Troy Matteson, a former three-time All-American at Georgia Tech, charged at the end of his rookie season on the PGA Tour to qualify for his first Masters Tournament based on his money list ranking. Matteson was a winner in October at the Las Vegas event . The 27-year-old Alpharetta, Ga., resident has agreed to share his daily thoughts with The Augusta Chronicle during the Masters.

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I've been pretty busy at home working on my game. The best place for me to work is the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta. I really wanted to try to get over to Augusta National and play once. I've played the course before in February with the Georgia Tech team, so I know the condition of the course can be 180 degrees from what it will be in the Masters Tournament. So, I was a little apprehensive to go over there and play in conditions that weren't what they would be in the tournament.

They do everything they can at the Golf Club of Georgia to get it in the right condition. First of all, they prepared for the Georgia Cup before the Masters, and then they've got the U.S. Collegiate Tournament. So, it's a really good time for me to be home and practicing. When you're in Augusta, you're more enamored by the place, the golf course and the history. So, I felt I could probably get a lot more done at home being around friends and having a good time. That's been really important for me to stay relaxed and be in a familiar setting for a week.

I've been working really hard with the things I want to accomplish in my swing with my pro, Jeff Paton, the director of golf at the Golf Club of Georgia. We've gone around and chipped off some of the fringes to get a really tight lie, which is probably a bit excessive. Hopefully I won't have to go around Augusta and chip a whole lot, but when you do, you have to hit some tricky little shots. The fringes at home were good and hard. Randy Waldron, the director of golf course maintenance and general manager, has cut a lot of places down and made them so you have a very similar condition as Augusta.

Our Lakeside Course is overseeded, so it should be pretty close to that sort of condition that the Masters is in, and our greens are really fast. So that's helped me prepare putting and getting a feel for those types of greens. I really want to practice hard Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to just see the conditions at Augusta and if I can match some of the shots.

We're bringing the motor home to Augusta, and they've got a spot for us just off property. It's kind of weird, the first time going to the Masters and being able to stay that close. I was getting worried and asked whether people even bring motor homes. But I found out a couple of other guys do, too, like Davis Love III and Rory Sabbatini. So that makes me feel a little better.

I've never been to the Masters, and I'm sure it's not the same as most tour events where you can drive in the gate and register. I have to call over there and see if I can get a courtesy car or have somebody come over and pick me up. My big thing is, just because it's my first time I want to mind my P's and Q's.

I'm so new, I don't even know if we have to make tee times or not for practice rounds. I'm just hoping I can show up and if the tee's open, just wander over and play. I want to get out for a quick 18 later in the day and try to get some practice in before then.

For players, this is our special place. If you ask players what's their favorite place to go, nine out of 10 will probably tell you Augusta.