It's been nearly a year since the April 1995 bombing of a federal building in Tway's hometown of Oklahoma City, Okla. It had a profound effect on him and it helped his concentration on the golf course last year.

He currently lives in Edmond, Okla., a suburb 20 minutes north of Oklahoma City.

``The bombing happened last year during Greensboro and it hit home with everybody,'' said Tway, in reference to last year's Greater Greensboro (N.C.) Open. ``It was a difficult situation for me but it was great to see we had help coming in from every state in the country and to see all those people coming together.''

While his hometown of Oklahoma City is working its way back since the 1995 bombing, Tway has worked his way back to the Masters.

After a four-year absence, Tway was back in top form. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native shot a 5-under-par 67 Thursday in the first round of the 60th Masters Tournament. That was good enough for a third-place tie with Scott Hoch, four shots behind Greg Norman (63).

The last time Tway played in the Masters he didn't make the cut. That was in 1991 and Tway hasn't played the Augusta National Golf Club since that year.

Tway, who once had a symbolic ``can't miss'' label attached to him when he joined the PGA Tour, said he's been looking forward to playing in the Masters ever since he won the MCI Classic in Hilton Head, S.C., last year. The win at Hilton Head was his first tour victory since the 1990 Las Vegas Invitational.

``You know, winning Hilton Head last year and the week after it, I knew for sure I was coming back.'' Tway said. ``That was fantastic. So it's just a tournament you don't want to miss.''

Augusta National is Tway's favorite golf course - and the Masters his favorite tournament - but he hadn't played well enough to qualify from 1992-95. He credits better driving for his improved play.

``In the pursuit of getting better, I tried to change a few things and got worse,'' Tway said. ``And once you start playing poorly, you have no confidence, and you're kind of searching, and you're kind of lost. It wasn't until I went back to doing what was natural with me in my golf swing that I started seeing some improvement. And add to improvement more confidence, and you slowly work your way back up.''

Tway has always followed the Masters every since he was in high school. He remembers when he lived in Marietta how he walked around Augusta National as much as he could and followed Tom Weiskopf around the golf course.

He said his win at Hilton Head was bigger than his 1986 PGA Championship victory. He won't let himself think of winning the tournament he's always dreamed of winning.

``We're too far away,'' Tway said. ``We're too far away. But as I play this game, if I could have one thing to happen in my life, one tournament to win, it would be this one.''