Go Farther!
Reactions at the Masters to the current distance proposal should encourage Augusta National and the governing bodies to so as much as possible now.
The founders wanted a first-class golf tournament “to stage a golf show that is enjoyable to all” and one that contributes “something to the advancement of the game.” As the legacy and business of The Masters has grown to unimaginable levels, the club’s role in furthering the best interests of golf shifted to a more proactive approach under Chairman Billy Payne and has only accelerated under his successor Fred Ridley. Some of their efforts are undoubtedly tinged with a little clean-up on Aisle Hootie. But most of the efforts appear to be genuine reactions to changing times and taking the club co-founders at their word.
Standing in the occasional (gasp!) line or sitting in a spectator stand last week, I enjoyed several chats with total strangers who share an affinity for the sport. The topics generally revolved around the latest headlines. My replies went something like this:
Yes, Brooks should have been docked at least two strokes though with Ricky’s double “five” mentions maybe should have made it a four-shotter.
Yes, the extended 13th hole looks like it’s always been there.
Yes, it’s amazing to watch how Masters revenues are put back into the property to enhance the spectator experience or the club’s outreach initiatives that now include significant community investment having little to do with the tournament.
Yes it’s fantastic to see something being done about distance and wait, you don’t think it’s enough.
I’ve been excited about the proposed rollback and how it could shift some emphasis from speed pursuits while restoring architectural soul to the great holes. So I was not prepared to hear how many folks took a more radical stance or were at the very least perplexed by the player whining.
I heard plenty say they were miffed at the almost constant torrent of player aggrievement over money, playing opportunities and most of all, contradictory or even hypocritical reactions from pros whining about the R&A and USGA’s Model Local Rule proposal. One that might take 5% off their drives in…2026.
The Masters attracts some of the wisest fans in all of sport and they tend to be in an extra-grateful mood while enjoying the grounds. A majestic property and fair prices will do that. But so does the feeling of being apart of something bigger than themselves. And in the post-Hootie years, Augusta National has never seemed more devoted to fulfilling the founders’ “advancement of the game” ideal.
Elite players come and go. But The Masters? It’ll continue to be the toughest ticket in sports and the most cherished event in golf even if the club supports the Model Local Rule on distance.
I chatted with some smart folks last week who made clear they will not mind if Augusta National takes a stronger stand on distance. This sense came before last week’s 13th tee debuted at an exorbitant price tag (and on top of costly additions at the 5th and 11th holes). By the time Jon Rahm put on the Green Jacket late on Sunday, it became clear the added yardage to golf’s most storied par-5 was not ahead of schedule. Tiger Woods suggested in his pre-tournament press conference that he thought it was ahead of schedule in the same way 2002 course changes were excessive to begin with. Turns out, he was wrong.
The hole played easier than last year and saw plenty of players easily going for the green just days after predicting they would never try. But Fred Ridley likely was not surprised by this.
In a recent chat with high school students, he seemed to know more drivers would be hit.
“It's long enough to where players are gonna have to hit drivers off the tee,” he said. “They used to hit three woods, which they can sort of bend around the corner and I think they're gonna have at least a middle iron and maybe a longer iron or even some hybrids into the greens off of sort of side hill hanging lies.”
Even with cold weather and no roll, that’s what happened.
Based on what we saw last week and what everyone knows is coming in the way of bomb-and-gougers reared on lightweight equipment, the 13th tee is already not quite long enough to restore the longed-for “momentous decision.” That’s why Augusta National should consider submitting an updated statement during the current Model Local Rule comment period asking for even more curtailing of distance for the elite player.
Ridley would have the support of most as long as they do not have a financial interest in marketing distance or a ball contract with rollback-based termination clauses. Perhaps because I’m just so happy something is being done or perhaps all of the whining got to people, I was shocked to keep hearing how the proposal does not go far enough. A sampling of the reactions I noted:
If you’re going to do it, then go all the way and don’t just do the ball.
The companies are taking advantage of the testing rules and high tolerances and can’t be trusted.
Go after the drivers too.
The ball will not spin more under the current proposal and that stinks.
There’s a case to do what was initially proposed before things were scaled back to just the ball.
Why are we listening to the players?
Forget bifurcation and just do a rollback that won’t impact most.
Some of these comments were in response to the often contradictory and downright stupid assessments of players fed talking points by their agents or manufacturers. Good old-fashioned follow the money stuff.
Others more in tune with how things work were responding to the bluff by certain companies who’ve been using their media and player intermediaries. They’re threatening to pull advertising or simply not make the tournament-conforming ball because they just want to grow the game. And I say good luck explaining the business case for not making the MLR ball to the shareholders. Especially when patents have already been filed and there will be competitors make a ball that new ball.