The 34-year-old Californian was paired with the golfing legend for the first two rounds at last year’s Masters and though his partner struggled during the tournament, Max still learned a lot from him.

He told bunkered magazine: “I always dreamed about it. He’s the best iron player of all time but I always just wanted to see him hit iron shots at that golf course.

“It was just so cool to get to see. Especially in that wind.

“Getting to play the course when it was that hard was really fun.

“I played with him and Jason Day and they put on a clinic in completely different ways.

“He’s a magnificent chipper and pitcher of the ball so just watching the creativity and how you’re supposed to play the golf course is cool… but then whipping his a** a bit too.”

Max ultimately came third in last year’s tournament and didn’t realise how “draining” it would feel to be in contention for victory.

He said: “I have not performed in these things and I performed for all four days.

“I didn’t throw a 65 in there and sneak my way in. I had to sleep on this every single day, this feeling and kind of this monkey on my back.

“It’s draining. It’s wild. You don’t notice it until you’re done, but Sunday night I had my friends in town, I planned on being up all night, telling stories and whatever.

“It got to 9 o’clock and I was just hanging on for dear life.”