Before the Masters Iain Carter asked you to send in your questions for the BBC Sport golf team at their barbecue in Augusta.

There were some great ones and thank you very much to all those who contributed. It wasn't possible to put all your questions to the team, but here's some of the best.

Watch the BBC team talk about the Masters

We did have some technical problems so apologies for the delay in posting.


Q: How important are the par-fives at Augusta in terms of strategy? From 335BMW

A: Sam Torrance - "They're the ones you've got to birdie, the ones you've got to make your score on, so they're very important.

"Last year's winner Zach Johnson didn't go for any of them in two and played them in 11 under par. So there's many ways to play them but they're key for a good round."

Q: Is it possible for a five handicapper to break 100 around Augusta? From Expertkerch13

A: Sam Torrance - "If they played on the Monday after the Masters with the same tees and same pins they could break 100 but they would find it very difficult to break 90.

"We all know about the speed of the greens but I don't think putting is the hardest bit. The hardest bit is when you miss a green and you've got to chip it back. If you miss your break by an inch you could end up 50 yards away. The short game is where you're going to lose your shots. It's just horrific for a five handicapper."

Q: "Why did the British and European players enjoy such great success at the Masters in the 1980s and 1990s? From Vancouveral

A: Ken Brown - "It was all based around Seve's performances. He came over and proved he could play well in the USA. With his tremendous will he proved that he could beat the Americans and then won at Augusta. Then Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam followed.

"There are certain key things you need to have to be successful at Augusta. You have to be creative chipping around the greens. You'll miss greens and find awkward spots.

"In America, lots of the time you'd just play that flop shot from around the green but here you need little chip and runs, maybe putts from the fringe or bumps into the bank. Bernhard Langer was a brilliant chipper, so was Seve. So good chipping is key as well as having courage and nerve to hole out well."

Q: Which of the current crop of European players is best suited to Augusta? From Chumbawumba2

A: Ken Brown - "In general, if it is fast running you've got to look at the shorter hitters such as Luke Donald. He finds fairways, has a nice touch and good nerve. If it's playing a bit longer the Roses or Caseys come into it.

"But we have got a crop of players coming through that have all played here three or four times now and are starting to get to know the course."

Q: What's Tiger Woods like off the course? From Towerlinksmatt

A: Jay Townsend - "Well, it's kind of hearsay because he doesn't let anyone in, other than his inner circle, but I hear he's a lot of fun away from the golf course.

"On camera he's very protected and guarded, as he has to be - he's the most recognisable sports figure in the world. But when he gets away he puts on his shorts and a T-shirt and goes to practice or whatever.

"I know in Orlando where he lives he goes out to dinner, and goes to Starbucks every morning. He goes to the local gym - you'd think a guy with that much money would have his own gym, but he doesn't. He's a regular person away from golf. He's an avid sportsman, he likes to dive and fly-fish."

Q: How much more of a mental challenge is Augusta? From Robdevine

A: Peter Alliss - "I've lost count of the number of times I've been here. I first came in 1965. My first invitation was in 1953 - in those days all the Ryder Cup players were invited. But it was a difficult place to get to in those days and believe it or not, most of us didn't come to play. Christy O'Connor didn't play ever, and he was invited eight or 10 times.

"The mystique has grown a lot over the years. People back away from saying what they really think about Augusta because it's a magical place. And it's made more so by the men who built it 80- odd years ago, including the greatest player at that time Bobby Jones, an amateur. The press loved it but it almost went bust.

"It has that aura that creates this magic, like being at the Palladium or Hollywood Bowl. The crowds are enormous, the noise is tremendous and the discipline is amazing. It all creates a sort of fear and you have to overcome that. I only played here twice and it overcame me. I was totally overwhelmed by the whole thing and missed the cut. It's a wonderful place and they are to be congratulated for keeping it the way it is.

"It's a small club which has made itself into one of the greatest sporting events in the world. They've created this wonderful monster. Although they don't have total control of it now - I would say they still have 75% control - if they don't want something to happen, it won't happen. If people get fussy and say we won't come any more, they'll say, 'OK we'll still run the event and we'll invite some friends to play, we'll have prize money and we'll have pay-per-view TV if you're going to take the cameras away'."

Q: What's your favourite Masters finish? Goldwolf

A: Peter Alliss - "There have been so many. Gary Player's first victory, Jack Nicklaus's win at 46 in 1986, Tiger Woods in 1997. In his first nine holes here as a professional he went out in 40 and all the wiseacres, including me, said, 'Oh, there you are, he's out with the big boys now'. Well, he came home in 30 for a round on 70 and went on to win by 12 shots. That was amazing.

"Every Masters has something. When Ray Floyd won he played the par fives in umpteen under par, Maurice Bembridge went round in 64 which was amazing. So lots of things happen. It has that little bit of magic that very few events, no matter which sport, have."