By David Westin
Staff Writer
Augusta Chronicle

Not many people appreciate Masters tradition the way Ben Crenshaw does.

That's why the 1995 Masters champion knew what was waiting for him when he registered at the Masters Tournament Headquarters on Sunday afternoon.

It was players' badge No. 1, which goes to the defending champion. The rest of the field's badges are numbered in the order they register.

``I remembered that,'' said Crenshaw who wore the same badge number in 1985 when he was also the defending champion.

``I was very special to register and get that badge,'' Crenshaw said as he stood outside the Augusta National clubhouse and showed an onlooker the badge.

Crenshaw was one of 30 golfers to sign in on Sunday, the first official day of registration. The field closed at 93, the largest number since 1966 when 103 teed it up. There were 87 in the field in 1995.

The last spot went to Sunday's BellSouth Classic winner Paul Stankowski, who beat Brandel Chamblee on the first hole of sudden death.

Stankowski is the fourth golfer to qualify for the Masters as a PGA Tour winner in the last five weeks. Chamblee was not in the Masters either.

The addition of Stankowski brings the number of first-time Masters participants this year to 19, or more than 20 percent of the field. The record for rookie participants in a Masters is 23 in 1935, the second year of the tournament.

In the modern era, which started when the 36-hole cut was instituted in 1957, the record for first-timers in a Masters is 22, set in 1962 and matched in 1966.

After three days of practice rounds, beginning today, some players may not be healthy enough to play in the tournament. One could be two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer. The German bruised his right shoulder playing volleyball on March 23, forcing him to withdraw from The Players Championship and the BellSouth Classic.

``My shoulder is not great,'' Langer said Sunday. ``I'm trying to play and it hurts on every shot. I've been getting treatment but I don't know if treatment will make a big difference or not. It's something that needs to heal with time.''

Other golfers who have injury problems are D.A. Weibring (Bell's palsy) and former Masters champions Fuzzy Zoeller (injured finger), Nick Faldo (shoulder spasms), Ian Woosnam (back), Seve Ballesteros (back) and Gary Player (shoulder).

Meanwhile, while Crenshaw remembered what badge number he would receive on Sunday, he forgot to bring any golf balls with him. After a quick trip into the Augusta National pro shop, he emerged with two sleeves of balls and headed for the course he loves so much.

``I have a lot of memories, a lot of fortunate memories,'' Crenshaw said. ``I get excited anytime I get near the place. It's the excitement of trying to put your game together for the week. You see what kind of feel you have and see what you need to work on. You assess the weather and go from there.''

Crenshaw is only 79th on the PGA Tour money list this season, but when it comes to the Masters, his game can turn around suddenly, as was the case in 1995.

``I'd absolutely love to repeat and I'm intent on it,'' Crenshaw said. ``A lot of us have been excited for months waiting for this tournament.''