Editors note: CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz will handle his 20th consecutive Masters Tournament this week. In honor of the 50th Masters telecast on CBS, Nantz will offer stories and insights in daily conversations with Augusta Chronicle writer Scott Michaux:

Today was my first day of spring, if there's a theme. Spring coupled with Augusta is a powerful combination.

There's just a wonderful, warm feeling about this week. For those of us who have the privilege of coming to Augusta every year, they know what I'm talking about. It's a kindred spirit that we all share. You come here and your heart kind of opens up a little bit that you've come to this glorious place where golf is celebrated and spring is in the air and the major championship season is coming to life.

That's kind of the way these first couple of days are. You feel like you're catching up. The world of golf is gathered here, and it's not that you see all these people that often. You rekindle friendships.

These acquaintances renewed every year are not just the players, their wives and the media but the people you see every year at Augusta. Some of the fans, marshals, security, staff that works in the clubhouse - I have real, real friendships there that are meaningful to me. They are special people, and I've known them for a long time.

The first player that I saw when I came on the grounds at Augusta (Tuesday) was the player I've been thinking all along will win the tournament - that is Ernie Els . That doesn't signify any kind of fate or anything. But it's asked many times, if you had to pick one player to win the Masters this year, who would you choose? I've been saying Ernie.

He seems in my mind the logical guy to have the great week come Sunday. Sitting to have lunch, someone called my name and asked about the basketball game, and it was Ernie sitting at an adjacent table. I said, "You can't be serious. You really aren't into American college basketball?" He said he saw the game.

The first old acquaintances I ran into were Julie Crenshaw and Amy Mickelson. I have such a great regard for PGA Tour wives. They are such a great part of their husbands' success, and you always wonder in your mind if they get the recognition they deserve. I just happened to run into two of the greatest of all time.

I also climbed in the tower at 18 to watch some groups come through and went to the Butler Cabin, our studio base for the week.

I've been really dragging. I had my own ritual in saying goodbye to the Final Four and it involved walking down with a handful of people to the Mississippi River and spitting in the river for good luck, kissing the Arch at 3:30 Eastern time (Tuesday) morning and walking a mile back to the hotel. That was my official closure to college basketball, so with a 4:45 wake-up call, you can do the math. There was no rest.

But when you get to Augusta and spring's in the air, it's a wonderful feeling and good for the soul.

Eye on CBS
Two-time Masters champion Byron Nelson joined the CBS broadcast team in 1962 as an analyst, the year Arnold Palmer defeated Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald in the tournament's first three-man playoff.