Immelman gearing up for Byron Nelson

2008-04-23

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IRVING, Texas (Ticker) -- Trevor Immelman admitted he stillcannot quite believe he is the new Masters champion as heprepared to return to competitive action for the first timesince his Augusta National victory earlier this month.

Immelman tees off at the Byron Nelson Championship onThursday at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, 11 daysafter he donned the Masters champion''s green jacket having heldoff Tiger Woods for a three-stroke victory.

Immelman, however, is still coming to terms with the magnitudeof his victory, his first major and the first by a South Africansince Gary Player won his third green jacket 30 years prior.

The 28-year-old went on the traditional Masters champion''s mediatour to New York City the day after his triumph, with anappearance on the Letterman Show and a photo opportunity atopthe Empire State Building.

"It''s been a pretty crazy time for me," Immelman said during apre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. "It''s been exciting for my family and I to experience everything that''s gone with the victory.

"We had a great time in New York. It was my first time in NewYork, so everything was for the first time, it was fantastic.Then I had a nice couple of days at home (in Orlando, Florida),trying to reflect on what happened and it still hasn''t quitesunk in yet. So these are exciting times for me but now that I''m here, I''m here to try and play as well as I can this week and I''ve got to try and focus on this tournament."

That may be difficult for Immelman, who said he has been much indemand by autograph hunters as he has practiced at Las Colinasthis week but he also believes he can avoid the inevitabledistractions.

"It''s been crazy but a good crazy and this has always been oneof my favorite events," he said.

"Obviously Byron Nelson was such a fantastic role model for allof us and I''ve always enjoyed coming here, so (being distracted)wasn''t a thought that crossed my mind."

That said, Immelman only has to look at his smudged hands to bereminded of how popular he has become since becoming Masterschampion.

"The strangest thing is, you can see all the Sharpie that hasrubbed off onto my hands," he said. "That normally would not be happening to me but it''s from all the stuff I''ve had to sign today.

"So that''s kind of weird, how things can change so drasticallyin the space of a couple of weeks. You''ve got to pinch yourselfwhen you realize you are the Masters champion and that''s the reason all this is happening."

Aside from his ink-covered hands, Immelman also has a greenjacket hanging in his closet to remind him of his feat.

"I see it a couple times a day and still have to pinch myself,"he said. "It''s just such an incredible feeling to know that I''vewon that tournament. That''s something that can never be takenaway from me."