"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch

April 9, 2002

Despite Charles Barkley’s protestation to the contrary, the keepers of Augusta National had no nefarious intentions when they agreed to bring the legendary course into the present day. Equipment hadn’t rendered the National obsolete, but it had made the course far easier than the green-jacketed ones preferred.

Tigers Woods might have been one reason the golf course has been lengthened and been given more teeth with expanded bunkers and the reshaping of some previously sloped fairways. But he wasn’t the only reason. Everybody on tour hits it nine miles off the tee these days. Something had to be done to preserve the National’s dignity.

Consider that in 1986, just sixteen years ago, Greg Norman came to the 18^th hole trailing Jack Nicklaus but with a chance to win. Norman proceeded to pump a 4-iron into the right gallery, thus dooming his chances. Think about that—a 4-iron. Last year, Woods pulled out his driver on the 18^th and hit a mighty blast that left him a lob wedge to the green. In recent years, most other players, if they chose to hit a driver off the tee, had short irons or wedges to a finishing hole that had lost its edge.

That edge is back with a vengeance. The 18^th, and eight other holes, are going to present a whole different challenge when The Masters begins play this week. I’m particularly intrigued with the changes that were made to No. 1 and No. 18.

Already one of the scariest tee shots in pro golf, the drive at No. 1 has become a real white-knuckler. Gone are the days when gorillas the likes of John Daly can boom a drive into the crosswalk and have a sand wedge to the green. And the fairway bunker that had become a non-factor over the years is now very much in play.

Noted course designer Tom Fazio, the National’s architect in residence, moved the tee at No. 1 back 25 yards. And the bunker on the right side of the fairway has been lengthened by nearly 15 yards. It’ll take a carry of 300 yards to clear the bunker. With a stiff early-spring breeze in their face, not many players can do that. At 435 yards, No. 1, which had given the players fits anyway the last two years, is now a killer opening hole.

Likewise, the 18^th will be a monster of a finishing hole. The tee has been moved back 60 yards and to the golfer’s right (who knew Fazio had that much room to work with?) The fairway bunkers have been enlarged by 10 percent. It’s now going to take a drive of 335 yards to fly the bunkers. Good luck.

There’s now more tree trouble at 18 than ever. The pines on the right side of the fairway are still there, waiting to gobble errant tee balls. And if anyone considers doing what Ian Woosnam did in 1991 and blowing a tee shot to the left of the fairway bunkers, toward the member’s practice range, forget it. A stand of mature pines has been planted along the left fairway.

Clearly, length has become more a factor than ever at the 18^th, which now measures 465 yards, and the course overall, which has been stretched to 7,270 yards.

That’s why Barkley’s comments in Sports Illustrated last month to the effect that Augusta National members were racist for making changes to the golf course were so absurd. Tiger Woods might have to hit a 6-iron to some greens now instead of a pitching wedge or 9-iron. But his competitors will be hitting 3-irons and fairway woods. Tiger will always be a factor at Augusta. It’s the guys who hit it only nine miles (to Tiger’s 12 miles) who should cry foul.