Pretend the Masters didn’t just end yesterday.

That would be one way to combat the inevitable fatigue that sets in after competing in a pressure-filled, history-laden major championship on a golf course that disseminated abuse democratically.

Or, PGA TOUR players who have just departed Augusta, Ga., could head toward the Atlantic Ocean and Hilton Head, S.C., for one of the most refreshing destinations on the circuit, Harbour Town Golf Links, where the 38th edition of the Verizon Heritage awaits. Harbour Town, a Pete Dye-Jack Nicklaus collaboration, has been the only venue for this event begun in 1969 as the Heritage Classic.

Masters participants have found it more accommodating than a five-star bed and breakfast ever since. The Verizon Heritage has been won exclusively by players exiting the cozy confines of Augusta National Golf Club. Exclusively. That means that among the 132 players in the field, history strongly suggests the winner will emerge from the group of 36 men coming in from Bobby Jones’ peach cobbler buffet. (One of them is Edoardo Molinari, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion.)

The Verizon Heritage has a storied past, first won by Arnold Palmer. Those following include Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Davis Love III (a record five times), Greg Norman and Payne Stewart. The eight multiple winners include Stewart Cink, winner of two of the last six.

Last year: Despite a final-round 75, the second time in four years the winner shot over par on Sunday, Peter Lonard posted a 7-under 277 total and a two-stroke victory over four men – Billy Andrade, Jim Furyk, Darren Clarke and Davis Love III. Lonard won his first career PGA TOUR title with the highest final-round score of the season and just one of three over par by a winner. His 277 total was the highest winning score at Harbour Town since Doug Tewell’s 280 in 1980.

How he did it: Laser irons. Lonard, who opened with a 9-under 62, led the field in greens in regulation, hitting those tiny Harbour Town targets 66 percent of the time. He also was fourth in putting to convert a tournament-best 23 birdies.

Strange but true: Lonard shot only one final-round score higher than his 75 at the Verizon Heritage, signing a 76 to tie for 17th at the Memorial Tournament.

True but not so strange: David Frost last year set the all-time PGA TOUR putting record over 72 holes with his 92 whacks at Harbour Town. Kenny Knox previously held the record of 93 set in 1989 – also at Harbour Town.

If the course could talk: “I may be a mere 6,973 yards, but all those power golfers need to reign in the clubhead speed and go for accuracy. I was the fourth hardest course on the TOUR in 2005 behind the U.S. Open, Canadian Open and PGA Championship layouts.”

Worth knowing:

Ernie Els seeks his first TOUR win of the season at Harbour Town. (Cohen/WireImage)

• Ernie Els returns to Hilton Head after skipping the event last year. In his seven previous appearances he has five top-10s, including a pair of thirds. The Big Easy has never missed the cut.

•Only two men, Jack Nicklaus in 1975 and Bernhard Langer in ’85, won at Harbour Town after capturing the Masters.

•Could this be coincidence? Rocco Mediate played GDI’s new Pershing shaft in his driver for the first time at the Masters. It’s the same model Chad Campbell uses. They both had good runs at Augusta National and are playing this week, though only Mediate has a top-10 finish there (8th in 1996).

• Nick Price has finished first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh in his 17 appearances, with his victory coming in 1997. Price hasn’t missed the cut there since 1990, but he is playing at Harbour Town without a Masters warm-up for the first time since, ironically, the ’90 edition.

•Playoffs have determined four of the last seven editions and three of those have gone at least four extra holes. Prior to the last one, in ’99, the previous three winners had won by three or more strokes.

•If five-time winner Davis Love shoots 271, figure he’ll be close to the lead. Three of his five titles have been secured with that aggregate score. Four times he has finished 72 holes at that figure, the second-lowest among his 20 appearances after his 266 winning effort in ’98.

• David Duval is entered in the Verizon Heritage, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t show, having mentioned at the Masters that he may not play again until the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. His Harbour Town record is short and not sweet – two starts, two missed cuts.

TOUR Insider’s strength of field index: All right everyone, it’s time. You can exhale now. 7.8.

TI’s power ranking for the Verizon Heritage: 1. Stewart Cink, 2. Chad Campbell, 3. Davis Love 4. Trevor Immelman, 5. Ted Purdy.

Parting shot: “You never worry about Tiger in the majors. Tiger Woods isn’t The God, but he is a god. You can quote me on that.” – TOUR veteran Joe Ogilvie on the talents of the No. 1 player in the world.