Masters Tournament | A little higher, a little further

The world of golf is going through a period of transition. It tries to reinvent itself, but above all to adapt to the latest trends and the new abilities of golfers. The Augusta National, still a little catching up, is also trying to keep up.

After modifications to the 11^e and 15^e holes last year, the 13^e has in turn been revamped in preparation for the 2023 Masters Tournament.

The famous Azalea has been extended by 35 yards. Superintendents moved the tee box back. This par 5 has therefore gone from 510 to 545 yards. This distance is still reasonably short and accessible for a par 5 in a major tournament.

Nevertheless, this restructuring of the last hole of the emblematic Amen Corner will force golfers to review their strategy. It used to be the easiest hole on the course. All of that being relative, of course. The trees on the left, the water hazards and the bunkers around the green would scare off the majority of Sunday golfers.

For ordinary mortals, the 13^e hole at the Augusta National is not the kind of hole on which one uses the finest ball in one’s stock, but rather an old lost ball, found and bruised by abandonment, on which appear foreign initials written in pencil -felt.

However, for professional golfers, this hole was a master key. The players could count on this save at 13^e hole to get back in the game as you approach the final five holes. Observers even wondered for years if this hole was worthy of the most prestigious tournament in the world, considering the power and distance generated by today’s golfers.

However, by adding 35 yards, it will be more complex for golfers to reach the green in two shots.

” It’s longer. Much longer,” said defending champion Scottie Scheffler a few days ago.

The best player in the world ranking even thinks he has to review his strategy. “Usually I played it with a 3 wood. I can do an inside hook, but not on purpose. The ball is not spinning enough. If I do it, it’s by accident, not because I hit to have that effect. »

13^e is designed to turn to the left, approximately halfway through. The middle space is narrower and bordered by trees on the right and a stream on the left. The rest of the field is open and the hole is on the left.

“With my driver, when I hook left, the ball doesn’t have enough spin to stay in the air long enough and spin enough. She just stings her nose. »

Upper

1984 and 1995 champion Ben Crenshaw took to the course in early March. From his perspective, the most significant change is the height of the new tee.

The organizers did “a fantastic job” of determining “how far the ball could go”.

According to him, the challenge for golfers will be to “resist the temptation to want to cut the trajectory of their ball over the trees”.

The big hitters will have to keep a cool head, he believes. It will be possible to use this ambitious but feasible strategy, but given the scale of the event, some may be hesitant and play it safe.

“It’s a very modern decision,” Crenshaw thinks.

The Augusta National is getting longer, but it hasn’t become a paradise for heavy hitters. It still contains too many traps. 13^e hole becoming the new enigma to be solved for the competitors.

Five title contenders

A green jacket will be given to one of the 89 golfers registered for the Masters Tournament on Sunday afternoon. Who will Scottie Scheffler present with the most coveted piece of clothing in pro golf? Or will Scheffler be able to put it on more easily than last year? Here are five title contenders.

Jon Rahm

Rahm has had a sparkling start to the season. More discreet last year, the Spaniard won three of the first five tournaments in which he participated in 2023. He has already pocketed more than 10 million dollars in purses and spring has only just arrived. His short game, on and around the greens, is in a class of its own. This aspect of his game allows him to top the PGA Tour statistics for number of eagles, birdies and average score. Four times in the last five years he has finished in the top 10 at the Masters Tournament.

Max Homa

Homa deserves to be known. His number of career titles (6) is not proportional to his potential. He is able to shine on the field and outside. The fifth player in the world is fascinating to follow on social networks and in his various public interventions. His frankness and his ability to remain down to earth charm more and more fans. Homa has several strings to his bow and he is able to make gold out of salt in different situations. He already has two wins this season.

Rory McIlroy

Will he finally become the sixth player to win the Grand Slam by winning every major tournament at least once? It has everything it takes to succeed. His game is constantly improving and for two years, we see the McIlroy of the beautiful days. Only his game on the greens can sometimes cause him problems, but he has just gotten a new putter. He also remained the best golfer in the world on the tee boxes. Also remember his last shot, last year, at the Masters Tournament. In the most complete euphoria, he sent his ball to the bottom of the cup, from the bunker, to secure second place. This year could be the right one.

