Is the '97 Masters part of the series?  On Thursday, Tiger hit driver/wedge on 15 and made an eagle.  Slung his drive off the mounds on the right side of the fairway.  He was using a 975D driver and played the Titleist Professional 90 ball - technology that's probably the midpoint between persimmon and balata and what's available today.  The course wasn't big enough to handle that guy, although it was plenty tough for everybody else.  The development of the ProV1 and similar balls and spring-like effect is what made it too small for everyone else.

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Glenn

I think you're right, watching them in succession was an added treat.  Although, it's still painful to watch Norman's implosion.  But, you have to give Faldo credit, he shot 67 on the last round, even though he could have shot 71 and won.

Today, Justin Leonard was on the golf channel and he stated that he's too short, that he lacks a good 10-15 yards and has hired a trainor to try to help him get more yardage.

Here's a PGA Tour Pro who not that long ago won the British Open and other tournaments, who now says that he's too short to compete.

I think that says alot about what's happened in the last 10 to 15 years.

Pat,

Interesting comment by Justin Leonard.  He has the same equipment as everyone else, but is now too short.  His problem is either (i) more high swing speed guys are playing high level golf now; (ii) guys with high swing speed gain a disproportionate advantage from the equipment or (iii) contemporary course set ups favor the long hitter.

I remember Tiger's 1997 Masters victory as being total domination in every facet--yes, he bombed the ball and was hitting shorter approach shots than everybody else, but it also seemed like he made every putt under 20 feet.

That's partially because: when you never hit more than a 7iron into any par 4 and medium to short irons into par 5's you're going to have a huge advantage over guys hitting much longer clubs.

Plus, it's been my casual observation over the years that it's easier to get a wedge inside of 20 feet than it is a 5-iron.

Tiger had MORE putts under 20 feet because he was hitting shorter irons into those greens.

And the year Crenshaw won his second he finished ahead of comparatively bigger hitters Love and Norman.

That was in 1995, a little ahead of the leap in distance and, perhaps they just had an off tournament.

When Justin Leonard states that he's too short to compete today, what else do you need to know about the impact of increased distance upon the game ?  

That's partially because: when you never hit more than a 7iron into any par 4 and medium to short irons into par 5's you're going to have a huge advantage over guys hitting much longer clubs.

Plus, it's been my casual observation over the years that it's easier to get a wedge inside of 20 feet than it is a 5-iron.

Tiger had MORE putts under 20 feet because he was hitting shorter irons into those greens.

Patrick, I thought I anticipated these comments, and I agree, but to clarify my point is this:  Tiger had 116 putts in 1997.  At least 10% of those were likely short putts that he "should have" made to be the champion, and he did.  If not, we would have had a golf tournament.  But his confidence on the tee, between the tee and green, and on the green, led him to a dominant victory that weekend.  If he had putted poorly--i.e., not "played well" his "bombing" wouldn't have made a difference.  If your point is that a bomber can win at Augusta just because he hits it farther than everybody else, then why doesn't John Daly have a Jacket?

When Justin Leonard states that he's too short to compete today, what else do you need to know about the impact of increased distance upon the game ?  

Truly, no question about it, I'm gonna need to know a lot more than what Justin Leonard says.  Jim Furyk says his lack of length hurts him, but at least he's not whining about it. Plus it seems like just a little while ago Leonard--and Furyk--won majors...