Longer, Meaner Look for Augusta

When the world’s best golfers arrive at Augusta National next April to play the Masters, chances are they’ll need a map to get around the place because it sure won’t look the same.

Nine holes were altered and 285 yards were added in the most sweeping changes to the course in the 68-year history of the Masters, the first major tournament of the year.

“Amazing,” said Larry Mize, the 1987 Masters champion. “I didn’t know they were going to do that much. It’s going to be touchy. On some holes, I don’t know if I’m even going to be able to see the green after I hit my tee shot.”

The changes affect some of the most hallowed ground in golf, including two-thirds of Amen Corner. The tees at the par-four 11th have been moved back 30-35 yards and moved five yards to the right. At No. 13, the tees are now 20-25 yards farther back.

In all, seven of Augusta National’s 10 par-four holes, as well as two of the five par-five holes, were altered. The changes were officially announced Tuesday by Chairman Hootie Johnson and all of the work is expected to be completed by Oct. 11, when the club opens.

“Our objective is to keep this golf course current,” Johnson said. “Beginning in 1934 and throughout their tenure, Cliff Roberts and Bob Jones made improvements to complement the changing state of the game. We have continued this philosophy.”

Another motivation for the changes at Augusta National is to require greater accuracy off the tee. It is a philosophy that is clearly evident at the par-four 18th, which may now become one of the most challenging closing holes in golf.

The tees have been moved back 60 yards and five yards to the right, meaning players will have to hit their drives through an even longer, narrow, tree-lined chute.

The two large bunkers to the left of the fairway have been “adjusted,” according to an Augusta National release, making them about 10% larger but also bringing them into play. To carry the bunkers requires a drive of about 320 yards. If that’s not difficult enough, trees have been added to the left of the fairway bunkers.

The 405-yard par-four hole is now a 465-yard adventure.

When he won the Masters last year, Tiger Woods needed only a drive and a pitching wedge from 75 yards.

“I don’t know if they were thinking about Tiger when they made the changes, but they sure weren’t thinking about me,” Jim Furyk said.

Mize said the 18th hole will be a very difficult test.

“The change to that one does surprise me,” he said. “I mean, 60 yards more. That’s a huge change for that hole.”

Although Augusta National has undergone consistent change through the years and every hole has been altered to some degree, there now have been two significant redesign projects in Johnson’s two years as chairman.

The alterations, which were carried out under the watch of course architect Tom Fazio, are widely interpreted as the club’s response in general to the improvements in equipment such as golf balls and clubs, and specifically because of Woods.

When Woods won at Augusta National four months ago to hold the titles of all four majors at the same time, his score was 16 under par. When he won the 1997 Masters, his first major triumph, it was 18 under par.

Mize, who was born in Augusta, said he will try to “sneak over” and “take a peak” at the changes as soon as he can. Until then, Mize said he will reserve judgment on the alterations.

“I haven’t heard a whole lot of [players] excited about the changes,” Mize said. “I guess they were looking forward to the future of the course, and I hope they didn’t mess it up. I know they’ll do it first rate, but you hope they don’t hurt the course’s playability, make it so long it hurts it.”

Greater distance was clearly achieved. Each of the par-five holes are at least 500 yards (two are at least 570 yards) and four of the par-four holes are at least 460 yards--No. 10 is 495 yards, No. 11 is 490 yards.

Furyk, who says the Masters is his favorite tournament, believes that Augusta National can make whatever changes it wishes.

“Like it or not, it really doesn’t matter because it’s their golf course,” he said.

And as for how the changes will go along with the course’s rich history, Furyk pointed out that there have been many alterations throughout the years.

“I’m not sure about the folklore part of it,” he said. “A lot of the thing is looking back at famous shots . . . Nicklaus making a putt at 16, Sarazen making a double eagle at 15. But those guys were playing aluminum shafts and persimmon woods too, and hitting golf balls the pros would laugh at now, they way they flew.

“So we’ll see. Maybe what they’ve done really isn’t such a drastic deal.”