Note to Sean O'Hair and Other First-timers: Don't Throw Away Your Masters Invitation!

Day 67 without playing golf

Ninety-nine invitations to compete in the 70th Masters were recently placed in the mail. The field will be finalized on March 27 after completion of the Players Championship.

First-time invitees beware -- the Masters invitation is decidedly low profile. It's not trimmed in green or gold. Rather, it's a plain white envelope with no return address.

"When I got my first invitation in the mail, I almost threw it away because I didn't know what it was," Charles Howell III told the Associated Press. "It doesn't stand out at all. It's a plain, normal white envelope. Doesn't say Augusta National, no return address. And once I opened it, well, now it's in a frame in my office. My first invitation to the Masters."

Along with Sean O'Hair, other players who will make their first trip to Augusta National include Tour Championship winner Bart Bryant and Augusta native Vaughn Taylor.

Two notable former champions who won't compete in the 2006 Masters are Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

The Armchair Golfer