Wayne Riley
Well, the Oscars of golf is just around the corner, only the carpet is green instead of red. Yes, it’s Masters season, and much like every year, the anticipation is high as Majorstarved golf fans from around the world prepare to settle in and watch four days of golf from heavenly Augusta National.
Each year, it feels like the wait between The Open Championship and The Masters gets longer, and that’s been especially true since the US PGA moved from August to May in 2019. Now, there’s more than eight months between golf’s two biggest stroke play events and having them bookending each season feels very appropriate.
I can’t wait to get back to Augusta National and it’s always an experience to behold. The facilities are just out of this world. A few years ago, they built a new press building and in 2021 they opened a new TV compound, which is mindblowing. Back in 2017, Fred Ridley was asked why they’d spent so much money on a media centre and he replied: “We simply know no other way.”
Of course, you could argue it’s easy to say something like that when you have shed loads of money – being the only Major venue that stages an event every year is massively beneficial – but it also points to Augusta’s commitment to excellence. Everything is simply exceptional, from the spectator experience and the concessions to the golf course and facilities. Yes, everything is managed tightly and it’s an event with tradition at its core, but I’m all for it. Before I made my broadcasting debut there my producer was nervous about sending me and how I’d be received, but thankfully I haven’t been turfed off the property as yet!
This year, the course will be slightly different with the par-5 13th being extended 35 yards. The powers that be also lengthened the par-5 15th and the par-4 11th in 2022 and the par-4 5th in 2019, so it’s a slightly different course than it was a few years ago. I’m not convinced the changes to 13 will make that much difference, though – it’ll still play under par and still be one of the easiest holes on the course. I also think it could be slightly easier for some off the tee, as they can essentially hit a straight drive to the corner of the dogleg, rather than having to curve it significantly from right to left. It’ll be interesting to see if more players lay up, though, as the 13th green is a very tough one to hit with a hybrid or fairway wood, especially with bunkers and water to contend with.
The recent alterations have definitely improved the test, but I don’t think they’ve changed the character of the course. As such, I expect the same players to contend, and although I’m constantly wrong about it being Rory Mcilroy’s year, I’m going to pick him again. It just has to be his time soon, and he’ll have great feelings after closing last year’s event with a bunker hole out for a 64. Jon Rahm has to be in the mix, too. He has a good record at Augusta and is the form player in world golf. Plus, while he predominantly hits a fade off the tee, he is more than capable of moving the ball both ways. Two other players to watch are Max Homa – not a long player but a neat and tidy one who could be the Zach Johnson type – and Tyrrell Hatton, who’s been playing some good stuff and will be desperate to improve on his modest record at Augusta National.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how the LIV players get on, too. At last year’s Masters, the concept wasn’t fully off the ground, but at The Open there were 24 LIV players in the field – 13 missed the cut and only two, Dustin Johnson and Bryson Dechambeau, returned top-ten finishes. I really think the PGA Tour’s strong January-april schedule will mean its players are conditioned to playing highly competitive golf, but I don’t think that’s the case with LIV – a product of the schedule, players, lack of cut, 54-hole events and so on. I don’t think a LIV player will be donning the Green Jacket this year, but I’ve been wrong many times in the past…
“I’m not convinced the changes to Augusta’s 13th will make much difference”