I worked hard last week trying to get it together and play well. I decided to stay in town instead of playing in the BellSouth Classic near Atlanta. I played there in 2004, but I didn't want to play this year because I wanted to go to Augusta National the week before and see it as close to tournament time as possible.

Augusta resident Vaughn Taylor and caddie Adam Hayes put the putting green to use Sunday. (Andrew Davis Tucker/Staff)

Since the course opened in mid-October, I've played it more than 10 times. The first time I played was in December, a week or two before Christmas. It was soft and slow and played long.

I hope those practice rounds are going to help a lot. It's kind of why I've been going out there. I just want to be comfortable - and no surprises.

On Sunday, I hit balls for a little while, then played the back nine and the Par-3 Course. The course is playing good. It's warm, and it is playing shorter than it has.

The ball's still not rolling in the fairway a lot, but I think that will change. And the greens are getting quicker every day.

I had missed three cuts in a row before I finished tied for eighth last week at The Players Championship. I'd been playing bad the past month or so. It was good to get it going again and get some good feelings. I played really well. I hit so many good shots. It was fun. I had a good time. It never hurts to play with Phil Mickelson in the final round, either. It was good experience.

I'm swinging so much better. I went to the range after the first round of the Players and decided to stay there until I figured it out. I think I hit seven or eight bags of balls.

I started thinking about the past couple of years and the things I've been working on, and I kind of stumbled across some things. It was mainly on my takeaway, my trigger to start the swing. I was just out of whack.

I'm a little more excited now that I'm swinging better and hitting it better.

I know there is going to be a lot of activity this week because it's my first Masters. I'm going to just take it in stride. I don't know what it's going to be like.

About the series

EDITOR'S NOTE: Masters Tournament rookie Vaughn Taylor, who will be the first Augusta resident to compete at the tournament in 50 years, is compiling a diary of his experiences in the 70th Masters. The 30-year-old, who has lived in Augusta since he was 6 months old, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour. Taylor qualified for the Masters by finishing in the top 40 on the 2005 PGA Tour money list. He is sharing his thoughts with Staff Writer David Westin.

Saturday: Making it back is the next challenge
Friday: Course, nerves win battle
Thursday: Reality of tournament is beginning to sink in
Wednesday: Nerves have settled since a 'strange' opening drive
Tuesday: Practice with DiMarco offers lesson on course
Monday: With swing back, excitement builds over Masters debut