Bernhard Langer talks about the new rough

By David Westin
Staff Writer

Short to medium-length hitters in the 1999 Masters Tournament are rejoicing today. For the first time since the 1960s, there will be rough at the Augusta National Golf Club, making life tougher for the long hitters.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by new Augusta National Chairman William ``Hootie'' Johnson.

The rough will be heightened three-quarters of an inch, to 1 3/8 inches, for this year's Masters, Johnson said. That will be 1 inch higher than the fairway.

Rough at the Augusta National will make long hitters such as 1998 champion Tiger Woods, John Daly and Davis Love III pay for their errant tee shots. In the past, the long knockers had no problem placing their approach shots on the green when they missed a fairway.

``We just want to make them think coming off the tee,'' Johnson said. ``Premium on accuracy off the tee is really what we're about in these changes.''

With rough, golfers face the prospect of hitting fliers (when the ball goes farther than intended because grass gets between the clubface and the ball) or catching a bad lie. Also, from the rough golfers won't able to put spin on the ball like they do from the fairway. With spin, golfers can place their approach shots nearer the pin.

``Their rough was like other people's fairways,'' Scott Hoch last week at the Doral-Ryder Open. ``If they have rough, it will mean something to hit the fairway.''

``Even if it's not long rough, you can't spin the ball as well,'' said two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, who played the course three weeks ago, with the rough already in place. ``Going into the hard, firm greens it's going to be difficult to stop the ball.''

``The rough is a good idea if you want to make it more challenging,'' said Billy Andrade. ``I think what they're doing is they're framing the holes better. They're making it tougher. Let's see what the guys can do now.''

Andrade noted that the major course changes that took place over the summer -- lengthening No. 2 and No. 17 -- will hurt short to medium hitters like himself more than the long hitters.

``The changes aren't going to hurt them -- the rough might,'' Andrade said.

Ernie Els, who played the course in October, said ``it's now a longer hitters' course. Short hitters aren't going to be happy about the changes.''

Andrade is aware that rough, though not uniform, was once grown at the Augusta National.

``I remember watching the Masters on the old videos on TV,'' Andrade said. ``You see some rough around the bunkering and some rough around the greens. It used to be great for a guy like myself who is not a bomber, but is trying to keep it in play. This year, if the rough is high enough to where you could catch a flier, it's going to change your strategy on how you hit the shots.''

Nick Price, the co-holder of the Masters 18-hole course record at 63, has been pushing for rough at the Augusta National for years.

Last week at Doral, Price said he applauded the new changes to the course, then added ``now all the need is about two inches of rough.''

When Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie designed the Augusta National in the early 1930s, it was created so there would not be heavy rough. That way, the experience would be pleasurable for all level of golfer.

On Wednesday, Johnson said the height of the new rough ``is not incompatible with Bobby Jones' philosophy.''