The numbers don't show it, but Chris DiMarco is hitting the ball farther off the tee than ever. Not John Daly long. More like Todd Hamilton long.

Chris DiMarco, who lost to Tiger Woods in a playoff in last year's Masters, has been working with a personal trainer. (Chris Thelen/Staff)

DiMarco, the 2005 Masters Tournament runner-up, started working with personal trainer Joey Diovisalvi in September to increase his strength and flexibility, hoping it would add distance to his drives. He's sure it has.

Through late March, the stats show DiMarco is averaging 281.9 yards per drive, which is exactly what he averaged last year. That ranked 139th on the tour then; this year it ranks 149th.

What's misleading is that the tour's average is based on selected holes in each tournament. If the average driving distance reflected all 18 holes of a round, DiMarco believes his numbers would be "5 to 10 yards" more.

"I'm definitely hitting the ball a lot farther than I was a year ago," he said.

DiMarco's visits to the gym are a direct result of work that took place over the summer at Augusta National Golf Club. Six holes were lengthened, adding 155 yards to the course.

"I felt I knew Augusta was changing their course and getting it longer, and I felt like the courses were not getting any shorter," DiMarco said. "I could not hit the ball an average of 279 or 280 yards and compete out here still. So I needed to get eight to 10 more yards somehow. It makes a big difference."

In the 2005 Masters, DiMarco finished 45th in driving distance (260.9 yards on a wet course) among the 50 players who made the cut. DiMarco, who averaged 277.5 yards in the final round, made up for his lack of length off the tee during the week by finishing tied for first in putting and tied for fifth in greens in regulation.

"I feel like as majors go, it's probably my best chance to win, so if they're going to add 300 or 400 yards (since 2002), I have to do something," DiMarco said.

"Obviously, the greens are so fast, and I love that. I think that has a lot to do with it. Being so close there the last few years and having a chance to win was certainly a part of it."

Even with his added length, DiMarco is praying for the first dry Masters since 2001.

"The conditions have got to be really good for me," he said. "It's got to be firm, and I've got to get some roll, because they have made holes just ridiculous now."

DiMarco and his trainer, Diovisalvi, focus on core work, flexibility and strengthening the positions of the swing.

"We work on a lot of resistance through my swing and stuff," DiMarco said. "It's just making me strong, and stretching is the key. Flexibility - my hips and my shoulders are so much more flexible than they used to be and, in turn, I get a bigger turn."

DiMarco knew Diovisalvi because he is Vijay Singh's trainer. Diovisalvi happened to be with Singh at the European Tour's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates in mid-January, which was DiMarco's first start of the season.

DiMarco worked with Diovisalvi there and went on to win the tournament. It was DiMarco's first victory since the 2002 Phoenix Open.

"It is frustrating, and it's good to have it off my back," DiMarco said of ending his victory drought. "It was a good field over there. I think there were six guys in the top 14 in the world.

"It was nice to get a 'W.' Any 'W' is a good one. It was nice for my confidence."

DiMarco received more publicity for the gritty way he finished second to Woods in the 2005 Masters than most golfers get for a victory. DiMarco shot a final-round 4-under-par 68 to Woods' 71, then lost on the first hole of sudden death.

He also had two other runner-up finishes (both in World Golf Championship events) in 2005, and was a star in the Presidents Cup, where he was 4-0-1 and sank the clinching putt for the United States.

"I had a couple of really good finishes, almost won a couple tournaments," DiMarco said.

"A bounce here, a bounce there, and I walked away with three victories. My main goal this year was to get a 'W' (on the PGA Tour)."

DiMarco's inspired play against Woods last year in the final round of the Masters earned him a new group of fans.

"I get noticed a lot more, wherever I'm at," DiMarco said.

"It's funny, you get the double take, and it's cool, it is. It's flattering.

"I still do a lot of things and go a lot of places, and people come up to me and say, 'I enjoy watching you,' and it's great.

"Obviously, if you're touching people like that and they're saying good things about you, then it's great. It's nice to be noticed for your talents."

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