Go Time

We want to make bogies easy if frankly sought, pars readily obtainable by standard good play, and birdies, except on par-5's, dearly bought. BOBBY JONES

Jack and Gary have already put the first balls in the air, so let's have at it....

The Chairman's Little Red Book.... Chairman Ridley delivered his traditional State of the Azalea speech, including a warning shot across a certain bow:

It should come as no surprise to any of you that we continue to study other enhancements to the golf course. That includes much‑talked‑about changes, potential changes, to the 13th hole.

Admittedly, that hole does not play as it was intended to play by Jones and MacKenzie. The momentous decision that I've spoken about and that Bobby Jones often spoke about, of going for the green in two, is to a large extent, no longer relevant.

Although we now have options to increase the length of this hole, we intend to wait to see how distance may be addressed by the governing bodies before we take any action.

May?  Which also presumes may not....If it were any other club, you'd question whether they'd have purchased the property if they didn't anticipate the need for it, but ANGC has been actively expanding the perimeter of their property in all directions, for the simple reason that they can.

This might also seem curious to the astute reader:

In doing so, we fully recognize that the issue of distance presents difficult questions with no easy answers. But please know this: The USGA and The R&A do have the best interests of the game at heart. They recognize the importance of their future actions. You can be assured that we will continue to advocate for industry‑wide collaboration in support of the governing bodies as they resolve this very important topic.

Interesting to me that he felt the need to say that....  Similarly, that I feel the need to cite Robert Conquest's third rule of politics:

 The simplest way to explain the behavior of any bureaucratic organization is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.

That would explain Mike Davis' constant requests for mulligans....

First World Problems...  An amusing unexpected consequence of that land purchase from neighboring Augusta Country Club:

After a land deal between the two clubs in 2017, Augusta Country Club underwent a

regrassing and bunker renovation project through most of last year, while holes Nos. 8 and 9 received an architectural change. During the project, which forced Augusta Country Club to close its course for 5 1/2 months, trees were removed from No. 8, in turn leaving a more unobstructed view of both courses. 

“Taking out trees to the left of No. 8 at Augusta Country Club really opened it up,” Mize said. “But, look, these are two great clubs. Two tremendous clubs. So this is OK. This isn’t a bad thing.”

As long as no one can see Washington Road, I think we'll be fine.

Amusingly, no one even knew they were there until a ball flew in and almost hit Tiger on the 12th green.

A Price To Be Paid...  Yes, Clifford Roberts has gone to the great Par-3 in the sky, but I still think that Josh Sens is taking a bit of a risk here:

Masters 2019: It’s not perfect! Here are 9 (slightly) overrated things about the Masters

Before you're disappeared on us, Josh, whatcha got?

1. The concession prices

Don’t get us wrong — we love that the tournament doesn’t gouge its guests. But at what culinary cost? We can’t help but think if the club charged, say, $3 for a blueberry muffin (instead of a buck) or $5 for a barbecue sandwich (instead of $3), the Masters eating experience could be elevated from meh to memorable. Which leads us to… 

2. The Pimento Cheese Sandwich

It costs a mere $1.50, and you get what you pay for: a flavorless mass of sandwich-shaped glue. 

3. The Butler Cabin Ceremony

Congratulations, you just won the Masters. In honor of your historic achievement, we shall now subject you to an interview as wooden as the cabin in which you sit.

Josh, you ignorant slut.... you are so misguided on that third item.  The Butler Cabin ceremony is consummately awkward, a national treasure.  From long ago I remember Ken Venturi being forced to make nice with Arnie, who had previously stolen a Masters from him (in his opinion).  More recently, after throwing up on his shoes on No.12, Jordan being forced to help Danny Willett into his new, green sports jacket.... you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

But what do we think of this comment?

4. The Course Itself

Blasphemy, you say? Perhaps. But if you’re looking for evidence of how a rarefied reputation can influence architectural rankings, look no further than Augusta National, which stands at No. 5 on GOLF Magazine’s List of Top 100 Courses in the World. That’s six notches ahead of Royal Melbourne (West); 17 ahead of Los Angeles Country Club (North) and 26 ahead of Sunningdale (Old), to name just a few equal-to-superior designs that fall lower on the list.

