Brown is ready for his course work at Augusta

Scurrying across the lightning-fast greens at dawn, Ken Brown has become almost as synonymous with Augusta to us TV viewers as the azaleas.

“They give us about 45 minutes to film those ‘Ken on the Course’ segments, but usually you get an hour,” explains the BBC’s golf expert, who has taken to heart the term ‘roving reporter’

“But even then that’s including getting out onto the course.”

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Brown has grown to love the tight reins imposed on him and the other broadcasters by the members of Augusta National, who pride themselves on maintaining the highest standards at their exclusive club, and their exclusive tournament.

Call it a championship and you get frowned upon, refer to the spectators as anything other than patrons and expect wrists to be slapped, and question their methods and find yourself on the first flight home.

No one gets an easy ride at Augusta, certainly not the golfers, so why should those covering the game’s opening major of the year be treated any differently?

The examination the world’s best golfers are given is as stern as the setting is awe-inspiring.

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“It’s a wonderful course because it’s almost like you’re putting a jigsaw together,” says Brown, who never quite managed to fit all the pieces together as a player, with his best finish being 36th in 1988.

“As a player you’re always in a slightly awkward stance; you’re either uphill or downhill. There’s no margin for error which makes it such an interesting tournament to watch.

“Holes 12 and 13, around Amen Corner, are just so picturesque. The margin for error on both those holes is so tight. It’s so easy on those holes to rack up a six or a seven.

“Ten and 11 are 500-yard par fours. If you play those in level par for the week then you’re not in bad shape.”

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Whether dropping golf balls on greens to indicate the contours and speed of the slick and testing putting surfaces or darting in front of a squadron of lawnmowers at 5am, Brown is the man who brings to life for the viewers back home the challenge facing the golfers.

And the former Ryder Cup combatant has nothing but admiration for the set-up of the course and traditions of the tournament.

“There’s nothing like the Masters. Everything about it is unique,” he says.

“You go to the same place every year, the course is never anything less than absolutely perfect.

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“It’s a wonderful atmosphere. It’s very orderly, but it’s a friendly orderly. Everyone is courteous, there’s no pushing in queues, it’s all very friendly.

“But the course can sometimes be brutal. The greens staff can completely control the speed of the greens as to how many times they cut it. They can also suck air through the ground to make it completely dry. They can control the scoring. They’ve got it down to a fine art.”

Four years ago they tried to make the challenge too hard. Zach Johnson’s winning total in 2007 was one over par, while Phil Mickelson won in a more birdie-friendly 16 under 12 months ago.

“They went too far and there were no cheers,” acknowledges the 54-year-old. “But they’ve got the cheers back now.

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“Is it a better test than when I was playing? I think it’s harder now. It’s as difficult for the modern players with the modern equipment as it was for us in our day, with balls that didn’t fly as far and drivers that didn’t hit them as far. I think it’s comparable to how it was back then.”

Brown will take up position in the BBC commentary box as usual this weekend, despite the terrestrial broadcaster having lost the rights to screen the full week to their satellite rivals at Sky.

It has done nothing to diminish Brown’s excitement at the week ahead, with the backdrop of Augusta almost certain to be witness to yet another dramatic week.

“There are so many fantastic stories out there,” he adds. “Will Tiger Woods get back on his game? Will Rory McIlroy deliver on his promise? Will we see Lee Westwood finally get the major he deserves?

“Anyone of 30 players will all be saying ‘I can win this’.

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“In America you’ve got Nick Watney and Bubba Watson who are playing well and have already won this year; both have very good games, particularly Watney for Augusta. Then there’s six or seven from Great Britain and Ireland, and another 10 from Europe. In my day there was the likes of Sandy Lyle and that was about it.

“But the Europeans are so confident now. When Seve (Ballesteros) first won the Masters, a lot of people, including myself, could say ‘hang on a minute, I’ve beaten him, why can’t I win the Masters?’

“A lot of the Europeans will have that mindset now because of the amount of major winners we have. It all makes for an intriguing week’s golf in the best theatre the sport has to offer.”

Ken Brown is part of the BBC commentary team covering the 2011 Masters. Live coverage Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10, BBC Two + HD.

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