Changes for 2009
 

A Kinder, Gentler Augusta - 11/04/2008
By Associated Press
Augusta National will be shorter for the Masters next year – but only by 10 yards on the scorecard, with the option to trim off a few more yards depending on the weather.

Despite some criticism that a longer, stronger Augusta National has taken away some of the excitement, chairman Billy Payne announced Tuesday only minor changes to the home of the Masters.

The back of the first tee was moved forward seven yards, primarily to help the movement of the gallery between the tee and the putting green. The official scorecard was changed from 455 yards to 445 yards.

An additional 10 yards was added to the front of the tee on the 450-yard seventh hole, and nearly 10 yards were added to the front of the 530-yard 15th hole, although neither hole required a change in the official length.

In both cases, Payne said it gave the tournament flexibility to move the tees depending on the weather.

“As we’ve done nearly every year since the inception of the Masters, we evaluate the golf course and make refinements we think are necessary,” Payne said in a statement. “This year, only minor changes were implemented, and all were made in order to provide greater flexibility in the event of adverse weather conditions, which we have experienced the last couple of years.”

In gusts up to 20 mph, Trevor Immelman won the Masters this year by closing with a 75, the highest final-round score by a Masters champion since Arnold Palmer in 1962. Immelman finished at 8-under 280.

The previous year in cold, windy conditions, Zach Johnson won at 1-over 289, matching the highest winning score at Augusta National.

That led to criticism that the Masters, known for final-round charges filled with eagles and birdies, had lost some of its appeal because of a premium on par. No one has broken 280 the last three years.

The club also rebuilt the greens at Nos. 1, 5 and 6 for agronomic reasons.

There were a few other cosmetic changes, some of which could affect competition. The club said there was significant landscaping behind the seventh tee to reforest an area that was left open when a storage building was removed in 2005.

Also, a couple of trees were removed from the right side of the 15th fairway, a spot where players could be kept from trying to reach the green with their second shots.

Payne said the club was on schedule to have its new practice facility ready for the 2010 Masters.

Japanese teen to play in Masters
 

17 year old Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa has received a special international invitation to play in the 2009 Masters. He will be the youngest participant in 57 years.

It seems that every tournament is reacting to the set up at last years US Open which gave such excitement and drama.

The sooner the Masters brings in a tournament ball the better.

Masters Lagniappe
 

Colin Montgomery was widely criticized last year for his remarks concerning certain Asian players who received special invitations to The Masters while he did not. Obviously, Mr. Montgomery failed to qualify via the conventional qualifying criteria, and for whatever the reason, the tournament committee chose not to extend him a special invitation.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that The Masters is extremely popular in Asia, e.g., Korea and Japan, and that their television networks pay substantial sums to the Augusta National Golf Club for broadcast rights. The tournament remains the sole province of the Club, so the membership can do anything they want to with it . . . or nothing at all. In other words, if they choose to add a little local color for the benefit of the foreign TV folks and their viewers, it is their privilege to do so.

Whether or not that dynamic is in the mix is anybody’s guess. Colin Montgomery certainly thought so. Then again, it’s not his tournament.

:golf:

Monty never expressed any hint of a problem with the system until his world ranking fell so far that he wasn't an automatic entry anymore!

Yes the Masters has become quite the international mix over the years and I think that this has contributed to its ever growing popularity throughout the world. Well that and the unbelievable scenery. The ANGC does what it wants and answers to no one!

Yet, it remains finely tuned to what the global Market requires, and the forces it exerts, and reacts to preserve its status within that Market place.

The Masters is only second to The Open Championship in understanding its global appeal. The USGA has never been able to fully extend its Open to a global audience. If AUgusta National opened up a few tickets to global purchase they would probably exceed R&A in reaching out to a truly global audience.

As a non-American I always find it kind of funny when the Major Leauge winner, Super Bowl winner or NBA winner is pronounced World Champion. What teams from other countries did they beat?

Masters to include top Asian amateur
 

Augusta National partners in tournament that will add new talent in 2010.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories...l_511631.shtml