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If you're going to have change, be liberal with it
Posted: Wednesday April 10, 2002 8:42 PM
Updated: Thursday April 11, 2002 12:55 AM
By Scott Michaux
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Hootie Johnson admitted in a recent interview with GolfWorld magazine a truth that seems fundamentally opposed to the traditions of the club.
Scott Michaux is a columnist for The Augusta Chronicle.
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"My reputation is pretty well-known here and otherwise for being ... liberal," he said, the L-word reportedly delivered in a hushed tone.
The changes at the host site of the Masters Tournament since Johnson took over as chairman in 1998 substantiate the reputation. Johnson has been liberal about changing the golf course and the tournament to keep pace with the game.
Johnson didn't have a so-called "five-year plan" when he replaced Jack Stephens as the leader of the world's most powerful private club. The scope of the overhaul he has initiated wasn't predetermined.
"I probably would not have accepted if I thought we needed to do all this work," he said Wednesday.
But Johnson's work is far from through. Reiterating the philosophy of founding Chairman Clifford Roberts, Johnson said, "We really never get it right."
"We are always going to have changes here," he said. "We've had them since 1934, and we are going to keep having them."
In that spirit, here are a few changes we'd like to see in the future at Augusta National and the Masters.
More amateurs. Bobby Jones, the greatest amateur the game has ever known, celebrated the amateur spirit by reserving a space for selected amateurs in the Masters field. Only five spots still remain. How about finding a place for the reigning NCAA and U.S. Senior Amateur champs in the field?
PGA Tour winners. Johnson eliminated the automatic invitation to the year's tournament winners, cutting one of the most coveted perks for first-time winners and spoiling some of the drama in the weeks leading up to the Masters. What would it hurt to expand the field by just a few guys?
| 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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Unlimited special exemptions. The Masters Committee, at its discretion, can invite international players not otherwise qualified. Why not give the same consideration to American players? Was Tom Kite not as worthy as Greg Norman in 1992? If Charles Howell or John Daly had not slipped into the top 50 of the Golf World Ranking, would they not have been as worthy as Norman this year?
No more rough. With the added yardage, is the mild second cut of fairway still necessary? Get rid of it and let errant drives roll into the trees.
Earlier Sunday finish. With so few players and so much time, why can't tee times start earlier so that play can finish up around 6 p.m. instead of 7? More daylight leaves more room for an extended playoff.
Speaking of playoffs: Instead of sudden death, which has never extended as far as the par-3 12th hole, implement a three-hole Amen Playoff that would require the participants to face Amen Corner (11, 12 and 13) one more time.
More TV. The Masters is the best telecast of the year, unencumbered by excessive commercialization. Keep that, but expand the hours on Thursday and Friday to placate the throngs who can't get a tournament badge.
²Senior Masters. I know this idea isn't popular with the Augusta National folks, but give Doug Ford, Gay Brewer, Billy Casper and peers their due by letting them participate for the usual 36 holes from the members' tees. We don't care what they shoot. We just want to see them.
Honor Sam Snead and Gary Player. The three-time champions - one the winningest golfer in history and the other the first international Masters winner - deserve the same permanent recognition in the form of a plaque that Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Gene Sarazen, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have as tribute. Perhaps a marker situated near the first tee, where Snead has helped start the tournament since 1984. It could be the place where everyone has to stop to get daily pairings sheets.
At the rate Johnson works, he could conservatively have all these goals accomplished before he retires.
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