Where else in the world do so many top stars of any game come together to compete in the same place, the same time of year, year after year? It has the smallest field (about 90 players) of any major and being able to attend it is on every golfer's bucket list ranked right up there with the Old Course at St. Andrews?

Maybe the Masters is like diamonds, a not-so-rare gem made highly valuable because its production has been so tightly, so perfectly controlled.

Tickets to actually walk the walk with Tiger, Mickelson, Couples and the other golfing icons on Augusta National Golf Club's emerald carpeted, azalea-lined fairways, are dearer than a sub-par round for 20-something handicappers. Though tickets don't cost much, even applications for the Wednesday practice rounds are received almost a year in advance and are awarded by lottery system while the actual tournament tickets are sold only to those on a patrons list, now closed.

Augusta National runs a tight ship, media are carefully controlled – the commercial time is strictly limited to four minutes per hour - and unless you're one of the big-time media, mere secondary tier golf writers are restricted to Wednesday only.

The folks who run the Masters exude an entitlement, an arrogance that implies, "You follow our rules or you aren't welcome."

In 2003 Martha Burk tried and failed to pressure the Club into accepting female members. When she was turned down, many ladies boycotted the advertisers. Didn't matter a whit. As Billy Payne, chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club said quietly in his opening press conference when asked about this issue, this matter is "subject to the private deliberations of members."

So I can't belong but I don't feel one way or the other about this. It's a private club, after all.

Men too unless they play with a member, won't get to play it either. So Augusta National once again is set apart from other courses the pros play, places like the TPC Scottsdale where we can tee it up.

Traditions add to the sense of privilege. Winners get a green jacket, but have to give it back after a year. (They can however wear it when they visit the club).

A Champions dinner, inaugurated by Ben Hogan and held on the Tuesday is only open to past champions and certain board members of the Augusta National Golf Club. Crystal vases are given to daily winners and more crystal is awarded for various achievements such as holes-in-ones and double eagles.

Along with winning, Masters champs get to play in the other three majors and membership on the PGA Tour for five years and can play in the Masters forever.

It all starts on Wednesday with the par 3 Contest where icons like Palmer, Nicklaus and Player play to the gallery with awesome shots and lots of fun. You get a rare peek at Mickelson's daughters, Nicklaus' grandchildren and other player's kids walking alongside their dads and grandfathers in their oversized caddy outfits, the legs and sleeves rolled up. Makes our revered players human; makes us smile.

This year, the buzz was all about Tiger, but after Tiger's first press conference, after his warm up round with his buddy, Fred Couples, after his Thursday tee-off when he must have breathed a huge sigh of relief after the warm reception he got from the crowd, from here the Masters settled into its own rhythm.

Through the Tiger factor continued to be front and center, driven of course by the media, there were other stories, other players we wanted to hear about.

About Masseo Manassero, the appealing British Amateur Champion from Verona, Italy, the youngest amateur at 16 to make the cut. About Tom Watson at 60 and Fred Couples, crowd favorite, still in the hunt.

About Lee Westwood, a solid player, with a solid shot at the green jacket and his first major if he could hold through Sunday and about Phil Mickelson whose game continues to surprise with dramatic and sometimes scary shots..

Augusta too is part of the story, this city's Southern hospitality revealed in the historic Partridge Inn, one of the favored places to stay in a town where local motels normally getting $69 a night may ramp up their rates close to $300 during Masters week because they can.

That's something the Augusta Club officials can't regulate, but probably would if they could.

The course is immaculate, hardly a blade out of order, the white crushed marble sand glistens, the ponds are clear and clean, and the azaleas are in bloom everywhere.

Where else do Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus serve as honorable starters or at what other tournament can you get a sandwich and a soda for about $4?

Tiger or no Tiger, you just wanna be here.

Click here to leave a comment for Katharine Dyson.