Have we seen the end to mass changes to the course at Augusta National? Perhaps.
After the grand scale Tiger-proofing, which added more than 500 yards to the course over the years following Tiger Woods’s first Masters win in 1997, only minor tinkering has taken place for this 88th edition of the tournament.
The Par 5 second hole has been increased by 10 yards to a length of 585 yards, making the already longest hole on the course a tad longer. The tee box on the hole has extended back and to the left in an effort to bring the right fairway bunker more into play.
There have been many changes over the years since Woods’s dominant performance in ‘97, notably when 60 yards were added to the 18th in 2002 and 40 yards to the fifth in 2019. Last year, the Par 5 13th was extended by 40 yards after the club bought land from the neighbouring Augusta Country Club.
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It came as no surprise that the second hole got toughened up: it has played as the easiest hole for the past three tournaments, playing to an average of 4.562 in that period.
Will it impact players?
Maybe not the longest hitters, with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler still able to fly the traps.
For others, it will cause a change of approach.
As Shane Lowry observed of his need to rein back: “I remember there was a couple of times last year when I could carry that bunker but I definitely can’t this year. I might go back to where I played it a couple of years ago, where I lay back short and hit a 5-wood down there and try and make birdie that way.”
The second hole, of course, witnessed Charl Schwartzel’s albatross two in 2012 but also on occasions shown its teeth with David Duval (2006) and Sam Byrd (1948) running up quintuple bogey 10s.
And of the need for any further change, there is one old master who thinks the time has come to call a halt. “I don’t know if there’s any holes they need to lengthen. I really don’t,” said Fred Couples.
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