Boo Weekley, 34, has become one of the PGA Tour's most popular and refreshing players with his simple country charm and style, and a philosophy that doesn't fit the stereotype of professional golfers. After winning the Verizon Heritage at Hilton Head, S.C., the week after the 2007 Masters Tournament, he was the first player to receive an automatic invitation to Augusta National under the reinstated qualification for tour winners. The native of East Milton, Fla., is sharing his thoughts of his Masters debut with The Augusta Chronicle in a daily diary.

(Weekley shot 5-over 77 on Sunday and finished tied for 20th at 3-over-par.)

It was a long day. I wasn't hitting it all that well today. I struggled. I struggled with the putter on the greens, too. That made it even longer.

In the wind, you're having to hit it low, hit it high. At a 170-yard hole, I hit a 9-iron in. That's crazy golf when you've got that much wind blowing, fighting all the other stuff flying in the air.

I ain't hitting it on all cylinders. That makes it worse. You miss-hit a shot into the wind, the wind takes full effect of it.

I put the bad shots behind me. It's just golf. As long as I get done without breaking something or hurting somebody, that's my goal.

The week was great. As the week went on, the more comfortable I felt with the crowd. It was pretty wild. You're standing there on one hole, and you've got another hole right beside you. You've got to back away because they're hollering. I don't think there are too many other golf courses that we play that are like that. You've got to think a lot about what's going on around you, instead of just standing up there and trying to get in your own zone.

My memories are of all the people. It's unreal. It's a pretty golf course. The greens were faster than I think they were all week. I think it had to do with the wind drying them out a little bit. Putting into the wind, it was slower. It made a big effect.

Overall, it's amazing to be here. Looking at it, going back 12 years from now, with me working at the (chemical) plant and saying, 'Hey, I'm going to play in the Masters.'

I'll be ready (for the Verizon Heritage this week). This is my first tournament back out. I had two weeks to decompress. I'm ready to play five tournaments in a row.

(Sunday playing partner) Zach Johnson and I are friends. We both know where we came from. He played in the mini-tours just like I played in the mini-tours. We know how hard it is to get here. On the way up to the 18th green, I was laughing with him about how this was his first major, and he was with me when I won for the first time (in 2007 at the Heritage).

On the 18-foot birdie at No. 18, we actually read one right. That's been the problem, just reading them.

If I could do anything different, I'd focus a little harder on the greens. I'd like to go back and redo the greens again at this pace. I don't know if they keep them at this pace year-round. I don't see how they would. The members wouldn't enjoy it.