With its limit of 90 or so places, and policy of inviting all ex-winners to play, the result is that you're looking at an array of entertaining, colourful golfers, only a few of whom would be considered the current best in the world.

Tiger Woods won last year. If he were to win this year he would equal Jack Nicklaus' record of six Masters. It would also bring him closer to Nicklaus' record of 18 majors. (Woods has 15)

There is also a numerical oddity. In one of the great Masters moments (I remember watching it enthralled) Jack Nicklaus shot 30 on the back nine to win the 1986 tournament, aged 46.

It was 23 years since he'd won his first Masters, and he was then (in 1986) ranked 33 in the world.

It is 23 years since Tiger Woods won his first Masters, and he is currently ranked 33. Make of that what you will...

Sergio Garcia has pulled out, having tested positive to the virus. Garcia holds the record for the highest score ever on a single hole (the 15th) at the Masters.

He carded a 13, with five approach shots - all of which he later said he'd been happy with - hitting the green before sucking back into the water. It must still haunt him. Or maybe not. Anyway, him not playing - a proper competitor - considerably boosts Tiger's odds.

As well as providing Sergio Garcia with an excuse not to potentially relive what must be a recurring nightmare for him, the pandemic has provided the Masters organisers with the perfect reasoning for rescheduling their event (which usually occurs in April) to bring it more in accordance with what is actually the most important tournament on the international golf calendar: The Annual Mark Hughes Foundation Golf Day played at Crowne Plaza Resort.

So it will be that, shortly after Tiger Woods signs his card upon completion of his first round at Augusta, we'll all be hitting off in a shotgun start at Pokolbin.

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The two events occurring in different hemispheres means that they dovetail together perfectly, with just the right amount of overlap.

Nobody has to miss anything...

It will be the seventh running of the Hughes Foundation event.

The foundation, in case you're unaware, is a charity aimed towards raising funds for research into brain cancer, and supporting patients dealing with the illness.

Ex-Knights player Hughes, with childhood mates Rob Flanagan and Kane Bradley, formed the foundation back in 2013 after Hughes' own battle with brain cancer.

The golf day has become quite the event. "The one day of the year that Cessnock stops," Hughes quipped a couple of days ago.

"It's been great," he said. "We've developed a loyal following of golfers who come every year - of course some are better drinkers than golfers - and a lot of the same sponsors too."

Fun aside, this is a serious operation that has raised in excess of $20 million.

"We have an amazing team," Hughes told me.

"There are charities out there and their cost percentages are 30, 40, 50 percent ... ours are way into single figures."

How?

"'Well, I volunteer, of course, and we have so many supporters and helpers. Mitchell Pearce is the guest speaker this year and there's no money changing hands there, he just put put his hand up. People just want to help the charity."

The foundation has funded the placement of specialist brain cancer care nurses in a multitude of regional hospitals. With his own experience Hughes identified the need for a more effective liaison between patients and doctors.

But the primary focus is research. Hughes says, "We need to find an answer to brain cancer. We have a scientific committee who are selected from right across Australia. The best.

"We've just announced another round of innovation grants - $1.5 million in research grants. We now have people everywhere in Australia studying brain cancer."

One of the major drivers has been the Beanie For Brain Cancer initiative. I asked Mark how he came up with it.

"When I was in my recovery I had a massive scar and a bald head, and so I wore a beanie a bit, and, just, beanies and brain cancer seemed to go really well together.," he said.

"So we decided to do something with it.

The foundation, to some extent, grew out of an initial vineyards golf day and, for that reason, holds a special place for Mark Hughes.

"This fundraiser is one of my favourites because, being a Kurri boy, the amount of support we get from Kurri and Cessnock, and seeing them combine - there's a bit of history there with the old Kurri-Cessnock - but I've never heard a cross word in seven golf days... The Goeys and the Bulldogs, coming together!"

I, your correspondent, will be there representing Maitland. I've never been popular in either Kurri nor Cessnock and have been what can only be described as "robbed" in this Hughes competition before (a drive resting on the straightest drive competition rope somehow denied? Yes I'm bitter...)

But I'm playing anyway. It's a worthy cause.