tournament at a glance

When: Thursday-Sunday

Where: Augusta National Golf Club

Course: 7,435 yards, par 72 (36-36)

Purse: To be determined ($8 million in 2010)

Field: 97 (91 professionals, six amateurs)

Cut: Top 44 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead

Last year: Charl Schwartzel became the first Masters champion to close with four straight birdies, and that's about what it took to separate himself on one of the most mesmerizing final rounds ever at Augusta National. Eight players had at least a share of the lead Sunday. Rory McIlroy started with a four-shot lead and shot 80. Tiger Woods made up a seven-shot deficit in nine holes, but for him, the Masters ended on the back nine. Schwartzel took the outright lead with a birdie on the 17th, and then added one for good measure on the 18th for a 66 and a two-shot win over Adam Scott and Jason Day.

25 years ago: Augusta native Larry Mize chipped in for birdie from 140 feet on the second sudden-death playoff hole, then watched Greg Norman miss his birdie putt.

Make it a trio: Gary Player will join friends and longtime competitors Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus on Thursday morning as honorary starters.

Key statistic: Eight of the top 20 players in the world have won on the PGA Tour this year.

TV: Thursday and Friday, 2- 6:30 p.m., ESPN; Saturday, 2:30-6 p.m., CBS Sports; Sunday, 1-6 p.m., CBS Sports

Interactive: www.masters.com. Seven live video channels, including coverage of Amen Corner (Nos. 11, 12 and 13), Nos. 15 and 16, and two featured groups. The Masters iPad application will display the seven video channels and a live digital simulcast of CBS Sports' weekend coverage.

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jason Day: He showed that he can play well at Augusta in his first Masters try last year, finishing in a tie for second place with Australia countryman Adam Scott.

Luke Donald: Has climbed to the top of the world rankings with the help of a fourth-place finish last year at Augusta and a win last month in the PGA Tour's Transitions Championship.

Rory McIlroy: Fell apart in the final round of the Masters last year, shooting 80, but he proved he can win a major two months later with his triumph at the U.S. Open.

Charl Schwartzel: He did it last year, shooting a 66 in the final round for a two-stroke win.

Tiger Woods: The four-time Masters champion topped a PGA Tour event for the first time since 2009 by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational two Sundays ago. Even when dealing with injuries and personal problems, he's played well at Augusta, finishing fourth each of the past two years.

NEWS SERVICES