Tiger: They've Actually Made Augusta National Easier

The club put out News Bulletin No. 1 today, Masters Monday, and it reads..

"Our fairways are mowed at 3/8 inch, the second cut at 1 3/8th inch, the tees at 5/16 inch, the collars at 1/4 inch and the greens at 1/8 inch. All mowings are subject to weather conditions and growth."

As most of you know, the club keeps a surprising long height of cut, especially considering what modern mowers are capable of producing. That cut is pushed toward the tees by a mower brigade, designed to create a grain. This practice slows down roll and does keep the course from producing drives like we saw at Austin Country Club a few weeks ago (where overseeded Bermuda fairways produced incredible roll without the grain).

I found it most interesting that Tiger, in considering how the course has changed, told USA Today's Steve DiMeglio he sees an easier Augusta National because of the higher mowing heights.

“The golf course has been redesigned and it’s not as difficult as it used to be,” Woods told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview during a promotional tour for his book last month. “The golf course was quicker and faster. All the greens have been redesigned and it’s not as difficult as it used to be; they’ve all gotten bigger and flatter. But at the same time they’ve made the golf course longer so we’re all hitting longer shots into (the greens).”

The shots around the greens have changed, too.

“I think that the short shots at Augusta have gotten so different,” Woods said. “The grass has gotten longer. Chipping with Seve (Ballesteros) and Raymond (Floyd) and Ollie (Jose Maria Olazabal), showing me how to play all these different shots because you could play those little shots.”

It is amazing how much of a cushion feel there is to the place compared to the first time I came here. That probably is nicer for members not wanting to hit off a tight lie, but less difficult for Masters competitors.

Comments

[Rare]

Tight lights are becoming scarce.

[Jupiter]

Hahahahahahahahaha... Tiger please come show us how much easier the course is now.

[DrBunsenHoneydew]

Tiger then started yelling "Back in my day!" and waving his cane... this was followed by him slumping back in his recliner for a long nap before Wheel of Fortune

[D. maculata]

Sounds like he's signaling retirement to me. Don't be too harsh on his opinion when he talks course difficultly. To borrow an observation from KLG, the competition curled like puppies and piddled on themselves when paired with him. In my mind, every damn one except VJ.

[Tremendous Slouch]

What golfer is interested in hearing Augusta insights from a 4-time Masters winner, am I right?

Never change, Shackelfordians.

[Keith - NYC]

dmac - maybe Hal Sutton's name could also be added to the list of non-piddlers. .

[jimbo]

It is a backhanded slap at winners this year and going forward. "_____________, winner of 2017, your accomplishment is not as worthy as mine because I had to work harder on a more difficult golf course." Humility, never a strong suit for TW.

[Munihack]

I remember Jack talking about the slope change on 18 green in'86 because his firm got the contract. The reality is you cannot have stimp speeds they want and keep those slopes. The players that have the longest memories know what was there before. The course hasn't played like an "inland links" for awhile.

[D. maculata]

On that day, Keith. Was referring to the larger picture, a stretch from 1998 - 2004 when VJ bagged 3-majors.

[Keith - NYC]

Gotcha dmac...I can buy VJ over the longer term....others like Wang had flashes or moments.

[jambase]

jimbo secures the whiny bitch of the week award before sundown on momday!

[Confused]

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA - Jupiter please show us how you know better than TW about how to play Augusta? Pretty please ....

[Confused]

@Jambase -

Nothin' but net. Nice one.

[Jupiter]

Good morning @Confused.

I never said I knew more about the course than Tiger. But I can assure you that I wouldn't disrespect my fans or the game by walking off of the course with alleged back spasms while shooting a less that stellar round. Sound familiar? It's easy to see that you love the guy and that's fine. I just choose to pull for guys that show sportsmanship and respect to their competitors and the game in general. Tiger doesn't qualify for any of that. Just as a tip... you might want to start looking for someone else to pull for as it appears that your boy Tiger is washed up for good.

@Jimbo +1

[Confused]

Jupiter -

I don't love him ... just don't hate him like you do. I thought we've been through this already?

