AUGUSTA DIGEST

Compiled by PHILIP REID.

Woosnam has turned corner

IAN WOOSNAM, who captained the European Ryder Cup team at The K Club in 2006, was as surprised as anyone that he survived the cut, a feat that escaped such notables as Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Steve Stricker and, of course, Fred Couples, who missed out on extending his streak to 24 successive cuts by a shot.

Although Woosnam faltered over the weekend and found himself in a battle with Sandy Lyle to avoid finishing 45th - and last - of those who made the cut, the Welshman was happy to have managed four rounds after an injury-and illness-ravaged couple of seasons.

Since turning 50 on March 2nd, Woosnam had played only three tournaments: two on the Champions Tour in the States, once on the European Seniors Tour.

Before that, his last competitive appearance came in the European Open at The K Club last July.

Woosnam withdrew from last year's Masters with a back injury, and over the past year has battled chronic fatigue syndrome, which often prevented him walking a course.

"I just keep spasming up all the time, especially in the mornings," said Woosie.

"I have turned the corner a few weeks ago with the golf shots and the swings."

Woosnam's final round 78 left him on 300, one shot better off than his old Ryder Cup colleague Lyle.

This year's Masters champion took home a first-place cheque of $1.35 million, an increase of $45,000 on what Zach Johnson took home in 2007.

The total purse of $7.5 million is an increase of $82,000 from last year. The top-19 finishers in the field were due to collect over $100,000.

Jimenez doesn't bother with the putter

MIGUEL ANGEL Jimenez found the best way of dealing with Augusta's greens in yesterday's final round, holing out with an approach shot on the seventh - for an eagle two - and then finishing on the 18th with a chip-in birdie.

That gave him a 68 for 287, one under, which propelled him up the leaderboard.

"That was the goal, no?" said a pleased-as-punch Jimenez.

"You just try to make the cut and then to jump up as much as possible . . . but it's not easy (to do)."

Jimenez's 68 moved him in to the top-16 and earned him a return ticket to Augusta for next year's Masters.

Flying Cheetah spotted

ONE MYTH was debunked this week, the one that the air space over Augusta National is a restricted zone as spectators were "treated" to the sight of a plane towing an advertisement for a strip club.

Although based some 100 miles away, it seems the all-nude club in Atlanta - the Cheetah Lounge - felt it worthwhile to inform patrons of the Masters of its existence.

"We always see a lot of people here during the Masters, especially the heavy hitters," said the club's general manager, Jack Braglia.

"They'll stay in Atlanta and take a helicopter or limo to Augusta and then come back for the night."

The US Federal Aviation Administration has powers to impose flight restrictions above sporting venues, but do not do so over Augusta National.

Those restrictions mostly apply to air shows.