Notes: Scott plays Augusta, Monty talks Masters

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Peaceful Augusta

Adam Scott might love going to Augusta National more than the Masters.

Scott joined swing coach Butch Harmon, Fred Couples and Nick Watney for a day of practice two weeks ago, and he has never seen Augusta National more glorious. They stayed a Sunday night in one of the cabins and had breakfast in the clubhouse.

"I thought we were staying in the Motel 6 down the road for a night," Scott said. "Stephens Cabin treated me well. And the best thing about it was Freddie stayed in the cabin with me. They were taking our bags in and said, 'Here's your room, Mr. Couples. I'll just put the bags in here. The Green Jacket is in the closet for you.'"

Couples, who won the Masters in 1992, can wear his Green Jacket only on the property.

Scott will never forget the first time he saw Augusta National, stunned at how open it was without fairways framed by thousands of people. There is an empty triangle between the eighth, ninth and 18th fairways.

"It's completely different. It's beautiful when it's empty," the Australian said. "I was walking from the cabin at 7:30 a.m. to the clubhouse to have breakfast, and it was so peaceful. It's a beautiful place. I can't imagine what it's like to have that opportunity once in a while."

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Monty's musings

Colin Montgomerie will not be going to the Masters for only the second time in the last 17 years, because he was not among the top finishers in the majors last year and failed to crack the top 50 in the world ranking.

And then there's his birthplace.

In an interview with The Independent newspaper in Britain, the scowling Scot poked fun at Augusta National for its eligibility and said the club panders to Asian players because of its television markets.

The Masters offered special foreign invitations earlier this year to Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, Liang Wen-hong of China and Jeev Milkha Singh of India. All are ranked below Montgomerie, who is No. 75.

"There has been no call from Augusta and I am not expecting one," Montgomerie said. "Now, if I were the only person in the country, a la China, I might get in. It is a strange way to make up a field for a major championship -- television rights. They are quite open about why."

He noted that the last time he missed the Masters, in 2005, the club took Shingo Katayama because of Japanese TV rights.

"And they have done the same with Thailand and China this time," Monty said. "I am not the only one who feels that way and not just because I am not in. In or not, I'd be saying the same thing. It is a strange criterion to pick a major field.

"It would be easier to swallow if no one was invited, and it was done on sporting and not commercial criteria," he said.

Monty's manager Guy Kinnings later spoke with Britain's Telegraph explaining that "Colin understands Augusta's right to promote themselves. The last thing he would want to do is show disrespect or tell them who they should or should not invite."

However, Billy Payne -- Augusta National chairman -- shied away from rebutting the Scottish golfer's comments, instead telling the Telegraph "We think the interest in golf in each country will heighten when these players compete." He then described the three invited players to which Montgomerie referred as "successful, accomplished and talented golfers and deserving of a Masters invitation."

Montgomerie has only one top-10 finish in his 15 appearances at the Masters, and he missed the cut in five of his last six tries.

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