A round-up of the weeks stories from Augusta

Lyle shows old stubborn streak

SANDY LYLE is a stubborn type, as he showed with a finishing birdie - just like the old days, the 1988 Masters champion yesterday rolling in a birdie putt on the 18th of his second round to ensure his survival into the weekend - and, then, refusing to be outflanked by reports indicating Jose Maria Olazabal is set to get the European captaincy for the 2010 Ryder Cup match in Wales.

"There has been a little nudge towards me, yes, but that's as far as I know. Nothing's definite," responded Lyle - a lieutenant to Ian Woosnam at The K Club - when asked to respond to murmurings that Olazabal had already been offered the position. "I am in the dark as much as you are. I had a nudge months and months and months ago. I'm not saying where it was and who it was from, and I think there are two or three players right in the mix. Woosie, Olazabal . . . I thought Woosie would be the prime guy for Wales and maybe I might have got Ireland. I don't know."

Counterfeit ticket tout might as well wear a badge

TICKETS FOR the Masters are like gold dust, and expensive. Still, driving along Washington Road the sight of ticket touts with their "NEED BADGES" signs is common.

But the old adage of "buyers beware" has come to haunt some spectators who couldn't believe their luck when purchasing tickets from a woman scalper. Police bulletins were aired on the local WAGT radio station yesterday asking for assistance in locating "a blond woman on the heavy side" who had sold counterfeit tickets to fans. In this land of those who love their Krispy Kremes, rather large people are plentiful. However, the police did have extra clues: the woman had a broken leg, sported a blue plaster cast and was operating her business out of a grey car.

Maiden Masters exit for Marksaeng

ONE WONDERS what the bold Monty would think of it all . . . the eight-time European Tour money winner was a bit miffed not to have received an invitation to the Masters, although three Asian players - Liang Wen-Chong (China), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) and Jeev Milkha Singh (India) - did get special invites.

Unfortunately for Marksaeng, his maiden Masters appearance proved to be less than notable. The veteran failed to break 40 for any nine holes. He shot 40-42 for an 82 on Thursday and yesterday took 42 shots for the front nine before withdrawing from the tournament. He was 16-over.

Player dishes up some advice

A fitness fanatic, Gary Player - who is competing in a record 51st Masters - has a piece of dietary advice for young and old alike. "To me, the poisons of the world are the bacons, the ice cream, the white bread, dairy products . . . I try to stay away from that. Fat makes you fat," said the 72-year-old.

Ball comes back to haunt Garcia

TRY AS he might to forget the demons of Carnoustie, Sergio Garcia just can't escape them. If he thought he was safe at Augusta National, the Spaniard discovered otherwise when approached with a ball in hand by a local doctor. Dale Gordiner thought it would be a nice idea if he got Garcia to sign a golf ball which once belonged to the golfer but which he had acquired while showing the deftness of a baseball catcher. The ball was the one thrown into the crowd at Carnoustie last year, after the Spaniard lost a play-off to Pádraig Harrington in the British Open. When the good doctor approached the player to sign the ball, Garcia politely replied he didn't sign golf balls. Then, Gordiner, who had caught the ball when it was thrown away, explained the story behind the ball and how it got there.

Needless to say, it was a reunion Garcia wasn't interested in. "I do not want to sign THAT ball," he insisted.