Easter Sunday will always be a special day for Paul Stankowski.

Never mind the fact that he took up the game of golf on Easter in 1978. Or that he won his first PGA Tour event in Atlanta on Easter two years ago.

Easter is special to Stankowski because of his religious convictions. He knows that no matter what he accomplishes in golf, it will never compare to the resurrection of Christ.

Although Easter and the final round of the Masters Tournament have coincided four times in the last 20 years, most golfers don't view it as sacrilegious to play on that day. After all, it's their job.

``It's nice. Especially being here in Augusta, with all the beautiful flowers and trees. It's kind of an Easter feeling,'' said Stankowski, who is playing in his third Masters. ``It's my job. You still celebrate the day as Jesus' resurrection.''

Stankowski took up the game with a round of golf with his father 20 years ago. Eighteen years later, he scored the first of two career PGA Tour wins at the BellSouth Classic.

``Two years ago in Atlanta, I won my first tournament on Easter,'' said Stankowski, who will attend a church service this morning. ``But it still doesn't compare to what Jesus did on the cross for us.''

The final round of the Masters was played on Easter Sunday in 1979, 1982, 1993 and this year. However, because the final-round telecast must be completed by 7 p.m., tee times can't be pushed back. The final round of the Masters is always scheduled for the second Sunday in April, whereas the date for Easter varies from year to year.

However, several golfers said they will attend a church service this morning before teeing off. Several sunrise services will be held throughout the Augusta area this morning, including one at the Jessye Norman Amphitheater on the Riverwalk.

Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer remembers his win in 1993 as being doubly special because it came on Easter Sunday.

``For me, as a Christian, if you know the meaning of Easter, it meant a lot to me to win a great tournament and give the glory to Him,'' he said.

Langer was unsure of his plans for this morning, because he didn't know his tee time yet on Saturday afternoon. But he is a mainstay at the Wednesday night Bible study sessions the PGA Tour holds each week.

He attended the session this week, held at the rented home of Scott Simpson. About 25 people were there, including 10 golfers. Comedian Bill Murray, who is a personal friend of Simpson, did not come downstairs in the house for the session. Langer, for one, would like to see more pros participate.

``I'd like to see more have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but I don't force it on anyone,'' he said. ``I would like them all to know the truth.''

That's where people such as Russell Murray come in. As the Southeastern director of Links International, it's his job to use golf as a way to share Christ and help people grow spiritually.

``Basically, I'm a missionary to the golf world,'' he said. ``Glorifying God through the game of golf.''

Links International was formed as a ministry to support Christian golfers, and focuses on tour players.

``These guys believe that God has given them this platform,'' Murray said. ``They want to glorify God.''

An ordained minister, Murray is also the golf coach at Westminster Schools. He makes his home in North Augusta and, as one of six regional directors, Murray is responsible for raising his own financial support.

Murray doesn't see a conflict with playing on Easter.

``To these guys, especially the believers, in one sense that day is very special to them,'' he said. ``Since they play every Sunday, in one sense they have to know it is a regular Sunday. Hopefully, they're keeping things in perspective. I know they would love to win on Sunday to give a testimony.''

Although former U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin is a Christian, he admits he doesn't always attend Sunday services while on the road.

``It's obviously a pretty special day. We'll go to church in the morning,'' he said. ``To be honest, I don't always go to church when I'm on the road. I always do on Easter Sunday, wherever I am.''