At 37,000 feet, Masters pre-tournament plans are plotted, movies are watched, stories are shared and there is plenty of time for quiet reflection on the momentous week ahead.

The Houston-to-Augusta flight, which took off late Sunday night from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, carried about 30 players from last week’s Shell Houston Open.

Also on board were an assortment of caddies, agents and media eager to arrive at Augusta National Golf Club for this week’s Tournament.

“I’ve gotten to Augusta just about every way you can do it, except for a train,” said Australia’s Stuart Appleby.

“I’ve flown through Atlanta, Columbia (S.C.), and private from (hometown) Orlando, but this is the best,” he added.

Shell Houston Open director Steve Timms worked with Houston-based Continental to put on the special flight, which left after Sunday’s final round in Houston and delivered the players to Augusta Regional Airport by early Monday morning.

PGA Tour travel coordinator Eric Hilcoff said the one-way flight, now in its second year, is growing in popularity as the way to arrive for players who prefer to play the week before the Masters.

“It was a great plan,” said Chad Campbell, who is participating in his seventh Masters Tournament. “I played in the afternoon, got cleaned up in the locker room, had a bit of dinner and got on the flight. It’s worked great.”

The direct route was much better than Briny Baird’s first attempt to travel to Augusta, Ga., in his initial Masters appearance in 2004.

“I think I flew to Atlanta and then drove down from there with my caddy. It was a long trip, a lot of traffic and I think we got lost. This is a no brainer to do this. Especially for a flight that doesn’t even (normally) exist.”

The 737 wide-body jet was 30 minutes late coming in from San Antonio, giving the players more time to swap golfing war stories, celebrate or commiserate from last week’s performance in Houston.

Easily the happiest person on the flight was Paul Casey’s caddy, Craig Connelly, who had just watched his boss collect his first PGA Tour win in a Houston playoff. He happily accepted handshakes and backslaps in the departure lounge before the flight.

“We really had it going today,” he said with a never-ending smile.

When the passengers were finally loaded on the flight, they were greeted by a Continental Airlines executive, who welcomed the golfers and others to the special flight, before joking he had requested the plane touch down on Washington Road first, before getting to the airport.

After a round of handshakes, and photos with Continental employees and several of the golfers, including Korea’s K.J. Choi, the 93-minute flight was finally airborne.

Due to the long, weather-delayed week in Houston and the late hour, sleep was the favorite pastime for most of the players on the flight, but others found additional options to pass the time.

Baird watched one of his favorite movies on his laptop computer; Appleby had a selection of TV shows, in-between working on a photo album for his wife.

“After seeing how well this works, I wonder why we don’t do this more often,” Appleby said. “I just heard a rumor about this flight and checked it out and it’s wonderful.”

Growing up in Australia and still with family there he often visits, Appleby said the travel golfers must do is certainly an occupational hazard.

“Since 9-11, it has certainly gotten much tougher in the States than it is back home. You don’t have to take off your belt to get on a plane there. They don’t confiscate your measuring tape or divot tool. “It can be a beating, especially with three kids like I have, but it’s what we have to do.”

Several players, including Fred Couples, Greg Norman and Casey, flew privately to Augusta, but that can be a challenge as well.

“I’m not a big private plane guy,” Casey said after his victory. “It’s my first of the year, but my wife has already made the change. I had a 6:30 p.m., flight, but that’s gone now.”

When the Continental jet, nicknamed Masters Golfers I, finally touched down at Augusta Regional Airport, there was initially no one there to bring the stairs up to the plane. The aircraft had to relocate another 500 feet closer to the terminal door, before the passengers could finally deplane.

Once inside, most players were met by their caddies or agents, who handled the heavy lifting with luggage and golf clubs, before heading out into the dark, but dry, early Monday morning weather.

“I can’t wait to get to my house and get some rest,” Appleby said. “I’ll get to the course about mid-morning (Monday). The weather my not be good early in the week, but it’s still Augusta and the Masters. Where else would you rather be?”