A new viewing area on the hillside at No. 16 will allow for 2,000 more patrons near the famous par 3.(Photo: Getty Images)
Posted on 04/06/2008 4:00:10 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
"Refinements to the golf course and grounds have been made almost every year since the Tournament's inception and this year was no exception," Payne said. "Overall, we are happy with the golf course. We think last year's exceptionally high scores were an anomaly due to the frigid, windy weather."
The changes for the 2008 Masters are:
Hole No. 1: Ten yards were added to the front of the Masters tee, providing more flexibility in the event of a strong northwest wind. The back of the tee was reduced to ease patron movement. The Masters scorecard for No. 1 remains 455 yards.
Hole No. 7: The green was changed for agronomic reasons and approximately 6 feet added to the left of the green, allowing the possibility of two-to-three additional pin placements.
Hole No. 9: The green was changed for agronomic reasons and the right pin placement was softened on the first and middle plateaus.
Hole No. 11: Consistent with last year, several trees were removed. The result allows for enhanced patron viewing.
Additional work throughout the course included construction of a new patron viewing area on the hillside at No. 16, further work on the new practice facility that will open in 2010, adding and extending azalea beds to increase course color and replacing grass with pine straw between Nos. 15 and 17 (pine straw was also added to the left of No. 15).
The hillside seating area is located to the left of the pond at No. 16 and will provide viewing for more than 2,000 patrons. Holes that can be viewed from this location include No. 6 green, the second shot and every putt at No. 15, the green complex at No. 16 and the tee shot and second shot at No. 17.
Easy access can be gained to this area from a newly renovated back entrance. From there, patrons can travel to the No. 16 hillside, No. 5 fairway or to holes Nos. 13, 14 and Amen Corner.
"We are very excited about these significant improvements for our patrons, and hope that we have made an already special experience even better," said Payne.
A new viewing area on the hillside at No. 16 will allow for 2,000 more patrons near the famous par 3.(Photo: Getty Images)
Email me if you want on the Golf Ping List.
Visit PGA.com, an excellent site.
Good, now I can hit three wood.
First it’s too easy, then it’s too hard.
Personally, I don’t see why low scores are bad. Customers want to see some birdies and eagles.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Jack Nicklaus might be playing at the Masters for the next decade or two -- in the Par 3 Tournament.
"I got into that a couple of years ago, and my son, Jack, said, 'Oh, dad, you're going to play in the Par 3. How about having Charlie caddie for you? It would be a big thrill,'" Nicklaus said.
Charlie is his grandson, and the Golden Bear is a big believer in equal opportunity.
"Once I had one grandchild (as a caddie), I have 19 more, and I'll have 20 more in another month," Nicklaus said.
Nicklaus stopped playing the Masters in 2005, another reason he can play in the Par 3. The six-time champion conceded to being superstitious, well aware that no one ever won the Masters after winning the Par 3 Tournament.
He also said it cut into his preparations.
"You play a practice round on Wednesday, preparing yourself for a golf tournament," he said. "And you go out and play on another golf course, another set of greens, and you're spending energy when you should be resting for the start of the tournament.
"Do you spend a lot of energy? No, you don't. Is it too much to ask the players to play? No, it's not too much. But in the days when I was competitive and felt like I had a chance, I had so much energy focused on wanting to win that golf tournament that it was a distraction for me and not something I wanted to do."
Jack Nicklaus celebrates with grandson Charlie after Charlie made a birdie putt on the ninth hole during the 2006 Par 3 Tournament at Augusta National.
Here, test your Masters Trivia.
.
Tiger says, "I'll take you up on that one, proxy_user!!!
Could be. Or maybe his putting will desert him, as happened when Olgilvy won the WCG.
You never know with golf.
They tweaked it? That tears it! I’m not playing!
Bottom line I guess is that there will be no more motivation for him............
I can understand that, with all your personal goals met in the profession you chose and quite likely the richest athlete ever to walk the planet, there's nothing left but to move on to other things..........
Hey Zach, what’s on the menu Tuesday night? As of 3 hours ago-—IT’S MASTERS WEEK BABY!!!!
WOO FREAKIN’ HOO!!
Thanks, ZE!
In an ordinary tournament, I agree that they aren't bad. But in a major championship, I want to see the best golfers in the most difficult conditions. Anyone can make birdies, but I want to see someone win who plays the absolute best golf. In the US Open, that means severe penalities for those who miss the fairway. At the Masters, that means super fast greens and terribly difficult pin placements.
After all, Johnny Miller's 63 wasn't great because it was a 63--it was great because it was a 63 on Sunday at the US Open.
- it's a smaller field than Open events, with only about eighty real competitors (I'm discounting many of the former champions)
- it's the same course every year
That being said, one's game has to be suitable to Augusta. That's why Jack Nicklaus won it six times and Lee Trevino never won it once.
However, it is NOT just a bomber's course - witness Zach Johnson last year who laid up on just about every par-5 and won with his putter.
My picks:
1. TIGER WOODS
2. Phil Mickelson
3. Ernie Els
4. Retief Goosen
5. Rory Sabbatini
6. K.J. Choi
7. Luke Donald
Tee it up!
1.Tiger 2.K.J Choi 3.Johnson Wagner 4.V.J. 5.Ernie Els 6.Padraige Harrington 7.Andres Romero
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