Masters Insider: Tom Fazio, the main scoreboard and the value of a first-round lead

WHERE TO GO: Main leaderboard

The main leaderboard, on the golfer’s right side of the No. 1 fairway, is an excellent source of information.

It is recognizable because it contains flags representing the different countries of Masters Tournament participants, and it contains hole-by-hole scoring information for each player in the field.

The unique system used on this board shows eagles in bright red on a yellow background, birdies in red, pars in black, bogeys in light green and double bogeys or worse in green on a yellow background.

The main leaderboard is also a great meeting place for patrons and is easy to find.

UNDER THE OAK: Golf course architect Tom Fazio has overseen plenty of changes to Augusta National Golf Club in the past decade.

In 2002, his design company lengthened nine holes that added 285 yards and featured numerous fairway and bunker changes. Fazio returned in 2006 to push back the tee boxes on six holes, including some that were altered in 2002.

More recently, Fazio oversaw the Tournament Practice Range that converted a patron parking lot into a state-of-the-art facility for 2010.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about coming to Augusta each year?

A: I think this is my 40th year coming here. I’m as excited today as when I first came here. I can’t wait to see that first nine. Who’s going to do what? I think the whole world thinks that way.

Q: What’s your favorite hole at Augusta National?

A: I could take a hat and put 18 numbers in it and pull it out and that’s it. How could you not pick the 10th or 11th? Or the excitement of the first tee, hitting that golf ball and watching it land? It’s just so amazing.

Q: What’s the best spot to watch?

A: A person who has never been here before, they asked me where I would suggest they sit for a great viewing spot. And I wasn’t being facetious, but I said there are no bad locations. I don’t think there’s a bad place anywhere. I do think you have to see it all.

HISTORY LESSON: First-round leaders

Getting off to a good start isn’t a necessity to win the Masters, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

Fourteen players have either led or been tied for the lead who went on to win. Only four golfers have led outright after each round – Craig Wood in 1941, Arnold Palmer in 1960, Jack Nicklaus in 1972 and Raymond Floyd in 1976 – and six more were tied for the lead after the first day.

Nick Faldo (1990) and Tiger Woods (2005) were each seven shots behind after 18 holes and still managed to slip on the green jacket.