The Augusta National Golf Club that Carl Pettersson played as a Masters Tournament rookie in 2006 wasn't the same course he saw as a spectator in the late 1990s.

Carl Pettersson putts at the Buick Invitational. He picked up his second PGA Tour win at the Memorial Tournament last year. (Chris Thelen/Staff)

Before making his debut as a player in the Masters, the last time Pettersson had seen the course was when he played for North Carolina State.

His Wolfpack team played in Augusta State University's tournament, which ended the day before Masters practice rounds started. The team stayed over and took in the Monday practice round (the team never played the course).

In those days, Augusta National measured just more than 6,900 yards. Now it's a robust 7,445 yards. Also, rough has been added and trees have been planted in strategic spots to make the course even more challenging.

"The golf course is so much different than it was watching it in the 1990s," Pettersson said. "It played a lot longer than I thought it would. Obviously, that's (because of) the recent changes."

Pettersson fared OK for a Masters rookie. He shot 72-74-73-73-292 and tied for 27th place.

"It was fun," he said. "I played pretty good. It was just an awesome experience to finally play the Masters. As a child, you grew up watching that tournament. It was fun to go there and play decently."

Pettersson, 29, has had ample opportunity to watch the Masters. He was born in Sweden but moved to North Carolina at age 15 and grew up there.

Because he's taken on many Southern traits - he even dips a little smokeless tobacco - he's picked up an interesting nickname on the tour. Fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik dubbed him a "Swedish redneck" in 2003.

In the 2004 Phoenix tournament, Pettersson was paired with Parnevik and John Daly.

"He (Parnevik) said, 'I'm out with two rednecks today.'" Pettersson recalled.

Carl Pettersson putts on the seventh green at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. (Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff)

"I don't mind it," he said of the nickname. "I did grow up in the South. People can't believe I'm Swedish, but it's not that big of a deal."

But playing at Augusta National is a big deal to Pettersson, who qualified for the 2006 Masters by finishing in the top 40 on the 2005 money list (he was 31st). He moved up to 18th in 2006, earning another start at Augusta this year.

"It was an awesome experience, and I'm looking forward to going back this year," he said. "The course is every bit as beautiful in real life as it is on TV. It's a beautiful golf course, but it's a great golf course. Looks are not everything."

Pettersson returns to Augusta as a two-time PGA Tour winner. The 2005 Chrysler Championship winner added a victory at the 2006 Memorial Tournament to his rsum.

"It's a validation," he said. "Any win is good, but it's nice to get a second one in there to prove the first one wasn't a fluke. That part is nice."

So is the fact that Pettersson has a better idea of how to play Augusta National.

"You never know, you still have to show up and play well, but the more you play it, the more you know what to expect," he said.

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.