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No. 5 is next on Johnson checklist
Posted: Wednesday April 10, 2002 10:45 PM
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Augusta National Chairman Hootie Johnson speaks at a news conference. On Wednesday, he talked about the course changes and what lies ahead. Rob Carr/The Augusta Chronicle |
By Scott Michaux
The Augusta Chronicle
Hidden well behind all the chatter about the added length at Augusta National Golf Club this year is a quiet little secret.
It's a story about contraction. It's about the mysterious shortening of the par-4 fifth hole.
It's so mysterious, even the man responsible for the most significant expansion project in course history was caught off-guard at the news of the 435-yard hole that was listed as 440 yards in the first tournament program in 1934.
"Huh, I'll be damned," Masters Chairman Hootie Johnson said. "You're really telling me something that I'm not aware of, it being shortened."
Maybe Tom Fazio, the course architect who oversaw the recent addition of 285 yards to nine holes, can shed some light.
"I didn't know that," Fazio said.
It seems nobody knew. The first program for the Augusta National Invitational Tournament lists the 14th hole (now the fifth after the nines were reversed the next year) as 440 yards.
The Masters media guide mentions the hole's tee being moved forward 10 yards in 1953, with yardage records listing the length as 450. Then in unpublished club records, the yardage dropped 15 yards to the current 435 measure before the 1982 Masters.
| 2002 Masters at a Glance |
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| Event: |
The 66th Masters Tournament. |
| Dates: |
Thursday-Sunday. |
| Site: |
Augusta National Golf Club. |
| Length: |
7,270 yards. |
| Par: |
36-36--72. |
| Format: |
72 holes of stroke play, sudden-death playoff if necessary. |
| Purse: |
To be determined ($5.6 million in 2001) |
| Field: |
89 players, including five amateurs. |
| Defending champion: |
Tiger Woods. |
| Makeover: |
In the biggest overhaul in the 68-year history, Augusta National lengthened nine of the 18 holes, adding a maximum of 285 yards. |
| Noteworthy: |
Only two Masters champions finished over par -- Jack Burke Jr. (1956) and Sam Snead (1954), both at 1-over 289. |
| Quoteworthy: |
"Sam seems to be holding up pretty well." -- Masters chairman Hootie Johnson, on 89-year-old Sam Snead hitting the ceremonial first tee shot on Thursday. |
| Key groups: |
David Duval, Ernie Els, Greg Norman, 10:09 a.m.; Tiger Woods, Bubba Dickerson, Toshi Izawa, 10:53 a.m.; Phil Mickelson, Darren Clarke, Angel Cabrera, 1:27 p.m. |
| Television: |
Click for TV Schedule |
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Why? Who knows? Maybe it was some antiquated measuring standard that listed a yard as the breadth of Augusta National co-founder Clifford Roberts' pace. Whatever the reason, the fifth hole is officially 5 yards shorter than it was originally.
The Masters will rectify that, likely before next year's Masters. The fifth hole will be the focus of the next course change.
The advancement of technology through the years can easily be charted on the hole. Jackie Burke used a 3-wood on the hole when he won in 1956. Jack Nicklaus swung 5-irons when he eagled the fifth hole twice in the 1995 Masters. Most players today use nothing longer than an 8- or 9-iron.
"We have got to do something with No. 5, no question about it," Johnson said during his annual news conference on the eve of the Masters. "It will probably involve moving the bunkers. It's been rumored that we are going to move No. 4 green so we could move No. 5 tee back. We are not going to do that, but we are going to address the weakness of the fifth hole."
Fazio said his crew will chart the fifth hole this week to determine what needs to be done.
"No. 5 has limitations relative to space," Fazio said. "Bunker placement is the biggest issue."
Johnson agreed that yardage isn't the issue: "I don't see how it could be much longer. You maybe could pick up 5 or 10 more yards."
As for the additional 285 yards this year, Johnson said the tournament committee won't hesitate to use all the yardage, depending on weather considerations.
"On every hole we've changed, we'll use all of it," he said. "Maybe not all on the same day."
Discussion of the pending changes to No. 5 further illustrate the openness during Johnson's tenure as chairman since he was elected by the membership in May 1998.
Johnson also said Wednesday that by next year, new standards of exemption will be established for the former champions.
The chairman has been criticized for letters he sent to aging champions Doug Ford, Gay Brewer and Billy Casper informing them that they would not be invited to play in this year's Masters. All three expressed disappointment in the way the situation was handled, with Brewer going so far as to skip the Champions Dinner because he felt "uncomfortable."
"We made those decisions based on what we thought was in the best interests of the tournament," Johnson said. "We felt that the actions we took were in keeping with the philosophy of what Mr. Roberts had laid out."
Johnson said the policy will be developed to leave no room for misunderstanding.
"There was some ambiguity there, and we intend to make it clear," he said.
As for any regrets on the way he handled the situation with a letter rather than a personal phone call, Johnson said, "I don't look back."
OTHER ISSUES
Other topics addressed by Hootie Johnson on Wednesday:
On female membership at ANGC: "We have no exclusionary policies as far as our membership is concerned."
On broadening the special exemption clause to include Americans and foreign-born players: "I don't know what (Augusta National co-founder Clifford) Roberts would think about that. I would have to give that some research."
On who would present a green jacket to Tiger Woods should he repeat as champion: "I'm going to put it on him."
On reinstituting the automatic invitation to PGA Tour winners: "We have no plans to revisit that. We are very pleased with our present qualifications.
On the possibility of selling Masters merchandise outside the club grounds: "We don't feel the need to go on the Internet and trivialize the merchandise."
On his suggestion that the Masters might need to implement a standardized golf ball to offset future technological gains: "We hope that the R&A (Royal & Ancient Golf Club) and the USGA (United States Golf Association) can get together on equipment. We are concerned about how far the ball goes today, as far as the Masters Tournament is concerned. We are concerned about the golf game as well, not just the Masters Tournament."
On the possibility of competition involving former champions: "I would not think of it at all. I don't have to give you a reason. Mr. Roberts wouldn't give you a reason."
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