``A lot of us have been excited for months waiting for this tournament,'' Crenshaw said. ``All the shots that we've been playing all year, in the backs of our minds, we're thinking of Augusta. I'm anxious to tee off and get with it and start playing.''

Crenshaw, 44, is bidding to become only the sixth golfer to win the Masters more than twice.

Jack Nicklaus has won six Masters and Arnold Palmer four. The golfers with three victories are Gary Player, Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret.

Nicklaus (1965-1966) and Nick Faldo (1989-1990) are the only golfers to win back-to-back Masters titles.

``I'd absolutely love to repeat and I'm intent on it,'' Crenshaw said.

Whoever wins this week, Crenshaw thinks the hand of fate will carry him home.

He believes it happened to him during an emotional week which started with the death of the only golf teacher he ever had, 90-year-old Harvey Penick, on the Sunday night prior to last year's Masters. Crenshaw was a pallbearer three days later, on the eve of the Masters. At the time, he said he wanted to win to honor Penick.

``Fate has so much to do with it in so many years,'' Crenshaw said.

``I played with him in the third round there and I just could tell that something was going to happen,'' Crenshaw said. ``Fate doesn't favor someone so much, but it gives the player just enough confidence in order for them to get through. It's more like your state of mind and how you accept things.''

Crenshaw saw fate intervene first-hand at the British Open in St. Andrews, Scotland, last year for winner John Daly.

Penick's widow, 89-year-old Helen Penick, is a guest of Crenshaw's this year.

``It's her first visit and it will be very special,'' Crenshaw said. ``I'm very happy that she could be able to come. There's no question that I've tried to be or attempted to be someone that Harvey would have been proud of. He was an incredible human being.''

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.

Going into last year's Masters, Crenshaw had missed the cut in his previous two tournaments and tied for 42nd in the event before that.

``I hope I'm playing better this year,'' Crenshaw said. ``A few things in my game are good, but I haven't been putting them together. I'm very hopeful of putting them together here. ``I just enjoy this challenge so much.

``It's the excitement of trying to put your game together for the week,'' Crenshaw said. ``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 one of the many who believe his playing partner today, Tiger Woods, is destined to win the Masters.

``I think there's some very rare fellows and Tiger is that rarity,'' Crenshaw said. ``And he's doing everything he can to improve his game. He's intense. He's got every gift. And only time will tell, but I'm not alone in thinking it. I've got no doubts about Tiger and where he's going.''

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