Augusta
to undergo facelift in summer
Augusta National Golf Club
will undergo a major facelift to make the Masters a tougher test
next year, club chairman William "Hootie" Johnson said on Wednesday.
Johnson said four or five
of the par-fours on the course would be lengthened and strengthened
to respond to improvements in golf ball and club-making technology
that have helped players hit longer than ever.
"We do plan to make extensive
changes," Johnson said on the eve of the 65th Masters.
"It's just that we think
that several of our par-fours are a little weak, and we are going
to try to strengthen them."
Bunkers may also be altered
or moved and some teeing areas could be shifted to require a more
difficult shot off the tee, he said.
Johnson, who would not
specify which holes would be changed under the direction of architect
Tom Fazio, said the club needed to keep up with technological advancements.
"This equipment is making
a huge difference, and we are going to make an attempt, as we always
have, to try to keep the golf course current with the times," he
said.
A new ball being used extensively
on the tour this season has made long hitters out of players regarded
as short hitters, noted Johnson, who was worried the trend could
render classic courses such as Augusta National obsolete for the
professionals.
"I hope that the equipment
can be addressed," he said.
"We can't go on like we
are going. Another decade or two, I don't know where we might be
and I don't know the answer to how that is going to be approached."
Johnson said toughening-up
Augusta was not in response to scoring, even though Tiger Woods
set new standards for low score (18 under par) and margin of victory
(12 strokes) with his Masters triumph in 1997.
"It is not in response
to scores," the club chairman said. "It's just that we, and I think
any of us, probably hate to see people hitting sand wedges to 425-yard
par-fours."
Johnson also said Masters
officials were considering expanding the television coverage to
allow viewers to watch the tournament leaders play all 18 holes
of Sunday's final round.
Club officials in the past
have put severe restrictions on the broadcast of the tournament,
and the first holes of the front nine were not shown live on television.
Six times Masters champion
Jack Nicklaus and 1976 winner Raymond Floyd said changes were necessary.
"You need to make changes
if people are hitting nine-irons and wedges into the par-fours,"
said Floyd.
"They've always made changes
and have tried to stay ahead of the curve. But this time I think
the curve got ahead of them."
Nicklaus said tournament
officials have to do something because the new balls being used
are changing the face of the game.
But Nicklaus said he wished
restrictions would be placed on the balls instead so that classic
courses like Augusta National would not have to alter their design.
"It's absurd," said Nicklaus.
"It's so simple to just restrict the golf ball. If they don't change
it soon, they'll have us teeing off from downtown somewhere and
hitting up to here.
"There is nothing wrong
with Augusta National. It shouldn't be diminished by a golf ball."
Short hitters have benefited
from the technological advances by drawing closer to the big hitters
in terms of distance, but stretching Augusta National further could
put them at a distinct disadvantage.
"I think it will only benefit
the longer hitters," said Loren Roberts.
Hal Sutton agreed. "Bobby
Jones intended players to hit five-irons into some greens," he said.
Sutton also said that moving
back tees, rearranging bunkers and the like would take away one
of the charms of the Masters, which has been staged at Augusta National
since its inception in 1934.
"If you keep changing the
golf course, I'm not sure how you can compare results over time.
The course is truly set up for the big hitters."
Rocco Mediate also believed
the long hitters would benefit. "It takes a lot of people out of
the running because it's just too long. On number one, if you can
carry the bunker, 285 yards, you've got a seven-iron in. But guys
who can't, have to hit a three-iron. You try going into number one
with a three or four-iron and you have no chance."
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