TEE-TIME TALES

■ SWEDE Ludvig Aberg has taken off like a rocket in golf. To be fourth going into Sunday in your first ever major championship as a rookie is sensational. 24 year old Aberg looks like he’s going right to the top, having reached the No 1 world ranking in the amateur game. In under a year, he’s already won on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and been part of a successful European Ryder Cup team. Aberg’s short game is being coached by former European Tour winner Peter Hanson, but he doesn’t ‘really have a relationship’ with the other famous Swedish male golfer, Henrik Stenson.

■ IT’S not just for an Irish Budget Day, you know. They have their stealth taxes in Georgia too. It’s probably second nature for the folks here, but I was surprised to learn that an 8.5 percent tax appears on all purchases. That golf top you bought for your Dad at Augusta for $90? It’s actually $97.65.

■ TIGER Woods shot a final round 77 for a total of 304, 16 over par, his highest ever total after four rounds at the Masters. That didn’t stop patrons welcoming him home to huge cheers as he nearly chipped in on the 18th. The 48 year old has no quit in him though. Despite his physical challenges, he intends to play the remaining majors this year. ‘I’m going to do my homework going forward at Pinehurst, Valhalla and Troon, that’s kind of the game plan,’ said Woods, who appeared to be getting tips on the range from his son Charlie earlier in the day.

■ LOCAL children look forward to the Masters arriving in town – even if they are not golf fans. Kids in Augusta get the week of the tournament off school, presumably thanks to the traffic levels in the city. The situation allows many families to take a holiday – and pick up a small fortune for renting their properties out.