Augusta, GA … As Russell Knox walked from the ninth green earlier today he asked myself and colleague Martin Dempster, and as we stood alongside the rope way leading to the 10th tee whether we knew if Sandy Lyle had said what he was doing.

We each responded:  “Sandy said he’s playing 18 holes.”  Knox replied smiling:  “That’s funny as Sandy’s advice to me was to just play nine holes each day.”

However there was a positive side to Knox continuing to play Augusta National in the company of the 1988 Masters champion as it meant the Florida-based Scot could ask more questions of the double Major winning Scot.

Scotland’s two representatives at this year’s Masters – Russell Knox and former Champion Sandy Lyle. (Photo – Getty)

Knox had been desperate to play a first practice round in his first Masters alongside his tartan compatriot and from what Martin and myself observed Knox did not waste any opportunity.

“I asked him questions on every hole and he had lots of answers,” he said.

“He really did teach me a few things I wouldn’t have known if I had played myself.  It was a very useful round.

“Then I thought we were only going to play nine holes but he kept going after we came off the 10th and I said, ‘okay, let’s carry on’.

“He was always looking to use that blade shot if you just miss the green. It’s a shot I’ve never really played before but he showed how easy it was to hit.

“I’m sure I’ll be faced with plenty of situations in the event where I am faced with that shot and hopefully I’ll have the guts to play it because any time I tried it today it worked.”

Watch @Rooknox describe “a dream come true” in his first diary from #themasters.https://t.co/lhQnyCRzt6

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 5, 2016

Knox had first played Augusta in February but then today’s practice round was nothing akin to two months ago when there was just he and his father walking the famed Georgia course.

It did help get familiar with Augusta but nothing could have matched what he learned today walking side-by-side with Lyle, and also with Lyle’s fellow Champions Tour colleague Esteban Tolledo adding to the relaxed nature of the practice round.

“Every time Sandy played a shot he made it look so easy and I am sure it could be very useful,” he said.

“It was so relaxing out there with Sandy. We were having fun and it was a great course to play with Sandy for the first time.

“Playing out here with all these crowds is what it is all about. If you can’t get excited about this, then you’ll never get excited about anything.

“Because I played 18 today, I will probably only play nine holes tomorrow.”