You ain't seen nothing yet. That is the chilling warning to all Masters rookies at Augusta National.

Paul Casey, one of five Europeans making their debuts at the Masters, was practising with twice winner Jose Maria Olazabal and they naturally talked about how hard and fast the course is playing this year.

Olazabal then told him a tale. When he won his second title in 1999 the greens were so firm that in the final round he could see daylight under the shoes of playing partner Greg Norman because the spikes were not going in the ground.

Putting surfaces like glass was not possible last year because of heavy rain - the first day was a complete wash-out - but with the sun having shone all this week the newcomers are facing probably the stiffest examination of their golfing careers.

Ian Poulter, Brian Davis, 37-year-old Phillip Price and Swede Fredrik Jacobson are the other European first-timers and while it is the thrill of a lifetime just to earn the chance to play on such hallowed turf now they have to try to perform on it.

"Some of the pin placings you expect to be ridiculous," commented Casey. As well as learning all he can from his practice partners the 26-year-old from Surrey has a caddie who has worked at three previous Masters.

"He has shown me some of the extreme ones, but I have putted at least two balls off greens so far."

That is nothing to be ashamed of. Tiger Woods tells the story of the very first hole in his very first Masters in 1995.

"The green looked fast and I just missed on the topside. The ball kept rolling and rolling and eventually the crowd were parting.

"I keep telling every amateur that story. No matter how bad it seems, how nervous you are more than likely you will never have that experience of putting off the green on your first putt in competition.

"I pitched it back and made the putt (for bogey). So that's a two-putt technically, I guess."

Casey finished 10th in his first Players Championship in Florida two weeks ago and draws huge encouragement from that.

He came for his first look at Augusta before that and could hardly be looking forward to the challenge more. His length is bound to be an advantage.

Davis and Poulter have an additional obstacle to overcome now - the disappointment of Arsenal going out to Chelsea in the Champions League.

Poulter's passion for the Gunners even extended last year to him having his hair dyed red, but it is much less way-out for his Masters bow. He hopes his golf will be the colourful thing instead.

Price has been a professional 15 years and for several of those was considered little more than journeyman.

But his climb into the world's top 50 and, more than anything, his victory over Phil Mickelson at the last Ryder Cup have raised his profile and he now has a chance to shine again on golf's grandest stage.