PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. --- One called it "weird." The other called it "painful." Both are desperate to avoid describing their feelings again.

Charles Howell is playing in 11 of 12 events between the season opener and Masters, seeking a victory to qualify. (Associated Press)

No world-class golfer can stomach missing the Masters Tournament, but for Augusta-bred pros Vaughn Taylor and Charles Howell the disappointment level is exponentially higher.

"It was a little weird," Taylor said after sitting out the 2009 Masters in his Evans home only two years removed from contending for a green jacket on Sunday. "But I wasn't playing that good (last year) so I wasn't too hard on myself."

"Watching it last year from home was painful -- really," said Howell, whose streak of seven consecutive Masters starts ended last April with him viewing it on television from his Orlando home. "Painful in the sense that I like the place so much and to not be there is not fun."

Both Howell and Taylor are off to strong starts in 2010 in their respective quests to get back to where they belong in their hometown major. Each of them has posted top-10 finishes in half of their starts. Both of them were in contention Sunday in Phoenix.

But both of them need a victory in the next month to book their trips home. They're each applying different strategies.

Taylor is picking his spots, playing mostly at the places he's played best to try to pick up the necessary victory. After finishing tied for 10th at the Bob Hope and seventh last week in Phoenix, his best remaining at-bats are in Tampa and Bay Hill where he's contended several times before.

"My goal this year is to play at places I've played well at and stay rested so when I got to those places I'm not tired," Taylor said before the first round Thursday at PGA National. "I'll keep working on my game in the off weeks. If it doesn't happen it doesn't happen, but I feel like I've got a gameplan and I'm going to stick to it."

Howell is trying the all-out approach. In the 12 weeks between the season opener and the Masters, he is playing in 11 of them. His best remaining chance is in Tampa, where he finished runner-up last year.

"The idea was to play really hard and do anything I can do to get in the golf tournament," Howell said. "That way if I'm not in at least I know I did everything I could. I've always played better on the West Coast and had some success in Florida and that is my best chance to get into Augusta."

To say these local favorites are desperate to get into the Masters is not too far off the truth. Especially since both of their games are in a better place than the past two years.

Vaughn Taylor is primarily playing in the events where he's had the most success to try to pick up a needed win. (File/Staff)

Howell twice posted runner-up finishes a year ago that would have qualified his for his favorite major. Taylor lo st in a playoff in October that could have boosted his chances heading into this season.

Neither of them is high enough in the world rankings to earn the last-minute top-50 invitation that goes out after Bay Hill. Howell climbed to 99th after starting the season 142nd. Taylor is up to No. 191 after opening 2010 at 233.

It will take a win for either to get in. They finished a stroke apart last week in Phoenix.

"The things I've been working on by and large I'm doing much better," said Taylor, who shot 1-under-par 69 on Thursday. "I could have been right there at the end last week. I had a good feeling that I would do well. It wasn't just one of those weeks where everything just came together. I played well and hit it solid and another break or two here or there and I could have been right there. It was a good result. I'm excited about my game."

Howell feels the same way.

"I feel like I'm on that path," he said before opening with 69 on Thursday. "I still have some things I'm working on. I still have to drive the ball in a few more fairways. My short game is getting better.

"But with three top-9 finishes early in the year it is nice to say we're doing the right stuff and seeing some results and it's encouragement to keep doing it."

If they come up short of their 11th-hour goals, both Taylor and Howell feel the things they are doing now will lead them home again by 2011.

But that's not what is on their immediate minds. Eliminating the weirdness and pain of spending another April away from Augusta National is first and foremost on their to-do lists.

"I'll go back when I'm in the tournament," Taylor said of the Masters.

"I still love watching it and would not miss the telecast," admitted Howell. "It's just hard to watch on TV."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.