John Blum alternated between taking bites of his egg salad sandwich and chewing on the tip of his unlit cigar as he and friend Bruce Earthman picnicked Monday on a grassy spot near the ninth fairway at Augusta National.

The Houston natives took the lengthy trip to attend Monday's practice round at the Masters Tournament before heading home this morning.

It was worth it, the Texans said.

"It is just so beautiful," Blum said of Augusta National. "TV doesn't do it justice."

Like the Texans: Monday was Chris Burton's first trip to the Masters.

Though his parents attend each year, the 15-year-old sophomore at Evans High School had never been; he hopes to come back.

"It's been great," Chris said. "I like how everyone is so much more laid back. It's not like other sports, where everyone acts crazy. Here, everyone is calmer."

NO DOUBLE DIPPING: Those attending past practice rounds and tournament days are used to having their tickets and badges scanned going into Augusta National. This year, they were surprised to have them scanned on the way out, too.

Longtime patrons speculated Monday that the move is designed to cut down on more than one person's using the same ticket at the same time.

Here's how the con has worked in the past: A group of friends go in the gate. Inside, they go to a discreet area (such as a restroom) and pass the tickets to a designated mule, who walks the tickets back out the gate to another group of people who then use the tickets to enter.

After they are together, they walk around and hope security doesn't notice some aren't wearing tickets. If noticed, the ticketless patron pretends the ticket must have been lost or stolen.

Now, tickets not scanned out will send up a red flag on re-entry.