BBC SPORT
BBCi CATEGORIES   TV   RADIO   COMMUNICATE   WHERE I LIVE   INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC Sport
 You are in: Special Events: US Masters  
Sport Front Page
-------------------
Football
Cricket
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
Boxing
Athletics
Other Sports
-------------------
Special Events
-------------------
Sports Talk
-------------------
BBC Pundits
TV & Radio
Question of Sport
-------------------
Photo Galleries
Funny Old Game
-------------------
Around The UK: 
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales

BBC Sport Academy
BBC News
BBC Weather
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS

  Wednesday, 4 April, 2001, 19:47 GMT 20:47 UK
Facelift to toughen up Augusta
Tiger Woods chips in during his 1997 triumph
Woods triumphed in the 1997 Masters by 12 strokes
Augusta National Golf Club will be made harder next year as extensive changes to the home of the Masters have been revealed.

Club chairman William Johnson said some holes would be altered to respond to improvements in golf ball and club-making technology that have helped players hit longer than ever.

"We think that several of our par-4s are a little weak, and we are going to try to strengthen them," Johnson said on the eve of the 65th Masters.

Bunkers may also be changed or moved and some teeing areas could be shifted to require a more difficult shot off the tee.


It's just that we, and I think any of us, probably hate to see people hitting sand wedges to 425-yard par-4s
William Johnson, Augusta club chairman

"This equipment is making a huge difference, and we are going to make an attempt, as we always have, to try to keep the golf course current with the times," Johnson added.

A new ball has enabled many players to lengthen their game and Johnson is worried that classic courses such as Augusta may be rendered obsolete for the professionals.

"I hope that the equipment can be addressed," he said.

"Another decade or two, I don't know where we might be and I don't know the answer to how that is going to be approached."

Johnson stated that changing the course was not a reaction to lower scores, despite Tiger Woods winning the Masters in 1997 on 18 under par.

"It's just that we, and I think any of us, probably hate to see people hitting sand wedges to 425-yard par-4s," Johnson said.

He also said Masters officials were considering expanding the television coverage to allow viewers to watch the tournament leaders play all 18 holes of Sunday's final round.


Tiger's Grand Slam

Fourth round news

Third round news

Second round news

First round news

Clickable guides

Masters memories

Masters coverage

MULTIMEDIA FEATURES

FOURTH ROUND A/V

PHOTO GALLERIES

SPORTS TALK

Internet link
Links to more US Masters stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more US Masters stories

© BBC ^^ Back to top

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports |
Special Events | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Question of Sport |
Photo Galleries | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales