Club chairman Hootie Johnson was again left to defend Augusta National yesterday, as he came under intense questioning over controversial changes to the course.
While the interrogation was not as charged as the one Johnson faced three years ago, when he was publicly challenged by activist Martha Burke to open
the doors to the all-male bastion to women, he was equally unflinching in the face of criticism from the world's best golfers and media.
Tweaked and stretched to an imposing 6807.70m, the Augusta National layout that will test golfers this week is the second longest in major championship history. Six of the holes have been lengthened with the addition of new tees and some of the fairways have been narrowed with extra bunkering, trees and rough.
Torrential rains over the past four years have diluted the impact of the alterations but with sunny, dry conditions forecast for the week, Augusta National has finally started to bear its teeth and many players are not happy.
But Johnson made no apologies and would not rule out more changes. "We are comfortable with what we are doing with the golf course for the Masters tournament," Johnson stated.
"I said, we are comfortable," he fired back when pressed on the criticism from top players.
"They are entitled to their opinion."
Some of the most outspoken critics have been Augusta's greatest champions, including world No 1 Tiger Woods and Augusta members Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, who between them own 14 green jackets.
They said it...
"It's awfully narrow out there. I don't necessarily agree with the changes. I thought it was fine the way it was. Four was a hard hole anyway and they've made it tougher. Same with the seventh. Instead of cheering for eagles the crowd will be cheering for birdies, pars."
- Tiger Woods on the lengthening of the course.
"I'm going to knock my three-wood into the bunker and take it from there."
- 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam on how he's going to tackle the fourth.
"You can call it a bomber's course if you like, but if the bomber doesn't execute his shots perfectly, he's going to be in trouble."
- Augusta chairman Hootie Johnson.
