Dave McAtee has experienced The Masters before as a fan. This year, though, the head professional at Helfrich Hills Golf Course and rules chairman for the Evansville Courier & Press Men's City Golf Tournament is taking his Masters experience to a whole new level. He's an official participant as a rules official.

McAtee has helped with pretournament preparations and even got to attend a reception Wednesday evening in the Augusta National clubhouse accompanied by his wife, Jennifer.

"The hair stands up on the back of my neck when I drive down Magnolia Lane," said McAtee from Augusta. "Whoever thought a boy from the West Side of Evansville would ever get the call to come here. It's just unbelievable to me."

The invitation actually came by email in mid December from David Price, the senior national rules chairman for the PGA of America.

"The Masters invites seven guys from the PGA of America every year," said McAtee. "That's normally the four senior committee members and three others, which included me this year. I'm honored and humbled to be here."

McAtee will have a different hole assignment for each day of the tournament after his official duties began Tuesday.

"They entrusted us to mark the hazards on the golf course," said McAtee. "The tournament is the only time all year they mark the hazards with red and yellow paint because the membership doesn't need them.

"It gives you a perspective of the golf course you can't get behind the ropes (for fans). We got to mark every hole with water on it including Rae's Creek at Nos. 12 and 13. At No. 12 (the short, lake-shot par-3) we even got to go green side where fans can't go.

"I'm a golf history nut, so when you're here you can't help but think you're walking in the footsteps of Hogan, Sneed, Palmer and Nicklaus. It's hallowed ground, unlike any place I've ever been."

Today McAtee will be at hole No. 5, a 455-yard par-4; Friday at No. 10, a 495-yard par-4; Saturday at Nos. 8 (570-yard par-5) and 9 (460-yard par-4) and Sunday at the 170-yard par-3 16th.

"I'm really excited about Sunday," said McAtee. "That can be such a pivotal hole. The truth is, though, you hope you're never needed because you're not part of the event. You're only there to assist the player even if it is from a great vantage point."

Wednesday McAtee got to walk the entire course inside the ropes.

"It gives you a better sense of the course and tournament," he said. "I'm proud to be here representing Helfrich and City golf. It makes me appreciate the people who helped me along this path like Bob Walther and the great championship we have in the City Tournament."