Former Georgia Bulldog Keith Mitchell sees Augusta National inside out

Welcome to the good side of the ropes, Keith Mitchell.

And as a University of Georgia graduate with a degree in business and real estate, he appreciates prime property.

Mitchell, one of 10 professionals playing his first Masters Tournament this week, qualified by winning the Honda Classic last month in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Photos: Masters Monday Practice Round

The 27-year-old Chattanooga, Tenn., native and St. Simons Island resident birdied the 18th hole at PGA National to turn back Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler to win his first PGA Tour title. Mitchell became the 15th former Georgia Bulldog to win a PGA Tour event and the 10th under current coach Chris Haack.

By his estimation, Mitchell has played Augusta National a handful of times with the Georgia golf team and attended the Masters as a spectator another four or five times.

But his first turn as a player in the field is an experience he said has no comparison.

"I've been fortunate enough to attend the tournament before, and to play here in college," he said during a news conference on Monday at the Augusta National media center. "I thought I was prepared for that moment, but I wasn't. I've seen that range from the other side of the ropes before and I've always watched people and admired how they hit the shots and hit their wedges and the shapes of the drivers, and then I was the guy that people were watching. I think it's just kind of neat seeing it from the other side."

Mitchell said some of the butterflies went away once he hit some putts and chips. But he feels the tug between heart and head of any first-time player at the Masters: at what point do the stars go out of your eyes and you have to hit shots that count?

"This place is just magical for anyone and everyone," he said. "Just being a part of it is truly just a blessing. Out there on the range this morning ... it was foggy and the whole stands were full. There was probably more people watching me warm up on a Monday here than a lot of tournaments I've played in my life."

Mitchell is in his second year on the PGA Tour and his fourth season as a professional since graduating from Georgia. He played one year on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and two years on the Web.com Tour before reaching the PGA  last year.

He's combined a solid tee-to-green game to make his last four cuts, beginning with the victory at the Honda Classic.

He added a tie for sixth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a second-round 65 at The Players Championships put him in contention until a weekend slide left him tied for 47th.

"I feel like it's been a very progressive path," he said. "I feel like I've gotten better every single year, which has led me to being here. It obviously wasn't as fast as some of the other guys, like a Justin Thomas or Jordan Spieth who left college early because they were incredible; I was not incredible in college and it took me a little bit more time to get out here. Now we're on the same playing field."