Yeah, I kinda agree....  For instance, the strategic brilliance of the 16th green has long puzzled me.  That said, Sunday is always pretty exciting, so perhaps we should acknowledge that it all kind of works.

Dropping a Nickel...  A little talk about the lengthened fifth hole:

What golfer Bobby Cruickshank loved about his first few days at Augusta National Golf Club in 1934 was “ever since I’ve been here, I’ve felt I was back in Scotland,” he told sports writer Grantland Rice. Whether the prominent professional of the 1920s and ’30s got a wee sense of nostalgia for the Old Course’s iconic par-4 17th after playing Augusta National’s par-4 No. 5 is not in the archives, but the legendary visionary behind this iconic course suggested Cruickshank might have. 

“(No. 5) is similar type of hole to the famous seventeenth, the Road Hole, at St. Andrews,” Dr. Alister MacKenzie said during construction. Though the fifth at Augusta would turn right to left, as opposed to the left-to-right movement of The Road Hole, there were doglegs that commanded a precision tee shot to secure the proper approach into the green.

And this from the Chairman's comments:

As has been reported, last summer, the fifth tee was moved back and shifted away from the fourth green. In doing so, the fairway landing area was regraded and the bunkers

were repositioned. While this hole now measures 40 yards longer, we believe this change maintains the original design philosophy of Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, and not only continues our commitment to keep the course in step with the changing state of the game, but we believe it will have a positive impact on pace of play. 

As part of this renovation, we took the opportunity to rebuild and slightly enlarge the fifth green. In doing so, we were able to make adjustments to the back left portion of the putting green in order to support new hole locations.

I'm just happy that the club is guided by a man that recognizes those original design concepts.   Billy Payne didn't seem well-versed, despite his many other worthwhile contributions, and don't get me started on Payne's predecessors.

Shack thinks it'll need some further tweaking:

The bunkers are just a bit large off the tee and overwhelming in scale and difficulty given what both Bob Jones and Alister MacKenzie detailed (they were conflicted about those bunkers, with Jones adding them after the course opened and after having shot down their initial inclusion). A drive over those bunkers—314 carry—may not be rewarded with a clean look at the green from the fairway if there is any run to the ball.. It feels like the location of the old bunkers was not adequately filled in, so I suspect the tee shot will actually favor a left to right shape.

The green complex still looks intimidating and in firmer years may prompt a run-up, with the new left hole location an almost impossible birdie unless a player sinks a long putt.

Well, let's see how she plays...

The Week That Will Be....   Lots of rain early in the week will have some kind of effect for sure.  Here are some thoughts, leading with Mathew Rudy:

At the most basic level, rain reduces roll in the fairways and makes the greens slightly more receptive to shots coming in at steeper angles. The lack of roll in the fairway doesn't mean much to players like Rory McIlroy, who can carry it more than 320 yards,

but for players with mid-pack power, losing 20 yards of roll out means picking entirely different lines off the tee. 

"Most of the preparation for a major is focusing on tee clubs and the lines you like to take," says top teacher Tony Ruggiero, who works with a stable of PGA Tour players including 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover. "When the course plays out of character, you have to make the time to play the holes where you might not be as comfortable with the line the course and the weather is going to make you take." 

A prime example? The 10th hole offers a speed slot that shoots tee shots played in the right place—down the right center, with a slight draw—upwards of 50 yards farther down, where the uphill approach to severely sloped green gets way easier. When the ball doesn't roll as much, players will be forced to use a harder-to-control driver instead of 3-wood to take full advantage of the slot. That makes clean ball-striking with the driver more of a factor than normal on a course that usually allows some forgiveness.

I would have thought that the most basic level was keeping players off the golf course those days, and the resulting advantage to the more experienced players.

Shack suggests that it's a week for bombers, both at Golfweek and his blog.   This graphic speaks louder than words:

Not Gonna Happen....  One of the LPGA players asked when they would get their invites....

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley’s annual press conference

sailed along smoothly Wednesday morning. Unrevealing answers flowed, one after the next. And then, with the last question, he was pressed for a third time about the idea of Augusta National playing host to a women’s professional event. 

