One of the delights of covering the Masters for Radio 5 Live is that we can commentate from the course, rather than having to do all of our broadcasting from the media centre as tends to be the case at the other American majors.

For the first time this year we have three positions on the course, with a broadcast facility overlooking the 17th green having been added to our established vantage points at Amen Corner and next to the 15th green.

It is impossible to find a bad place on the Augusta National, but the favourite spot has to be the one that provides views of the 11th green, the glorious short 12th and then the tee shots on the par-5 13th.

It is the 50th anniversary of this famous stretch being given the moniker Amen Corner. This picturesque run of holes acquired legendary status as it proved pivotal in Arnold Palmer’s first Masters title in 1958.

Palmer’s tee shot at the 12th flew long and plugged in a soggy bank. His request for relief was denied and he made double bogey. But Arnie declared that he wasn’t happy with the decision and played a second ball so he could refer the issue to the rules committee.

With the second ball he parred and continued his round. At the next he went for the green in two and holed from 18 feet for eagle. By the time he was playing the 15th word came that the committee had ruled in his favour and the par at the 12th would count.

The famous writer Herbert Warren Wind came up with the name Amen Corner to mark the stretch of holes where this critical action took place. He took it from a jazz B side “Shoutin’ in the Amen Corner”.

One thing is for sure, we won’t be shouting in Amen Corner – we’re too close to the players!

That proved the first of four Masters wins for Palmer – who played 50 tournaments at Augusta. For the second time he fulfilled the role of ceremonial starter on the opening morning here and showed he’s still got what it takes.

A sweetly struck drive split the fairway, and given the early morning mist he could also boast that he hit the ball out of sight.

You see very few children at Augusta but that is changing this year as a new rule has been introduced.

Chairman Billy Payne is proving a progressive figurehead to a club that has always been regarded as ultra-conservative. The latest initiative he has introduced is to allow each patron to bring one child aged between 8 and 16 to the tournament without charge.

This follows a lead set by the Open Championship which allows free entry to under 16s if they hold a “Juvenile Admission Badge” having applied in writing to the R and A ticket office. They can also get in free if accompanied by, as they term it, a “responsible” adult.

Now to the latest from the endearing American Boo Weekley’s daily column in the Augusta Chronicle. Weekley played the par three contest in the group that was followed by Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

“It’s a moment I won’t forget,” Weekley says. “Being able to shake Jack’s and Gary Player’s and Arnold’s hands all at the same time. They are human beings just like the rest of us.

“They don’t want to be treated no different. We just said, ‘hey’ and that was it. They’re real good people.”

Finally for now in the 5 Live house the table tennis tournament is hotting up. All I’ll say is that Andrew Cotter and Alistair Bruce-Ball are no longer setting the pace.