At the age of 58, those days are largely behind Jose Maria Olazabal. But the two green jackets hanging in his locker are testimony to the Spaniard’s ability to handle the endless nuances that make Augusta National one of the most fascinating courses on the planet.

“This place is special to me,” says Olazabal, who won here in 1994 and 1999. “Every time I get through that gate, I feel at peace with myself. Which is a great feeling to have. It isn’t often you can say that about anything in your career, your life. But I have had that feeling from the very beginning, all the way back to all the hours I spent on the course with (two-time Masters winner) Seve (Ballesteros). I’ve had so many wonderful moments here, things I have never experienced anywhere else. I consider myself a very lucky man.”

He certainly had a bit of that good fortune on day two this week. Yes, he had some help from the likes of Justin Thomas, Brian Harman, Viktor Hovland and Sergio Garcia – just four of the many who frittered away multiple shots as the second round drew to a close amidst Friday’s wild weather. From thinking he was almost certainly going to miss the cut, Olazabal – despite making a triple bogey six on the par-3 12th – got himself round the premises in 73, eventually good enough to squeeze into the weekend.

Indeed, his play represented a masterclass, combining vast experience and one of the most inventive short games golf has ever seen. The sight of which is a bonus for all concerned this week. Lest we forget, the presence of this ageing genius is one of the things that sets the Masters apart from your run-of-the-mill tour event. No matter what, he and many of his contemporaries are worthy of your attention.

“I was having a ball. I have enjoyed the game all my life. It is a never-ending journey. And always a learning process, no matter how many years you have been playing. There are always things to learn and improve.” – Jose Maria Olazabal.

“To be honest I thought I was going to miss the cut by one,” said Olazabal after a third round 75 that concluded with 11 straight pars. “That was why I was trying so hard to make the cup from the back of 17 and make the long putt at the last. I was pretty sure that five-over was going to be the number. But so many things happened for me to make the cut. Look at what someone of the players did over the last few holes. It was unbelievable.”

The same might be said of Olazabal’s life story. The son of a humble greenskeeper at the Real Golf Club de San Sebastian, his career has been fairytale-like in its level of success. By way of example, had the still-humble Basque been able to win the Open Championship he would have tasted victory in every one of the R&A’s events open to him – the Boys Championship, the Youths Championship, the Amateur Championship and the silver medal awarded to the leading amateur in the Open Championship. Only the Claret Jug is missing from that list.

But it is at Augusta National that Olazabal has tasted his sweetest successes and, one might argue, had most influence. In the run-up to a now far-off Masters, he and the late Seve Ballesteros were joined for a quick nine-holes by a young Tiger Woods, still a couple of years removed from the first of his five green jackets.

“Tiger kept on asking questions about just about every shot you can think of around the greens,” said Olazabal with a smile. “He wanted to know about the trajectory of the shots, the spin on the ball and how to read the grain of the grass. I cannot forget that. It was an interesting day. He disappeared at the turn. I think he had enough information.”

All of which is not to say Olazabal sees himself as some kind of all-knowing savant when it comes to Augusta National. Such a notion would run contrary to the man’s natural modesty. And it all started at the course that was literally his home. One day after the club opened, Olazabal was born. If anyone was ever destined to be a golfer, it was him. Even now, the memories are enough to bring tears to his eyes.

RIGHT: Olazabal and his late-great mate Seve Ballesteros at the 1991 Ryder Cup. PHOTO: Getty Images.

“Where I grew up is a very average golf course,” he says. “It is clay so it is all wet in the winter. It is very hilly. Only rarely do you hit a shot from a flat lie. And it isn’t long. But growing up I didn’t hit the ball long. I was very small. So to compete against other kids who could reach par-4s that I could not, I needed a great short game. In a way that was an advantage. To compensate I needed to be better around and on the greens.

“I have such great memories of spending a lot of time on the chipping area on my own,” he continues. “I was having a ball. I have enjoyed the game all my life. It is a never-ending journey. And always a learning process, no matter how many years you have been playing. There are always things to learn and improve. Four decades ago, I won the Boys Championship at Glenbervie in Scotland. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that a farmer’s son would be able to win two majors and have the wonderful career I have had. I still get emotional when I think of it all.”

We all do where this man is concerned. A great golfer yes, but an even better person. A Master, you might say.