AUGUSTA, GA – Last April, the golf world took a step back and bowed to Tiger Woods. His final-round heroics in the Masters Tournament tied him with Chris DiMarco and put him into a playoff where he finally proved himself to a doubting golf press. Tiger Woods showed the world that he is still number one.
This year brings the 70th playing of the Masters tournament, but news lately at Augusta National has dealt less with the traditions of the tournament and more with the changes made to the course. Bobby Jones, the founder of Augusta and the tournament, may not even recognize some of the holes prepared for the Masters this year. The question now is who do you blame: Hootie Johnson, chairman of Augusta National, or the golf ball manufacturers?
Recent advances in technology of the golf ball itself ball itself have made traditional courses like Augusta almost obsolete, allowing players to drive the ball incredible distances, consistently. Augusta was challenging course demanding accuracy from day one, but with players now hitting the ball over 300 yards on a regular basis, accuracy has become a second thought to the kill it – find it – kill it again generation. As scores dropped, dangers rose that the Masters was in danger of losing its spot as the most prestigious of golf tournaments.
So Augusta National took action. They extended the course to 7,445 yards – 400 yards longer than it was even in the mid-90s. They also added trees and changed bunkers. Now longer and more complex, Augusta is once again a very serious challenge off the tee, but what about tradition? What about the visions of Bobby Jones?
Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus has been quoted in Golf Digest as saying the new changes have “ruined” Augusta. Arnold Palmer has voiced his displeasure with the changes as well. While these are just two players that disagree with Johnson’s changes, they are perhaps the most prominent.
Tiger on the other hand seems to embrace the changes not only to the course, but to the sport as well. In an interview with Glenn Greenspan for pga.com, Tiger said, “I think that’s the nature of all sports. You’re going to have advances and you’re going to have advances in technology, but also advances in the human body. Guys are bigger, stronger and faster with added technology; hence, you’re going to hit it farther.”
His sentiment is mirrored by many of the up-and-coming pros sporting long drives, but what about golfers like Fred Funk, who had the lowest average drive on tour in 2005, or even last year’s Masters runner-up, Chris DiMarco? They too are forced to get stronger and more aggressive off the tee. Golf is changing, and as Tiger eluded to, even amateurs now hit the ball extremely far. Without rolling back golf ball technology, there aren’t many ways to keep the field fair to guys that don’t hit the ball 300 yards every time they stand at the tee.
So during the first week of April, Tiger will take to the tee and try to fight not only the likes of Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, but also a younger, harder-hitting crowd. Tiger already has two victories this year, and looks to be hot coming into his favorite tournament, held on a course that seems built with him in mind. Will he win again? Will the changes make the difference? That’s a question that even Tiger won’t be able to answer until the final hole.