With more than a dozen green jackets peering at him from the back of the room, Ridley paused for a few beats to gather his thoughts. “We’re really looking to the future,” he said. “We also have to be respectful of the Masters Tournament. 

“We were trying to balance providing the women competitors with the opportunity to be at Augusta National, to have a championship decided at Augusta National, but yet be cognizant of the fact that we were just a few days away from the Masters Tournament.

The club is doing its fair share now, and I very much think they made the right call.  They need to fix the calendar, but otherwise we're good.

Alan On The Masters...   A Masters-themed mailbag:

If you were a woman amateur and got invited to play at the ANWA and ANA Inspiration, which one would you choose to play and why? *This is a one-time shot only. -@Steffi_Latina 

It depends on what kind of amateur we’re talking about. If you’re a top player who is pretty confident in making it to the LPGA, by all means tee it up in Augusta for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s potentially a great way to launch a pro career; both Kupcho and Fassi are now going to make a fortune in endorsements based on one magical day at ANGC. And they’ll have plenty of opportunities to qualify for the Dinah. But if you’re a very-good-but-not-great amateur, playing the Dinah makes more sense. You’re guaranteed two tournament rounds and a bunch of practice days amongst the world’s best players. At the ANWA, all you can bank on is hanging out at Champion’s Retreat.

Fair enough, though I'd certainly have wanted to be there for the first ANWA.

Rory can only win one more major — does he pick the Open Championship this year or a Masters (whatever year)? -Sujeet (@Sindap) 

It has to be the Masters, to become only the sixth player to win the career Grand Slam and bury once and for all the collapse in 2011 and subsequent disasters. Rory has a long history at Royal Portrush – witness his course record 61 at the age of 16 – but it’s not the course he grew up playing (a la Graeme McDowell) and being a Northern Irishman is has always made patriotism complicated (witness McIlroy’s discomfort surrounding the 2016 Olympics.) But if Rory does prevail this year at Portrush it will touch off an epic celebration.Portrush will be a crazy week for Rors, but let's also remember that he's not the best links player out there.   

Keep in mind that. notwithstanding that 61, our Rors isn't the best bet on a links... 

#askalan What happens first: Rickie wins his Masters, Tiger wins another, Rory completes the Slam or you make your first ace? Bonus: if you caddied in the par-3 tournament and took a swing and made an ace would that count? Considering the environment… -@HighFades 

Hell yes it counts! Next time I jar a tee shot in mini-golf I’m calling it an ace and getting a plaque made. And I’ll take Rickie. He made a stirring run last year and of all the major championship venues Augusta National is the best fit for his freewheeling game.

Fair enough, though doesn't that apply to Rory as well?

Will the ANGC add a third person to hit the ceremonial tee shots (along with Player and Nicklaus) anytime soon? Who do you see doing the honors in 2030? 2040? 2050? #AskAlan-@MDStoner 

The only person who makes even a little sense as a third is Tom Watson. But Jack is not going to want to overstay his welcome. I think he and Player will go out together in the next couple of years, while they’re still relatively spry. That would pave the way for Watson, Ben Crenshaw and Ray Floyd – lots of personality in that crew. They could easily take us to 2030. Then they make way for Fred Couples, Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer, who get us to 2040. At last, we get what we’re craving: Tiger and Phil trying to outdrive each other. They might hog the stage for two decades, at which point Jordan Spieth will presumably have some options beyond P. Reed.

No love for Bubba?  I'd think you'd have to win more than one to land that sweet gig, but don't we love the thought of Bubba showing up with the pink driver and hitting a low, slinging hook?

Is it time for the Masters to consider expanding the field? There has been some talk that there could be a run of the smallest fields for the tournament? This year only 87 players?

