Despite a pair of over-par rounds Thursday, Tommy Aaron and Charles Coody don't expect to receive a letter from Augusta National Golf Club anytime soon.

Augusta National Chairman Hootie Johnson wrote letters earlier this year to former Masters champions Gay Brewer (1967), Billy Casper (1970) and Doug Ford (1957), suggesting that they not play.

Aaron, who shot a 7-over-par 79, and Coody, who carded an 82 on Thursday, expect to return to Augusta next year.

"I haven't talked to Hootie about that," said Aaron, the 1973 Masters champion. "Nobody has said anything to me about it. I haven't thought about it."

Coody concurred.

"That's not a thought," the 1971 Masters champion said. "That situation has been pretty well taken care of. ... (Johnson) made some comments at the dinner the other night, and if he'd like to elaborate on them I'll let him do that."

Being invited back wasn't on Gary Player's mind. The three-time Masters champion bogeyed the first hole en route to an 80. He said his main problems weren't with the course but with himself.

"I didn't hit my second shots to the green very well," the 66-year-old Player said. "I've been struggling with my swing a bit, and this is not a place to be struggling with your swing."

Aaron and Coody were challenged by the course's additional length. Each player hit just seven of 18 greens in regulation.

"I enjoyed hitting woods to all of the par-4s," Coody joked. "Some of the holes amount to considerable length. Of course, they've had some rain and you're not going to get much roll."

Aaron, 65, was 9-over after taking a double bogey on the par-4 10th hole. He made birdies on Nos. 12, 13 and 16 before bogeying No. 18.

"I was getting way on up there after 10 holes," Aaron said. "I was really going up. I did a lot better coming in."

Coody, 64, was 5-over on his round before making bogeys on five of the final six holes.