Comedian Ferrell drops by to check out the Masters

No, Will Ferrell isn't planning to make a Masters movie called "The Legend of Ricky Bobby Jones." But the lanky funnyman did take in some of the action Sunday at Augusta National, visiting the media center and strolling around the course.

By Dave Shedloski, PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Will Ferrell's last two movies have skewered the world of sports, but his first visit to Augusta National Golf Club Sunday was no reconnaissance mission. Rather, it was a chance to relax and take in one of the most revered sporting events in the world.

Clad in a windbreaker, khakis and tennis shoes and with shades perched atop his curly locks of hair, the 39-year-old film star and comedian took a tour of the media center at Augusta National Sunday morning before the final round of the 71st Masters Tournament. Greg McLaughlin, president of the Tiger Woods Foundation, led Ferrell on a tour of the massive building where about 1,000 media members report on the tournament and which houses a number of historical photos.

Ferrell's latest film, "Blades of Glory," debuted last week at No. 1 at the box office, raking in more than $33 million. He co-stars with Jon Heder, of "Napoleon Dynamite" fame, as rival figure skaters who become an unlikely pairs team in the world championships. Ferrell's previous effort, released in 2006, was the crude comedy hit, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," which lampooned the world of stock car racing.

The media center was abuzz when Ferrell took his tour, but he mostly was left alone except for the odd autograph request or two. He stopped to study several of the old black-and-white photos that adorn the walls and picked up a few golf magazines. His presence overshadowed another celebrity who made his way through at the same time: Barry Switzer, the former coach of the Dallas Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma football team.

Ferrell, who first rose to fame in television as a member of the cast of "Saturday Night Live," said he'd never been to the Masters before. Asked what he thought of Augusta National Golf Club, the soft-spoken California native said, "It's really cool."

He said he is not doing research for an upcoming golf movie. "Oh, no, I can't do a golf movie," Ferrell, who has two other films in development, said, grinning.

Before exiting the building to venture onto the course, Ferrell politely turned down a request from a USA Today reporter to follow him around for a few holes. "We're just hanging out," he explained.

He won't find many places better than this.