-@KeithKhorton 

That’s just how the green jackets do things – they like the tournament to still feel like a cozy little invitational among friends. Sure, it’s irritating when some very good players slip through the cracks. Jim Furyk would have added something to this field, but it’s hard to get too worked up about it; he’s spent the last quarter-century *not* winning the Masters. Sungjae Im would’ve made a fun dark horse, Lucas Glover a local favorite. A healthy Cam Champ would’ve been great fun to watch. But this is part of the club’s evil genius – they don’t want some rando to have the week of his life and steal the tournament. Part of the reason the Masters has such a glittery roll call of winners is exactly because the field is so small. Take away so many good-but-not-great players and they can’t ruin the party. Bottom line: there are many ways to qualify for the Masters and if a player hasn’t done so, it’s on them. All the key competitors are here this week.

This is very much an issue to me.  Forget the headline number of 87 players this week, the problem is that so many of those, amateurs and former champions, aren't competitive.  It's not quite the Hero World Challenge, but it's far and away the easiest major to win for that reason.  As long as, you know, you're in the field....

How would club golfers score at Augusta (tournament conditions and tees) … handicaps 0,7,15,22 #AskAlan -Brian (@bcunningham) 

Depends on the golfer, of course. It’s pretty easy off the tee; a bogey golfer who sprays the ball but has a good short game might do surprisingly well, but that’s from the member’s tees. Playing it at 7,500 yards will wear down anyone, even a strong player. And I’m assuming no gimmees – that adds 2-3 shots to any golfer’s score, and at Augusta National it’d be a lot more than that. All that said…

Scratch: 81

Seven: 93

Fifteen: 108

Twenty-two: 129

OK, unfortunately not my problem....

Will seeing Augusta play the way it was designed to play originally (given the ladies’ shorter ball flight) finally tip the scales in the distance debate? -David

(@dmalament) 

Why were Kupcho’s back-nine fireworks so instantly legendary? Because she was hitting lumber into 13 and 15! That’s a helluva lot more impressive than chipping an 8-iron. As you suggest, one of the great pleasures of the ANWA was seeing some of the course’s shot values restored. It added to the tension and elevated the appreciation we all felt for the golf that was played. Fred Ridley is reputed to be a traditionalist who understands how much the course has been compromised by Hootie’s reign of terror and the modern power game. Does he have the stomach to introduce a reduced-flight ball? Unless he’s willing to buy another chunk of the town and add 1,500 yards to the current course, that’s the only way to bring back the Mackenzie-Jones vision.

This is unfortunately so very true about where our game stands.  Read that Jones quote above and remember their concept of how this hole should play....  Besides a golf ball bouncing on the turf, is there anything more exciting than a headcover being removed with water in play?

With more courses emphasizing the use of natural aesthetics is ANGC becoming an outdated course? Mystique aside, is it better than Bandon, Cypress (even Pasi?), Sweetens, Pinehurst, etc.? #AskAlan -@UnbeatableTweet 

Everything about Augusta National is preposterous – the amount of water and fertilizer it consumes, the manpower it demands to maintain, the way it warps the expectations of everyday golfers. Personally, I prefer the more natural aesthetic of all those courses you mention. But as long as we’re going to have green, lush, heavily-manicured golf courses, we might as well have one that is so over-the-top it’s like playing golf inside a painting. That’s what Augusta National feels like to me.

Do you remember my disgust at Adare Manor being called the Augusta National of Ireland?  This is not a how-to guide for other clubs, it's a historical anomaly.   Enjoy, but please don't imitate.

This is a good one to go out on:

What is the best thing about covering the Masters? #AskAlan -@ViniciusAlvarez 

Longtime readers know that I have never fully imbibed the Masters Kool-Aid. There are many things about the host club that have and still bother me. It’s the hardest week of the year work-wise, with draconian rules that make every reporter’s job difficult, especially the few of us who are not content to get all of our information from press conferences. The cell phone policy cuts me off from my readers and editors. But come Masters Sunday, all of that goes out the window. It is, quite simply, the most exciting day of the year, and the back-nine remains the sport’s grandest stage. The tension is exquisite, and it’s a thrill to get to document and expand upon the heroics and heartbreak. Dammit Augusta, I just can’t quit you.

I'm guessing that he's the first to analogize ANGC to Brokeback Mountain.  Risky, though likely none of the members would get the reference.

 You've made your picks, so no need to waste our time there....  I'll just wish that we have a great week and that the weekend weather cooperates.