Paul Runyan had a difficult time getting to Augusta National. It was worth the trip.

The 90-year-old Runyan, who finished third in the very first Masters in 1934, stole the show Wednesday in the par-3 tournament at Augusta National. The man who was nicknamed "Little Poison" shot a 9-over-par 36 on the scenic, nine-hole layout that borders the regular course.

"I didn't do well at all," said Runyan, a two-time winner of the PGA tournament. "My score was horrendous. But I did enjoy it. It amazed me that so many people in the crowd recognized me. I thought I was too old for that. I got a pretty good hand. I'm very proud."

Joe Durant won the par-3 event with a 5-under 22 and Matt Kuchar and Fuzzy Zoeller had holes-in-one. The winner of the warm-up tournament, which started in 1960, has never gone on to win the Masters the same week.

Runyan, who last played in the par-3 tournament three years ago, had a tough time getting to the course. A taxi picked up him and his wife, Berniece, at their hotel but dropped the couple off three blocks away from Augusta National.

So, Runyan grabbed his clubs and began the half-mile walk to the clubhouse. His wife traveled beside him in a mechanized wheelchair.

"She was enjoying the situation," Runyan joked, ``but I was puffing along like a steam engine."

Fortunately, Snead's former caddie happened to drive by on Washington Avenue as the couple was about halfway into its trek.

"He saw me carrying my bag, so he stopped, got traffic stopped and took us into Augusta National," Runyan said.

The morning ordeal may have contributed to his poor round in the afternoon. Runyan still teaches regularly at a course in southern California, plays occasionally on the senior tour -- he won $12,500 in the Tradition last weekend -- and gets in two or three rounds every week, once shooting 14 strokes under his age. His goal is to reach 16-under-age, the unofficial world record.

"For me to play as badly as I did today was unusual," Runyan said. ``I would like to blame my experience early in the morning for it. It's the best excuse I've got."

Afterward, Runyan napped at his hotel before returning to the club in the evening for dinner. This time, officials sent a private car to deliver Runyan and his wife right to the front door of Augusta National.

"The people were so nice," he said. ``I enjoyed myself the rest of the day."

Runyan, who played with Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw, was greeted by loud cheers when he stepped to the first tee. Apparently, many in the crowd remembered the man who won the PGA in 1934 and 1942, the latter in a huge upset over Sam Snead when the event had a match-play format.

His aim wasn't quite as accurate Wednesday.

"I kept putting it into the crowd to the left," said Runyan, who never hit the ball very far but always had a great short game. "When you're missing greens, you've got problems. But it's a cute place. I love it."

Runyan is one of the last surviving members of the elite group of golfers who played in the first Masters 65 years ago. He shot a 2-under 286 and won $550 for tying for third with Billy Burke, two shots behind winner Horton Smith.

"I remember that it was a very important event for us," Runyan said. "Anything that Bobby Jones had anything to do with was important the first time. Of course, nobody at that time would understand how important it has become now."

Runyan remembered the final round of the first Masters like it happened yesterday.