For as long as I have been going to the Masters (45 years), the first hole has been a tough opening hole. However, in the 80's at least half the field carried (or at least tried) the fairway bunker. I evrn remember seeing Bill Mayfair carry it 15-20 years ago. The bunker has always been pretty deep, maybe not quite as deep as today. As they have moved the tee back, now few players even try to carry the bunker.
In the past the green protected par pretty well. Now the bunker makes it even tougher.
I might add that trees on the left beyond the bunker were planted back around 1970. Prior to that, many players would deliberately hit their tee shots left away from the bunker and almost in front of the 9th tee. The trees stopped that nonsense, much like the bunkers left of 18 stopped most players from deliberately playing into the old practice area left of the fairway.
I also hate what they have done to 7 and 17. But what really annoys me is lengthening #2. Previously, most players hit driver and tried to avoid the fairway bunker, leaving a legitmate chance to reach the green. Now, most players hit fairway wood short of the bunker turning it into a routine 3-shot par 5. Maybe widening the gap in front will encourage more players to try to run it up between the bunkers.
I will report back in a few weeks, if my sorry ass back will co-operate.