Masters Preview
This year at the Masters, there are some notable changes but in the case of the Augusta National golf course, one thing finally remains constant. Georgian Billy Payne replaces Hootie Johnson as the new chairman—the sixth in the club’s history. For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 1934, the late Byron Nelson won’t be gracing the grounds during the week of the event.
Heading into the ’06 Masters the course was lengthened 144 yards totaling up to a robust 7,445 yards. This year, I’m happy to report, the maximum length will once again be 7,445. That means no stretching of tees, no dramatic bunker enlargements and no additional groves of trees (that we know of at least). Let’s recap some of the last eight years of modifications or “Tiger-proofing” if you will: rough added in ’99, course lengthened 285 yards in ’02, trees planted on the 9th, 11th, 15th and 17th holes, followed by another dramatic increase in yardage before last year’s Masters. Throw in the inclement weather that has produced rainy conditions seemingly every tournament in recent memory, and it’s been one tough venue.
Tough or easy, firm or soft, Augusta National has always inspired the game’s premier players. Lee Trevino, Payne Stewart and Hal Sutton are notables who consistently struggled to contend at the Masters, but for the most part, all of the game’s cream has risen to the challenge and vie for the Green Jacket.
The current generation of perennial challengers is headlined by Tiger Woods, defending champion Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, and Retief Goosen. Since Woods made his professional debut in the Masters a decade ago, there hasn’t been one tournament where at least one of those five wasn’t placed amongst the last three groupings on Sunday. The Woods-Mickelson-Singh trio has combined to wear the jacket in seven of those ten years; with Els and Goosen both hoping to get fitted for one size, sometime soon.
Winning the Masters is something every great player aspires to do in his career. It’s the most-watched tournament around the world, on the most recognizable layout, with the most consistent drama in golf. The winning moments are etched in the minds of even the casual sports fans, while the heartbreaking close calls for the likes of Ken Venturi, Tom Weiskopf, Ed Sneed, Greg Norman and David Duval, seem nearly as memorable.
“I have two sleeves to that coat and a back now,” Weiskopf lamented after losing in ’74. “Let’s work on the front next year.” The next year was ’75, and maybe his most gut wrenching defeat of all falling one shot behind Jack Nicklaus in an epic tussle. Just because your game seems tailored towards Augusta’s nuances doesn’t guarantee a victory. Mental fortitude, skill and luck all combine to earn a final day visit to Butler Cabin.
There are a few things to be cognizant of as the first major of ’07 commences on April 5th. Woods has called last year’s defeat his most painful because he knew his dying father would never see him in competition again. Look for Tiger to make the key putts he couldn’t convert in ’06, especially coming off his victory at Doral. Another trend he would like to alter is his inability to open the Masters with a round under 70 (Johnny Miller once said the first round has “killed me 15 straight years.”). For his Masters career, Woods is collectively +8 on Thursdays, and a combined 61-under the other three days.
Finally, John and Mitch like to discuss significant pairings on KNBR 680, and there’s one to take note of late Saturday afternoon. Every year since 1990 the winner of the Masters has come from the last twosome. As you watch the third round wind down, keep that in mind. You won’t be the only one, because most of the players know it as well. For those two men fortunate enough to be in the final pairing they’ll want the trend to remain constant. The challengers will be hoping for change.
