GOLF: Philip Reid on why the latest facelift to the Augusta National course is the most severe of all

Perhaps a true symmetry exists through the generations. One of the finest golf writers ever was Bernard Darwin, an inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, and it was his grandfather Charles Darwin - author of The Origin of Species, the great work on evolution which challenged all earlier theories on the subject - who is attributed with the remark, "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change".

No course evokes as much scrutiny to change as Augusta National, perhaps because it is the only major that returns to the same course year after year. And, after long years when only change of a slow nature was effected on the course designed by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie, the modifications to the layout since 1999, and especially the nip-'n'-tuck surgery carried out since a year ago for next week's US Masters, have made it longer and tougher.

If the original intention was to "Tiger-proof" the course after Tiger Woods brought it to its knees in 1997, when he won his first green jacket, it would seem the alterations have only served to play more into his hands. This time round, he will be seeking his fifth Masters title!

Tweaking with the course is nothing new. In fact, the tradition at Augusta National has always been to remodel and upgrade. This was true when Perry Maxwell in 1937 was brought in to tone down the contours of some of the original greens, and when Robert Trent Jones Snr was asked in the late 1940s to come up with a more testing 16th hole. Then there was the decision to reverse the two nines in 1935, the second year of the tournament, taken because one part of the course was more susceptible to frost than the other.

No, those tasked with caring for Augusta National have never been fearful of change; it's just that it was of a slower pace than in recent years. And, in true Darwin tradition, nobody could accuse Hootie Johnson of being unresponsive to change.

The most drastic changes to the course have taken place since Johnson became chairman of Augusta National. In announcing the most recent changes, implemented by architect Tom Fazio this past year, which lengthened six holes by a total of 155 yards among other adjustments, Johnson said: "Since the first Masters in 1934, this golf course has evolved and that process continues . . . as in the past, our objective is to maintain the integrity and shot values of the golf course as envisioned by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie. Players' scores are not a factor. We will keep the golf course current with the times."

Not everyone is happy, however. Two greats of the game, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, who no longer compete in the tournament, were highly critical of the alterations. "Whether they've gone overboard I'm not sure," said Nicklaus, who fears the game's shorter hitters are at a distinct disadvantage.

His views were echoed by Palmer, who said: "I love the place, love everything that happens there . . . (but) it's changed dramatically from the course I played 50 years ago."

That's true. When Palmer won his green jackets, he did so on Bermuda greens which were extremely slow when compared to today's slick surfaces.

Ironically, there were changes in the '60s too, to counteract the perceived big-hitting of Nicklaus especially. On that occasion, additional fairway bunkering was constructed.

But, compared with the changes since 1999, they were minor surgery. The facelifts since then have been more severe, and the latest modification the most severe of all. Since Woods beat Chris DiMarco in a play-off a year ago, four par fours (the first, seventh, 11th and 17th), the par-three fourth and the par-fifth 15th have been lengthened - and toughened in other ways, by the planting of additional trees and increasing the size of some fairway bunkers. This is the Masters tournament's answer to the better equipment and technology of the modern game.

It is not just the additional length, though, that has upset the likes of Nicklaus and Palmer. They're upset too about the tightening of many holes through extended bunkering - most dramatically the first hole.

In the latest renovations to the course, Augusta National - which, through all the changes has only moved tees and has not yet had to move any greens - believes it will present the challenge that was originally envisaged when the tournament was started.

Since 1934, the game has changed; and, so, consequently, must courses if they are to continue to present a challenge. Padraig Harrington, for one, doesn't expect all of the newly-made changes in length will be utilised. At least not at the one time.

"Look, the great thing about Augusta is they set whatever score they want. It is the only tournament that is in control of what the players are going to do and, by stretching the course, it gives them lots of options. They've the option to go back on the tees and use easier pin positions . . . they've the option to go halfway up the tee boxes and use medium pin positions . . . or to go forward and use very tough pin positions. Everyone is going to play the same golf course when all is said and done.

"You must remember there was a huge issue two years ago when they lengthened two or three holes and they had all the low scoring over the weekend. I don't envisage seeing the back of the back tee boxes this year with tough pins. But it could happen if the greens were soft. All they are doing is giving themselves options. They are doing the sensible thing.

"If they want two or three under to win the tournament, then they can get that without shaving greens and sticking pins on the edge of a precipice. Who knows? If they go to the back and have real tough pins, they could have 10 over (winning). But they don't want that either."

Many players have been sneaking to Augusta National to get previews of the changes. Tiger's been there, so too Phil Mickelson. Neither has been intimidated by what they've seen. Although many would say, "why would they?" as the changes play into their hands.

Mickelson spent Monday and Tuesday there this week, a now traditional pre-tournament rendezvous with his back-up team of short-game guru Dave Pelz and swing coach Rick Smith.

"I don't think the course makes it so that only long hitters can win. I think anybody can win there," said Mickelson. "The reason I say that is the course is so long now that the long hitters used to be able to hit wedges into some of these pin placements and get it close . . . now we're hitting mid-irons in, (and) we can't get close to those pins any more. It equalises it a little bit."

It remains to be seen if Mickelson's appraisal is borne out in the heat of competition. But Woods is inclined to agree with his oft-time rival on this occasion, believing the conditions will be fair if the course is dry. If it is wet as it has been every year since the changes were first incorporated in 1999, he warned "that eliminates a lot of guys who have the skill to play but don't hit the ball far enough".

One of those who knows how to play (he has won twice at Augusta) but doesn't have the length of Messrs Woods or Mickelson is Jose Maria Olazabal. At the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta this week, the Spaniard was almost spiritual in his observations on Augusta National, and the place it holds in his heart. But the course Olazabal won his two green jackets and the one that will be played next week are markedly different to the one he negotiated in the late 1980s and all through the '90s.

"Obviously it was a much shorter golf course. It was a more open golf course, (with) wider fairways. It was not so demanding off the tee as it is now. They have narrowed most of the fairways quite a lot. I don't think by making the golf course longer you are improving the whole situation when you say that you are trying to protect the golf course from the long hitters. I think the long hitters, I thinkthey have the hugest smile from ear to ear to be honest.

"I mean, the longer the golf course, especially for us that don't hit it that long, we're going to miss more greens. We're going to have to chip around a lot . . . but it doesn't matter if they make the golf course 9,000 yards long. I've done what I've done over there. That place is wonderful. It's been wonderful to me - the two majors that I won, I won them there. Every time I set foot on that place, I feel blessed.

"Golf has given me a lot and that place has given me most of it. I'm not going to complain about the golf course being that long. The only thing I'm saying is that, you know, you have to be sure if you are going in the right direction. That's what I'm saying."

The direction that Augusta National has gone since Woods's runaway win in 1997 has been to lengthen the course by 520 yards, to narrow the once legendary fairways to 30 yards across and to add rough (admittedly of the modest variety). In addition, many new trees have been added in the vicinity of the landing areas, albeit in such a fashion that you'd believe they had always been there.

It is a tougher course, that's for sure. But it is one that has survived.