Open champion Zach Johnson has revealed the "extreme" lengths he goes to in order to prepare for his bid to win a second Masters title.
Johnson, who lifted the Claret Jug at St Andrews last year, has parts of his home course set up to mimic the conditions at Augusta National, where he won his first major title in 2007.
"This is the one major where we play at the same site every year, so I feel like I don't need to play (the week before)," Johnson said. "This one, I take the week off, because of what I do at home.
"The superintendent, what he does to the course.... it's not Augusta, but we make it extreme, and that helps when I get here. (He has) very, very tight lies around the greens and fast greens.
"He had our practice putting green rolling over 14 (on the stimpmetre) and he took a lot of the grain out. It's a different type of grass, but speed's speed. He actually did some other things around the greens to try to mimic here, but it was even more extreme.
"I told him, 'John, this is actually a bit much'. But why not make it hard? As the week goes on, it doesn't get any easier."
The winner of the Masters is presented with a green jacket which he is allowed to take anywhere during the following year, but which then must remain in the clubhouse at Augusta National.
And that means Johnson was planning a special piece of photography after also being reunited with the Claret Jug at the weekend.
"I saw the Claret Jug last night for the first time in a long time," the 40-year-old said. "My team have had it (because) I want it to be shared.
"I might try to introduce it to Mr. Green Jacket, if you will. That's probably a rare thing. I don't know history all that well but my guess is that doesn't happen that often.
"My family might try to orchestrate something like that. It's a beautiful trophy. You're talking about two of the biggest, iconic symbols in sports. To have that honour to don the green jacket and drink out of the Claret Jug is pretty special.
"The beauty with the Claret Jug is you can drink out of it, but not everybody is a 40 regular. They can touch the green jacket, but there's some individuals in my family that can't put it on.
"It goes without saying, it's very recognised. Whether it was a charity event or maybe a corporate event with some of my sponsors and good friends, that's when I was able to wear it and let them see it, and the awe factor came in.
"That's what's cool and it always will be, kind of like the Claret Jug. There's no one player above the jacket and the jug. I'm still in awe and pinching myself knowing I've got one of each."
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