Quigley quick to act

Augusta Digest:Brett Quigley ignored the strict criteria of Augusta National that insists there should be no mobile phones on the course.

It was just as well, for midway through practice on Tuesday he got a call informing him his wife, Amy, had gone into labour. In Florida! Quigley headed for the airport and made it to the hospital in time for the birth of daughter Lillian Sage Augusta Quigley. He returned to Augusta last evening.

Palmer's turn

It was only a matter of time before Arnold Palmer (77) would be asked to hit the first drive of a Masters, just as Sam Snead and Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen did before him. "The time has come," said Palmer, a four-time Masters champion, who was asked three weeks ago to consider taking on the role of honorary starter by Augusta National chairman Billy Payne.

"I didn't want to jump the gun and do it too early in my career," said Palmer, who played a record 50th consecutive Masters - his last - in 2004. Palmer's record will be equalled this week by South Africa's Gary Player.

Injury worries

A recurring back injury has put a severe doubt over whether Fred Couples will get to complete this week. Couples has only played two rounds on the US Tour this season, when he missed the cut in the Phoenix Open - and, although he attended the Champions' dinner on Tuesday evening, the 1992 winner intends to tee up (alongside Geoff Ogilvy and Ernie Els) without the benefit of a practice round and unsure if he can play at all.

South Africa's Tim Clark missed four events in February and March after suffering a neck injury, but did play the last two weeks - in the CA Championship and in Houston. Justin Rose injured discs in his back and hasn't played a tour event since February.

Irish in the Masters

There are two Irish players - Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington - in the starting field. Clarke's best finish in the Masters came on his debut in 1998 when he tied-eighth, while Harrington's tied-fifth finish in 2002 constitutes the best-ever Irish finish.

Darren Clarke

1998:T-8, 285 (76-73-67-69), $89,600

1999:Missed cut (MC), (75-76)

2000:T-40, 295 (72-72-78-74), $17,480

2001:24th, 284 (72-67-72-73), $53,760

2002:T-20, 289 (70-74-73-72), $65,240

2003:T-28, 294 (66-76-78-74), $43,500

2004:MC (70-79)

2005:T-17, 288 (72-76-69-71), $112,000

2006:T-22, 291 (72-70-72-77), $67,200

Padraig Harrington

2000:T-19, 291 (76-69-75-71), $53,820

2001:T-27, 287 (75-69-72-71), $40,000

2002:T-5, 282 (69-70-72-71), $212,800

2003:MC (77-73)

2004:T-13, 288 (74-74-68-72), $125,666

2005:MC (72-77)

2006:T-27, 292 (73-70-75-74), $49,700