MASTERS NOTES
AUGUSTA – Hootie Johnson, the chairman of Augusta National, yesterday announced that the club will make “extensive changes” to the course “in an attempt to strengthen” four or five of the “weak” par 4s.
Johnson said the work would be done over the summer and the changes would be ready for the 2002 Masters.
“Changes will be made on a number of par 4s that will be strengthened from the standpoint of length and others having to do with accuracy off the tee,” Johnson said. “We are going to make an attempt to try to keep the golf course current with the times.”
Johnson cited the improvements in equipment and play as a major reason for the changes. Prominent course architect Tom Fazio will be overseeing the changes, which could also entail moving and/or enlarging of some bunkers.
“We hate to see people hitting sand wedges to 425-yard par 4s,” Johnson said.
Also, Johnson said that Augusta is “considering 18-hole (TV) coverage for the leaders on Sunday,” adding that could possibly happen as soon as next year.
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David Toms won the annual par-3 tournament yesterday, shooting 5-under in nine holes. No player in the history of the event has won the par-3 tourney and gone on to win the big tournament in the same year.
There were four holes-in-one carded in yesterday’s event – Darren Clarke on No. 2, Toms on No. 3, Scott Verplank on No. 9 and Chris Perry on 9.
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There is a continuing controversy about PGA Tour event winners not being invited to the Masters, a rule that was changed after the ’99 Masters.
Four winners of events this season are not at Augusta this week – Scott McCarron, who won last week at Atlanta, Billy Andrade, who last year at Las Vegas, Garrett Willis, who won at Tucson and Michael Clark, who won last year at Silvas, Ill.
Johnson says there are no plans to alter the rule back to the old way. When asked how a player such as Jeff Sluman, who’s 16th on the money list, is not playing here this week, Johnson said, “If Jeff keeps on playing like he is right now, we look forward to having him next year.”
“It’s hard to believe that you can win a golf tournament and not get in the Masters,” Lee Janzen said. “But that’s their decision. It’s their tournament.”
Besides previous winners, the only special exemption invitations go out to international players, thus the very international field.