Anyways ... what do you do for a living? Do you have fans?

Which "fellow competitors" of Tigers have spoken up regarding his disrespect to them again?

No love for TWs tweet regarding the ANA rules debacle? Were you not watching and pulling for all the great sportsfolks and uber-respectfuls?

BTW - I am already pulling for someone else ... you!! Here's hoping 2017 is the year your high horse gets stuck in the mud and you need some help from one of us peons/horrible-types. Might give us all a little perspective.

Who's your pick anyways? DJ, Rory, Jason or Jordan?

[pasaplaywr]

So, Eldrick, is the easier course simply the latest "Tiger proofing", that is, for your current benefit?

[Jupiter]

@Confused... you really go into personal attack mode pretty quickly when someone says something negative about Tiger don't you? I've been posting on this site for years and have many positive and educational debates on here with folks that know a lot more about the game than I do and that don't share my opinion(s) without it getting personal. I guess that's not your style. Maybe something else that you have in common with Tiger?

For the record I don't hate Tiger... I don't even know him. "I thought we've been through this already?" I just don't respect him. I do believe that his record is tarnished by his association with Dr Galea. Again just my opinion after many hours of reading on the subject of PED's, HGH, etc as it relates to various sports and athletes. I prefer to learn about topics before I comment on them as opposed to blindly attacking or defending people with my head in the sand.

I'm not sure who you're referring to re the "ANA rules debacle". Sadly Lexi screwed up and it cost her a major title. You didn't see me jump to her defense. Rules are rules.

And as far as what I do or did for a living... not any of your concern. Why do you need a loan?

[Carl Peterson]

" I've thrown more hate at Tiger Woods on here than anyone I can think of but I've never attacked a fellow commenter."
-- Jupiter (http://bit.ly/2n8z31u)

[Center Cut]

Dunno about if the grass has gotten a tad longer as last time I was there (2011) it looked pretty tight to me. There was always a spot on 17, front right of green where if you didn't get the ball up, you would roll back a brutally long way, not as bad as if you put too much science on your shot into 9, but still enough to have a 30 yard pitch for a third. Didn't see that last year.

Tiger may be right, but did this need to be stated? Maybe, the Masters should be an examination of every shot into every hole on every day. I always thought that 15 should get rid of that greenside bunker on the right as nowadays it's a bail-out beach.

Still one of my favourite weekends though.

[Jupiter]

@Carl... thanks and I do recall that string. As you took time to pull that up I trust that you also understood the context of the entire post from which you pulled one sentence. I was trying to make a statement regarding the difference between attacking an issue on here v/s attacking someone that is/was posting their thoughts. I truly respect everyone's opinions on here and try to learn from them when they differ from mine.

I stand by the comment as I have "thrown hate at Tiger" but I don't hate the guy... again I don't even know him. I do believe that there's a difference.

[Confused]

@Jupiter -

I would defend anyone (yourself included) that gets vilified in this manner.

It also amuses the hell out of me that you (and a couple others) detest (sorry, "disrespect") the man so much you cannot wait for your chance to jump into another TW thread with some really good "positive and educational" messages.

It's unfortunate you can't read your own writing and see "personal attacks" all over it. Because TW isn't here to defend the attacks on him you make in the name of "opinion", that makes it okay?

Your use of "just a tip" and "your boy Tiger" imply a derogatory position. Is that not personally directed towards me?

Your posts about TW are never about the game, or anything related to that. They're personal attacks - usually ones regarding PEDs or other such nonsense. It's impossible to have a positive (or even negative) debate with someone that is consistently pulling facts out of their arse.

You did research into PEDs and HGH? That's great - me too! A little longer than a few hours though - it took me years! What did you learn? (I learned medical school loans take awhile to pay off!)

The reason I asked about what you do (or did or didn't do) for a living is because you were so adamant about how you would never do anything wrong to disrespect your fans. I was wondering if you had fans ... or have been in a position to have fans. Have you done research into the psychology of the high performance mentality? Any books/studies you care to recommend? I just finished The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin .. pretty good stuff.

