Shaun Micheel didn't know about the benefits that go with winning a major event until he won the PGA Championship in August.

He found out he received a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a 10-year exemption into the Players Championship and a lifetime pass to play in the PGA Championship.

And, yes, there's also that five-year exemption into the Masters Tournament.

"I think one of the reporters asked me after the PGA, they went down the list of things that were going to come my way, and I think they noticed a smile when they mentioned the Masters," Micheel said.

"I can't wait to even get on the property. So many great players have graced that place, even guys who never won it," he added.

The PGA Championship victory was Micheel's first title in 164 PGA Tour starts, and it came in spectacular fashion, when he hit a 175-yard 7-iron shot on the 72nd hole to set up a tap-in birdie for a two-shot victory.

It also made him one of seven players since 1955 to win a major championship before playing in their first Masters. Jack Fleck, Orville Moody, John Daly (Stats | Bio) , Paul Lewrie (Stats | Bio) , Rich Beem (Stats | Bio) and Ben Curtis (Stats | Bio) are the others.

"It's certainly not the route I was thinking I was going to take to get to Augusta," said Micheel, 35. "Of course, I'm extremely happy. I think I had a lot of patience. There have been a lot of opportunities (to qualify for the Masters), not necessarily squandered."

Micheel is taking a serious approach to his Masters debut.

"It's nice to be able to play, but there's a difference between wanting to play and wanting to contend," he said.

To that end, Micheel said he wants to spend the necessary time learning how to play Augusta National Golf Club and to get in his time on the practice range.

Shaun Micheel kisses the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. He is one of seven players since 1995 to quallify for his first Masters by winning a major. (AP/File)

Micheel was worried that he would lose valuable time signing autographs between the greens and tees during practice rounds. When told that autographs are allowed only in the practice area behind the clubhouse, Micheel said, "See, I am still green."

After his PGA Championship win, Micheel sought out former PGA champions Jeff Sluman (Stats | Bio) , Bob Tway (Stats | Bio) and Nick Price (Stats | Bio) for advice.

"They've been very instrumental in guiding me a little bit in what I could expect," Micheel said.

"Certainly, they've read some of the things I've said about trying to justify and validate winning more tournaments. In a sense I felt like there was a little bit more pressure on me because I won a big one.

"Some people said, 'If Shaun can win a big one, why can't he win other ones?' I think that time will come. (Sluman, Tway and Price) told me to go out and have fun and enjoy myself. Of course, you've still got to work hard and don't get so caught up in media expectations or even your own expectations."

Micheel is puzzled that his PGA Championship victory elevated him into the upper rung of players, at least in some minds.

"I did read an article in USA Today that said it's tough to stay on top in golf," Micheel said. "I never felt like I was on top. They chronicled my list of tournaments and where I finished. I felt like, 'When was I ever on top?' I won one golf tournament. ... If I win 30 or 40 and start playing badly, maybe they can look at me. Until I reach the top, I'm still going to work my way to get there."

If he gets there, don't expect Micheel to go overboard with material purchases. He didn't splurge on anything with the $1,080,000 he won at the PGA Championship.

"My wife (Stephanie) and I bought a new house, but that was in the works anyway when we found out she was pregnant," Micheel said. "I'm fairly frugal with my money. I felt like with the new baby (Dade Palmer, born Nov. 20), I'd spoil him and not myself."

At this year's Buick Invitational, which is played the week before the Nissan Open in Los Angeles, Micheel gave his opinion on stardom.

"I don't know what it takes to be a star," Micheel said. "I don't need that, really. I think I'm pretty grounded. I don't need five airplanes. I don't need six yachts. I need to make a living. I've got to be able to pay for my trip to Los Angeles, pay for my hotel down there in Santa Monica.

"Some of the business things that have happened have been very difficult," Micheel said at the Players Championship seven weeks later. "You just hope to let your manager deal with that and you just play golf."

The PGA Championship victory has made Micheel's life less stressful, at least when it comes to his status on the tour. Before last season, he'd battled at the end of each season to finish among the top 125 on the money list and retain his playing privileges. Now he's exempt for the next five years.

"Toward the end of last year (after his PGA Championship win), I slacked off a little bit," said Micheel, who finished 32nd on the money list with $1,827,000, which is $1,185,550 more than his second-best season. "I took advantage of some opportunities to go overseas and spend a little bit more time at home that I hadn't been able to do."

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.