Turning a masterpiece into a monster
The changes to Augusta National
Hole 7 (par 4, 410yds) Tee moved back 45 yards. Trees added to left side of the fairway. Until now, the choice was a driver to 100 yards of the elevated green and then a sand wedge approach. Now more accuracy is demanded off the tee and players may leave their driver in the bag.
Hole 8 (par 5, 570yds) Tee moved back 20 yards and shifted by 10 yards to the player's right. Fairway bunker reshaped. It will now take a 305 yard drive to clear it.
Hole 9 (par 4, 460yds) Tee moved back 30 yards. Trees added to the right of the fairway will penalise wayward drives.
Hole 10 (par 4, 495yds) Tee moved back 10 yards and moved five yards to the player's left, making it the longest par four in major championship golf. The best players will now hit a controlled hook with their drivers.
Hole 11 (par 4, 490yds) Tee moved back 35 yards and moved five yards to the player's left. They will now have to drive almost dead straight from the tee.
Hole 13 (par 5, 510yds) Tee moved back 25 yards. Green had been reachable-with a six-iron second shot. Now players must use a longer iron with great accuracy for an eagle or birdie chance.
Hole 14 (par 4, 440yds) Tee moved back 35 yards. Even easier now for a leaked tee shot to roll into the pine trees on the right side of the fairway.
Hole 18 (par 4, 465yds) Tee moved back 60 yards and moved five yards to the player's right. Bunker complex enlarged by 10 per cent. Trees added to the left of the fairway bunker. Green regrassed and expanded to offer new pin positions. Classic closing hole now demands a long, controlled fade off the tee followed by a medium to long iron second shot.
