What are the thoughts on the final round pin position on 18 at Augusta? Do you think it's done mainly for tradition's sake?
Watching over the years the back right pin always seems like the most interesting, and also the most likely to produce a 2 shot swing. There is a strong possibility of making a mistake on the approach shot:
Right bunker is very close to the pin, and slopes strongly to the hole. Both Els and Watson left bunker shots in trying to finesse the shot.
To get close to the pin you need to risk going long, which is downhill and super fast to chip from. Tiger last year chipped it down to the front of the green from 6ft over the back I remember.
If you try and leave the ball under the hole, there is a big chance of coming back down the tier, which brings 3-putt into the equation.
It also rewards taking driver from the tee, as you are more likely to keep the ball on the top level with a shorter iron. Also rewards keeping the tee shot close to the bunker for the best angle.
The front pin has the back stop for safety (which also takes the front bunker out of play), short right off the false front is a simple chip that nearly gets holed by everyone that plays it, and the right bunker is not a tough shot to get within 6 feet
In my opinion a back right pin would be a much better pin location for the final hole of a major.