How would you change Augusta National?

[Jerry Kluger]

Do you gentlemen feel that they really eliminated a large part of the field in order to make sure that some players didn't overpower the course? I was thinking about this and to my mind players who are great iron players like Luke Donald are still in the mix even if they can't hit it as far as Tiger.  My feelings about Tiger are that they are just missing the point with where his greatness lies - he has the best short game today with no one close to him on a week to week basis.  That is what makes all of their shennigans so ridiculous.  There is no course in the world and no conditions that you could create where Tiger would not be viewed as clearly the best player in the field - accept it and don't destroy a great golf course. It doesn't mean that he has to win but it sure makes the odds short that he will.

[Jim Thompson]

Jerry,

I think the real idea here is whether or not the approach even accomplishes the goal?  You are spot on that the more difficult the test the more the test favors the skilled player and Tiger is certainly one of the upper class of the field.  The problem is do you want a good competition "where anything can happen" but scoring could go low low low or do you want a more predictable outcome where par or the course is defended?  Sadly, and I think its the problem we all deal with relative to the changes at ANGC, we all realize that defending the course has been placed over defending the field.  Further I would say that if they ever get a spring that isn't monsoon season they'll be wondering why they made some changes as dramatic as they did and I'd bet a dollar to a donut that the scoring spread is greater over the course of the tournament.  In racing we love the lead changes, they are exciting, but a tricked out ANGC may turn the Masters into the golfing equivalent of a formula one race.

Cheers!

JT

[David Lott]

After spending the day at Augusta practice round today and watching the pros hit chip shot after chip shot from the fringes of the greens, I wonder why so many people seem to find the new "rough" at AN to be destructive of the course and its playing charactaristics.

I think the rough actually preserves a crucial playing charactaristic. Here's why.

The key to Augusta is short game--chipping to slick greens and tough pins from tight lies. "These guys are good," but boy they have a devil of a time with those chip shots.

In the past, when they were hitting long and mid irons to the greens, they had to chip extremely well to contend, because the length of the approach shots caused them to miss a lot of greens.

As yardage off the tee increased to gigantic proportions in the last decade or so, the approach shots became a lot easier, especially when there was no "rough." Tiger's runaway first victory confirmed this.

The pussycat "rough" they have put on the course isn't the punative hayfield you see at many other tournaments, but it's enough to keep them from spinning the ball like they do from the fairway.

Ergo they miss greens.

Ergo they have to chip extremely well.

Ergo the short game around the greens (putting included) is still the most stern part of the course.

The rough I saw there today was light and playable, while at the same time making approaches for errant bombers a lot harder.

Without rough, even with the added length of the course, the need for extraordinary chipping would be diminished.

[Doug Siebert]

I'm with Dan Kelly on this.

Masters ball, baby!

[Jerry Kluger]

I definitely feel that the chipping around the greens is what places Tiger as the front-runner as he has the confidence and the ability to pull off whatever is necessary to get up and down.  Perhaps that is why Michelle Wie tried a chip instead of a putt at 18 as she knew that's what Tiger would do.  Anyway, Luke Donald impressed me at Mirasol with his ability to get up and down and perhaps it is his UK upbringing, whatever it is, I think he has a solid chance if his putting holds up.  AN has done one thing very well and that is creating those closely mowed areas around the greens where the player knows that a little bit thin or a little bit fat can mean disaster. If we don't change the equipment I don't know that they have much more they can do other than installing some windmills for the guys to play through.

[David Lott]

Windmills would be nice. Hang them off the permanant TV towers.

Which brings up wind.

We stood right behind several groups on the crosswalk at 15 as them hit to the. green. It wasn't a windy day at all, but a moderate breeze was up. It was very difficult to feel the wind and to see it accurately in the trees.

So I'd change AN by making the wind blow more often.

Keep an eye on 15 this year. There will be a lot more layups and an accurate layup will be a little harder. That third shot from the downhill lie was giving them fits.