TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE: Hundreds of fans were gathered around the putting green Saturday morning to watch Tiger Woods sink countless 3-footers and joke quietly with caddie Steve Williams and swing coach Hank Haney .

Richard Kelley , who works for a medical device company in Dallas, said the putting green gives patrons access they can't find elsewhere on the course.

"You get to see players in a more intimate setting," he said. "It's a contained environment."

Kelley said it gives avid golfers a chance to study the practice habits of the pros, such as a three-tee drill Woods was working on.

The third round was Kelley's first experience as a Masters Tournament patron.

"You have an expectation and it just blows you away," he said. "The weather didn't hurt anything."

NO REGRETS: One of the sacrifices Wayde Fausett made to attend his second Masters was spending Easter weekend away from his family.

"But it's so worth it," said Fausett, who was smoking a cigar near the golf shop.

The engineering manager from Chicago said he decided to attend because he wasn't sure he would have another chance. He also attended the tournament in 2006.

Fausett said he is a Mike Weir fan and had worked and played golf with Weir's father. Fausett and a work colleague set up chairs at Amen Corner and made it a goal to walk both nines at least once.

A CUT ABOVE: Dave Larrivee never has trouble finding a spot to take in the action. The 6-foot-8 New Hampshire resident, who was with his wife and three children, said he camps out between a tee and green and never has a problem seeing both.

"It's great being tall," he said. "Tough buying pants, but great watching a golf tournament."

MARKING THEIR SPOT: By 11 a.m., Jim Lindsey and seven friends from Fayetteville, Ark., had their seats behind the No. 18 green.

Despite the early start, the group was still three rows behind the actual roped-off seating area. For a Saturday at the Masters, though, Lindsey said he liked his spot.

Lindsey said the group was attending as guests of former University of Arkansas football coach Frank Broyles , a member of Augusta National Golf Club.