US Master's Golf

 

US Master’s

 

The US Master’s Golf Tournament takes place this week (Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 April).  The Masters is the first major of the year and is also unique among the majors as it always takes place on the same course.

 

This year the tournament has been overtaken by a storm of controversy.  As technology develops and the players hit the ball further the old courses no longer present the same challenge and need to be changed.  The Augusta National course has been changed this year to afford it extra protection.

 

The greatest golfer of all time says simply, “They’ve ruined it!”  Nicklaus continued, “Bobby Jones [the course designer] wanted a second shot golf-course. They have completely eliminated what he tried to do”. 

 

Bernhard Langer is also unimpressed with the changes, “I totally agree with Jack.  The fairways used to be 40-80 yards wide and there were certain sides of them you’d hit for the right angle.  Now they’re so narrow it takes most of angles out and therefore most of the strategy..It’s just stand up and boom”.  Langer is particularly critical of the part three 4^th at 240 yards, increased by 35 yards: “It has always been one of the three hardest holes on the course.  I don’t understand why you have to make a hard hole even harder”.

 

The point that these players are making is that only a long-hitter can win the 2006 Masters, whereas in the past, shot-making and placement were rewarded.  This year 155 yards have been added to six holes – and a total of 520 have been added since 1997.  The course is now 7,445 yards.

 

Bernhard Langer is of course a 2-time winner of the Masters.  Read his account of his victories

 

Link to 1985 and 1993 and What makes the Master’s special?