The rules debacle question was to see if you knew that TW was watching the ANA, rooting on the players (I considered it a classy move). Obviously not ... and to be honest, yes, I think it's a debacle when a fan can call in an infraction from their couch that gets applied to a competitor during competition.

Anyways - you skipped the most important question ... who's your pick?

[Sari]

For what it's worth, I don't think Tiger is alone in advocating for elimination of "second cut" and going back to less trees, all mowed approach to the course. In fact, isn't that what Pinehurst #2 did as well? Consensus was that with tighter lies, less rough, trees would come more into play, you'd have to be more imaginative around greens, etc...

I didn't think this was a controversial opinion to be honest.

Aesthetically, I've been to August both before and after "second cut" and I much preferred the prior version.

[Jupiter]

@Confused... thanks you for your honest feedback. If I've crossed the line of good debate I apologize. Although I will stick to my guns that's it's you who goes off first on the personal attacks but I can also acknowledge that my comments can come across as condescending. Apologies again and no disrespect meant. Yes I do believe that as a public figure and someone that has had such a polarizing personality and has a history of treating everyone not in his inner circle like crap that Tiger is fair game in the court of public opinion. Let's at least be honest enough to admit that he's given us all plenty of ammo to form our own opinions... positive or negative.

No medical degree here and no expert on PED's or HGH. But if you are I'm truly confused as to how you don't see an issue with Tiger's association with an unlicensed Dr Galea. Of course I don't have any facts in hand to back up my opinion but there sure is a lot of smoke as they say. Were there facts out in the public before Lance Armstrong made his announcement that he'd been using PED's? No but he was guilty and most folks believed it anyway before his admission. Sorry but as a competitor I prefer a level playing field.

We're in agreement on the ANA situation.

If/when Tiger tees it up in competition again we'll all have something related to golf to talk about. Until then all we have is the dysfunction in his camp and the never ending "He's back" hype to keep his sponsors happy.

I honestly haven't made my pick yet. I have until tomorrow @ 5:00 to get in on paper for the pool with my buddies. I'm a huge Henrik Stenson fan but I don't have a lot of confidence in him tight now. How about you?

[Confused]

@Jupiter -

Thanks for the great response ... I also need to apologize. I have a tendancy to protect the guy on the ground who's getting whipped. I end up going straight at my opponent (in this case you) in any manner that seems appropriate. Its usually throwing stuff back in their face - which is most definitely personal.

Anyways - I apologize. I like clearing the air ... woohooo! :)

As for the ANA, I liked the other posters comment in that newer thread about the "time limit". That would work great.

As for picks....I have some middlers...but not one real winning horse. I was checking out Stenson today though...even though recent form isn't so hot, he seems to still be a decent pick. There ARE a few horses that I don't know why their odds are outta whack ... which (generally) can point to some kinda form. (Willett last year, for instance. I didn't even know who the F he was, but I bet on him ...)


Anyways - cheers. Lets have some fun. The Masters is sweetsauce - we can all agree on that (maybe). :)

[Jupiter]

Agreed. Have a good evening.

[Mulva]

OMG, are Confused and Jupiter really the same poster? Or is this really an online relationship that has blossomed after two heartfelt apologies? You guys may need to get a room.

Carl, you're scaring me with this ability to pull up quotes from the past.

[Silly Bodkins]

Lord knows that I have screwed up a lot in life. Strip joints, drunkeness, lots of missed opportunities. But 120 mistresses while I was married - no, that's a whole other universe. Nice going, Mr tiger.

By the way, if Payne Stewart doesn't die in a plane, tiger wins 2 or 3 fewer majors. Just sayin'.

[Carl Peterson]

Tiger and Payne played 55 events in common and Tiger won about 2x ($) in those events. At that stage of their careers, it's unlikely that Stewart was going to improve on that.

[jambase]

today phil exactly echoed tiger's observations about augusta national being easier now than before, sorry jimbo.

[jimbo]

jambase,
while not "exactly" as PM comments were more to the point of easier now for a first timer to win (Rham for instance), but certainly a similar sentiment, and would certainly posit a similar intent.
Jimbo