AS INTERVIEWS go, it was eminently forgettable. "Seve, let me ask you ... a lot of people have asked me ... how tall are you?" "Six foot," replied Ballesteros. "Even six foot?" repeated Hord Hardin, the chairman of Augusta National. "Yes," said the young Spaniard, somewhat bemused.

The scene was the Butler Cabin in 1980 when, in his notoriously stilted way, Hard in was attempting to inform the world about the new Masters champion from Europe. Seventeen years on, Ballesteros was back at Augusta National yesterday, working on the practice ground with coach Butch Harmon.

Granted it was 9.30 a.m., but one couldn't help noticing that all eight practice spaces to his left were vacant. Was it a fear that his problems could be catching?

Whatever his current form, Ballesteros retains a special place in Masters history in that he launched the European Era.

When he achieved that breakthrough in 1980, there were only three other Europeans in the Masters line up - Sandy Lyle, who finished 48th, and Mark James and amateur Peter McEvoy, both - of whom missed the cut. This time, the European challenge comprises 13 who, collectively, have won the coveted title on 10 occasions.

They are Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Per Ulrik Johansson, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Jesper Parnevik, Costantino Rocca, Sam Torrance, Lee Westwood, Ian Woosnam and British Amateur champion, Warren Bladon. The two Swedes, Johansson and Parnevik, England's Westwood and the amateur Bladon are appearing for the first time is the American St Andrews: they revere it in the same way as we Europeans think of the Old Course," said Johansson, who earned a place in the Masters for finishing tied eighth in the USPGA Championship last August. Parnevik is here as a reward for his fifth place finish on that occasion.

Since its inauguration in 1934, the Masters has had three distinct periods when certain golfers dominated. The first was from 1949 to 1955 when, with a combined total of five victories, Sam Snead (3) and Ben Hogan (2) effectively made it their own. After his triumph in 1951 at the 10th attempt, Hogan said: "If I never win another tournament, I'll be satisfied."

The most memorable year of the rivalry between Hogan an Snead was 1954 when they swept past the hapless amateur Billy Joe Patton, who carded a wretched seven at the 13th, and finished level on 289, before Snead won the play off with a 70 to Hogan's 71.

Four years later, a cyclone by the name of Arnold Daniel Palmer hit Augusta. Not only did he win the Masters he sparked a new era in golf. Bold, powerful and daring and with the hands and arms of a blacksmith, he slashed murderously at the ball.

Palmer made his Augusta breakthrough in 1958, and he is back this week for a rather special, 43rd, Masters, having recovered from recent prostate cancer.

The last time Palmer made the cut was in 1983, when he was tied 36th, but nobody cares. His very presence seems to reassure Americans that all is well with the golfing world. However, the older generation still resent it that, from 1963, their hero was forced to share his era with the emerging Jack Nicklaus.

That was when the year the Golden Bear shot a dramatic second round of 66. Then, with rain pouring down during latter part of his third round, he kept plugging away, as if unaware of the miserable conditions. By that stage, Palmer had been reduced to the role of bit player.

Eventually, on reaching the 18th green, Nicklaus saw the figure one on the leaderboard eight times. Being colour blind, he asked his caddie which ones were red, indicating sub bar scoring. "Just yours boss," came the reply. When asked after his victory about his golfing goals, Nicklaus produced the stunning, matter of fact reply "My aim is to win more golf tournaments than anybody who ever lived. I want to be the greatest."

When Nicklaus secured his sixth Masters title in 1986, the Palmer/Nicklaus Era came to an end. Between them, they had captured a total of 10 Masters titles. Which guaranteed that Nicklaus will also enjoy a tremendous welcome when he returns this week, for his 39th Augusta challenge.