Not many players are thrilled with the changes to the par-4 No. 17, especially Fuzzy Zoeller.
``I think it kills the short-hitters,'' said the 1979 Masters champion. ``How many guys can draw the ball in a 10-yard area?''
Since last year's Masters, the 17th hole has been lengthened 25 yards, which brings the Eisenhower pine more into play on the left-hand side of the fairway. But players can't bail out to the right anymore, as newly planted pine trees have significantly reduced the driving area.
Long hitters like Ernie Els even had a problem with No. 17 on Friday. Els was 3 under for the tournament entering the hole, but made double bogey to drop to 1 under.
|
J.P. Hayes jumps up to follow his second shot from the rough on No. 17 during the second round. JONATHAN ERNST/STAFF
|
``Where I hit it today, in past years I would have had an open shot. (Friday), I was dead,'' Els said. ``I hit it to the right and you can't hit it to the right on that hole. I got a bad lie and got it out to the fairway and made 6.''
Last year, No. 17 was the seventh-easiest hole as players averaged 4.11 strokes. This year, however, the par-4 hole is ranked the second-hardest as players average a whopping 4.31 strokes, with 60 bogeys and five double bogeys to just 12 birdies through two rounds.
``For me it's been straight downwind,'' Zoeller said. ``But if you get into the wind, the green is not made for 3- and 4-iron shots. It's made for maybe a wedge to a 7-iron, and that's it. But what the hell? Everybody has got to play it.''
Payne Stewart's drive on Thursday found Ike's Tree, but he recovered for par. On Friday, he bogeyed the hole.
|
Andrew Magee tests the wind on No. 17 with his caddie Eric Miller standing by during the second round. TODD BENNETT/STAFF
|
``I don't mind adding length to the golf course,'' Stewart said. ``If they could possibly move the tee 5 more yards to the right, it'd give you a better angle to play the hole from.''
Asked if he thought changes would be made to make No. 17 easier next year, Stewart replied, ``I doubt it.''
Another person unimpressed with the changes to No. 17 is three-time Masters champion Gary Player, who bogeyed the hole both days.
``It's not how Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts intended it to be,'' Player said. ``It's a little bit unreasonable. This is the worst change ever by Augusta. It's unanimous by all the players. I'm sure they've heard the players don't like it.''
1987 Masters champion Larry Mize bogeyed the hole both days and may have a solution.
``As a compromise, maybe they could have a tee between this new tee and the old tee that could be used if the conditions merited it, such as a strong wind in your face,'' he said. ``I'd probably suggest something like that.''
One person who has no problem with No. 17, however, is four-time Masters champion Arnold Palmer.
``I was looking at 17 off the tee (Friday) and frankly I think it's a good hole,'' he said. ``At first, I had some question in my mind about the hole and what had happened to it. I think they made it a great hole. I think they made it more difficult. That's what they were trying to do, and I like it.
``If you're long off the tee, which most of these young people are, and you put the ball in the right position, then you have a shot in there. That's what golf is all about this day and age. We're playing at a time when these guys are all very good. It just makes them think and work hard for their birdies. So I think that's part of the game.''
Unfriendly territory on testy 17
