I enjoy watching great golf probably more than I enjoy playing the game.

That’s a crazy thought for many golfers who measure their summers by rounds played and strokes saved. But, in all honesty, I’d rather watch Sunday at a major championship than play 18 holes of my own. There’s just something about watching the drama of the world’s best playing the game at its ultimate stages.

And thus, Masters week is here. The Masters is not my favorite major championship (that title will forever belong to the U.S. Open) but it is the first of the calendar year. It is the first of four great weeks that will occur in 2012. I can already see myself sitting down Sunday to watch five hours of golf. The thought puts me in a good mood. I think I smile more during major championship weeks.

The story lines are a plenty this year. Tiger just won for the first time since the fire hydrant. Rory returns to the spot of his major meltdown in 2011. Mickelson is never a non-factor at Augusta. The young talents – Bill Haas, Rickie Fowler, etc. are primed and focused.

All that said, the beauty of major championship weeks are not the stories coming into the week. They’re the stories that write themselves over the next seven days. All the twists, turns and surprises that lead to one man donning a green jacket.

It’s only Monday, but I can feel the warmth of Masters week. Enjoy…..