've reported on this Tournament to the BBC and in Australia...although they seemed more interested in learning what pimento cheese was.

Over the last twenty-five years, many things have changed as far as HOW I've covered this tournament.  It began with a bank of six telephones in a Quonset hut. Now, it's almost impossible to find a phone in the media building.  I do my reports on my laptop, with a mixer and sound program, and then I e-mail it to where it needs to go.  The company for whom I'm working distributes it nationwide.  I now find myself sitting on the top row with the various radio networks - ESPN, CNN, ABC, etc. Pretty heady stuff... all of us delivering our reports in very different ways.

The purpose of this blog (blogs do have a purpose, don't they?) is to give you a bit of a behind the scenes look at this aspect of the world's best run golf tournament.  I'll also, when I can, give you a behind the scenes look at many of the various aspects of this wonderful event. 

It looks like we will get off to a great start on Tuesday, as we'll let you know about Tiger's first full day back at work, returning from FMLA. Please join me each day of Masters week.

How did it come to pass that Augusta, Georgia has evolved to become the center of the golf universe once a year? Georgians can find out about the city’s rich history by watching the GPB Original documentary, Augusta’s Master Plan: From Sherman’s March to Arnie’s Army, premiering Sunday, April 4 at 8 PM on Georgia Public Broadcasting. The program encores Wednesday, April 7 at 8 PM, and Friday, April 9 at 10 PM.

Augusta’s Master Plan is based on the books of Stan Byrdy, who served as consulting executive producer to executive producer Bruce Burkhardt. Byrdy has covered the Masters since Jack Nicklaus’ historic win in 1986 and is considered an authority on the history of golf in Augusta.