Golf's first 'major' of 2006 - the US Masters - is underway at the Augusta National Golf Course this weekend.

Post Online has put together this A to Z to guide viewers through the Augusta action...

A is for... Augusta National Golf Club. Hosts and organisers of the US Masters tournament, a responsibilty members fit in between running America's biggest corporations. It's their tournament, participation is by invitation only and anyone who doesn't like it can take a hike.

B is for... Bobby Jones. Legendary amateur golfer who purchased an old flower plantation near Augusta and, with the help of Scottish designer Alistair Mackenzie, turned it into arguably the world's most famous course. His spirit is invoked regularly, at length and by everyone for the duration of the tournament.

C is for... Calamity. With its punishing length, plentiful water hazards and freakishly fast greens, disaster can be just round the corner at Augusta. Spare a thought for poor Billy Casper. At the 2005 event, the 1970 champion ran up an unofficial total of 106 - he declined to submit his final scorecard and was therefore disqualified. A case of disaster not so much being round the corner as ringing on your doorbell, introducing itself and taking you for a long, long walk.

D is for... Drivers. Phil Mickelson has two in his bag for this year's tournament - one to make the ball hook and one to make it slice. The need for two clubs may bemuse many casual golfers who have managed to achive this with a single driver for years.

E is for... Euphamisms. Most commentators are so terrified of upsetting the Augusta National hierarchy that they simply refuse to criticise any aspect of the course. So when you see a golfer putting with his back to the hole on the 16th or watch a ball pitch a few feet from the pin and roll one hundred yards back down the fairway at the ninth, expect to hear the men with microphones chunter on about the course's 'unique challenge' and 'testing conditions' rather than point out the ridiculousness of it all.

F is for... Faldo. During his reign as the world's best golfer, the happy-go-lucky Englishman (pictured)won back to back titles in 1989 and 1990 before adding a third win in 1996. See also N for Norman.

G is for... Green Jacket. The uniquely-coloured blazer is bestowed on winners immediately after their triumph to mark their asension to club membership. A green jacket should not be donned frivolously - Nick Faldo got a ticking off for wearing his on Wogan.

H is for... Hoch. Faced with a two footer on the tenth to win the 1989 Masters in a play-off, Scott Hoch dribbled down a putt that never looked like dropping. Nick Faldo clinched the win on the next hole and the unfortunate Hoch was left to reflect on the grim irony that his name rhymed with 'choke'.

I is for...Indigestion. Prior to each tournament, previous winners meet for dinner at the clubhouse. The outgoing champion produces the menu, which is why the class of 1989 sat down to haggis, neeps and tatties, the choice of Scotland's Sandy Lyle.

J is for... Jack. Aged 46, with a dodgy hip, a bad back and trousers that would shame a pimp, Jack Nicklaus (pictured) rolled back the years to claim his sixth and final Masters title in 1986.

K is for... Know-how. Experience of Augusta National's unique bumps and borrows is a distinct advantage and goes some way to explaining the regular appearance of older winners such as Vijay Singh in 2000, Mark O'Meara in 1998, Ben Crenshaw in 1995 and Jack Nicklaus in 1986. By contrast, only three players have one the Masters at their first attempt (see Z for Zoeller).

L is for... Length. Changes to the layout have extended the course to a back-breaking 7,445 yards, much to the chagrin of many competitors. Playing for a prize fund of more than five million dollars must offer the poor dears a small crumb of comfort.

M is for... McCord. In 1994, CBS commentator Gary McCord found himself in big trouble after suggesting the greens at Augusta weren't mown, they were bikini waxed. After careful consideration, the powers that be decided his presence was not required at future tournaments. In a striking blow for press freedom, CBS dropped him like a hot potato and he hasn't returned since.

N is for... Norman. When Greg Norman (pictured) threw away a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo on the last day of the 1996 Masters, it was just one more Augusta heartache for the Australian. He was pipped by a charging Nicklaus in 1986 and - perhaps most cruelly of all - lost out in a play-off in 1987, when Larry Mize chipped in from 40-yards.

O is for... Old timers. Tradition has it that all previous Masters champions are invited back to compete sine die. Unfortunately the merciless advance of time means some of the old champs fall a little short of the competitive standard. Hence the club's decision to write to past winners Gay Brewer, Doug Ford and Billy Casper (see C for Calamity) to remind them participation is not compulsory...

P is for... Putting. Enormous, slick greens are Augusta National's defining characteristic. The unforgiving undulations can make even golf's legends appear foolish - Tiger Woods putted off the 13th green and into a creek on his way to winning last year's tournament.

Q is for... Quality, not quantity. As an invitation only event, the Masters has the smallest field of the four major championships. Despite this, they manage to find places for any previous champion who fancies a game (see O for Old Timers) and lots of amateurs.

R is for... Rae's Creek. Thin ribbon of water running behind the 11th green, in front of the 12th green (pictured) and skirting the entire length of the 13th - the three holes which compose Augusta's 'Amen Corner'. As the competition reaches a climax on Sunday, any competitor who takes one visit to the creek faces an uphill battle to stay in contention. Anyone who visits twice has probably blown it.

S is for... Sandy. After dumping his tee shot into a fairway bunker at 18 during the final round of the 1988 tournament, Sandy Lyle clipped a seven iron to 15 feet and sank the putt to become Britain's first ever Masters champion.

T is for... Tiger. Golf's current world number one announced himself on the professional stage when he won the 1997 event at just 21 years of age. He triumphed by a staggering 12 strokes - a psychological blow from which his rivals have arguably never recovered.

U is for... Unrepeatable. The private views of many professionals on the way the course is set up. Repeating them on the record may reduce their chances of future invitations...

V is for... de Vicenzo. Perhaps the unluckiest near miss of all. Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo thought his birdie-bogey finish in the final round of the 1968 event had earned him a place in a play-off with Bob Goalby. But playing partner Tommy Aaron marked him down for four instead of three at 17 and since de Vicenzo had signed his card, the higher score had to stand. Althought the error was recognized almost immediately, nobody present had apparently been introduced to the concept of common sense and Roberto was left to rue on a catastrophic slip of the pencil: "What a stupid I am."

W is for... Water Hazards. They come into play on five holes on Augusta's back nine. The club refuses to comment on suggestions that they use dye to make the ponds and creeks appear crystal blue...

X is for... Xylophone. Well you try thinking of something better. If you can, email me here and I'll update it.

Y is for... You da man. A popular phrase in the Augusta lexicon, used by certain members of the gallery a microsecond after the ball has departed the clubface on any given shot. Most commonly heard in late afternoon when vocal chords have been properly lubricated. Often followed by a complimentary cry of 'getindahole'.

Z is for... Zoeller. In 1979 Frank Zoeller - universally known as 'Fuzzy' - became only the third man to win the Masters at his first attempt. In 1997 he hit the headlines again, suggesting the club should serve up "fried chicken and collared greens" to mark the first Masters victory by an African-American (see T for Tiger). His greatest misfortune is having a last name that begins with Z, meaning his shameful comments are invariably repeated every time a Masters A to Z is cobbled together.