ELEVEN years on from the day that changed his life, Ian Woosnam has restaged his Masters shoot-out with Tom Watson this week.

And Augusta new boy Paul McGinley was only too happy to watch and listen. Woosnam and Watson paired up again for a practice round on the course where they went head-to-head in the final round in 1991.

It was the perfect opportunity for McGinley to continue his quest to absorb as much information as he can before his debut tomorrow.

"They kept talking about it the whole way round," said the Dubliner. "Certainly Woosie did, any way!"

Woosnam, Watson and Jose Maria Olazabal were all 11 under par on the last tee, but after Olazabal bogeyed it Woosnam smashed a drive over the fairway bunker and parred the hole to win, whereas twice champion Watson double-bogeyed it to drop to third. That drive is one shot Woosnam will not be reproducing this year or ever again in all probability. The 18th has been lengthened by 60 yards and the bunker is now over 300 yards away.

McGinley has further practice rounds with two more Masters champions, Bernhard Langer and Mark O'Meara, for today and tomorrow, but partnering Watson was particularly memorable.

"He's always been my favourite player. The way he plays the game, his smartness, his intelligence, the way he speaks, the way he carries himself, the way he addresses controversies straight on.

"I played a practice round with Tom at the US PGA last year and that was beneficial. This was even more so and Woosie was great too."