Scottie Scheffler

The best golf player in the world is Scottie Scheffler. The least orthodox player on the circuit maintains the pace imposed last year. Before outrageously dominating the 2022 edition of the Masters Tournament, the Texan had won the Phoenix Open, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the World Championship by holeshot. In recent weeks, he has been prolific again defending his title in Phoenix and winning the Players Championship, considered the fifth major. He will be the man to beat in Augusta. He would become the first player to win back-to-back editions since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.

Will Zalatoris

The case of Zalatoris is particular. Like Roy Dupuis, we only see him when it matters. The eighth player in the world has only one victory on his record and it dates back to August 2022 at the St. Jude Championship. However, he is a completely different beast when competing in major tournaments. He finished five times in the top 10 during the past two years. In Augusta, he claims a second and a sixth place. Despite an incomprehensible motion with his putter, he still finds a way to shine at the Masters Tournament.

Canadians to watch

Rarely have Canadians performed so proudly on the PGA Tour. For the past few months, almost every week, a maple leaf player has distinguished himself. It may be ambitious to forecast a first win since Mike Weir’s 2003 win, but at the very least one or two golfers could squeeze in until a late start on Sunday.

Corey Conners

He has been the best Canadian golfer for some time now. He is amazing in his consistency and his ability to make a lot of noise in silence. Conners is far from the most talkative or expressive behind his sunglasses, but he’s capable of rivaling the most dominant golfers on the planet. The 31-year-old Ontarian is at ease on the Augusta National course. It does better year after year. Since 2020, he has finished 10^e8^e and 6^e. His momentum on the tee shots, one of the most mechanical on the circuit, is still his weapon of choice. 28^e world player still has glaring shortcomings on the greens, but his triumph last Sunday at the Texas Open Valero has something to give hope to the Canadian after a checkered start to the season. He knew how to negotiate with the pressure imposed by his pursuers and he was almost flawless during the final round. Conners will therefore come to the Augusta National with the wind in its sails.

Adam Svensson

Of all the Canadian names, Svensson is probably the least known. The golfer from Surrey, British Columbia was a revelation last season. Since then, he has looked good almost at every outing. He won his first title at the RSM Classic in November and since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, he has missed the cut only 3 times in 16 tournaments. Posted at 56^e world rank, he will experience his first participation in the Masters Tournament, by virtue of his victory obtained. Svensson is an ace on approach shots, with his long irons or his short irons. He’s not the biggest puncher, but his accuracy is disconcerting.

Mackenzie Hughes

Hughes had started the season on a high note with a triumph in his second tournament, at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Since then, it has been less obvious for the 32-year-old Ontarian. He hasn’t survived the cut in four of his last seven events before the World Hole Championship. Two weeks ago, Hughes finished fifth in the tournament in Austin, Texas. In his group, the Canadian was ahead of Jordan Spieth and Shane Lowry in particular. He then beat Max Homa in the round of 16, before losing to eventual champion Sam Burns. At the Masters, Hughes is usually pretty consistent in the Thursday and Friday rounds. His challenge this year will be to keep up the pace until Sunday.

Mike Weir

Twenty years ago this year, Weir became the first Canadian player to don the green jacket. Remember how brilliant and… resilient the southpaw had been. On Thursday, he was in fourth place at -2. On Friday, he had given a card of 68 to climb to first place at -6. On Saturday, he had escaped it with a 75, slipping to second place. The tournament was decided in overtime, against Len Mattiace, with an exceptional final round of 65. At the overtime hole, Weir was saved, because he made a bogey, but Mattiace sabotaged himself with a double bogey . Twenty years later, April 13, 2003 is still one of the most memorable days in Canadian sport. The new international team captain for the upcoming Presidents Cup has made the cut just three times since 2010, but his mere presence at the event serves as a reminder that Canadian golfers belong on the biggest stage in the game. world.