Just when we'd thought we made a convincing case that new course conditions at Augusta, given the right weather, will produce the requisite scores and roars, here comes a letter from Mick Herron, Director of Golf and General Manager at Bay Pointe CC in Onset, Massachusetts, telling us we're all wet and praising John Hawkins report in Golf World:

Finally! John Hawkins opening line of his superb piece on the '08 Masters perfectly describes my frustrations the past two years - "the world's greatest golf tournament is no longer the world's greatest golf tournament...."

As a long time PGA club professional I took advantage of the incredible hospitality of the members of Augusta National by attending the '98 (the year of Matt Kuchar!) Masters. Managing to finally return in '07 I camped out at my favorite spot borne from my debut.....alongside the 15th green. I arrived there with my brother (his first Masters at age 60), prepping him for what was about to happen--i.e., trainwrecks, eagle roars, knife-edge short game tests and the like. Well, we sat there for literally 3 hours and witnessed a procession of 70-80 yard wedge shots from 50 consecutive players. Just one young amateur rookie tried to reach in two during this funeral march.

We got up from our once precious seats wandering directionless toward--I forget! I cursed the powers that be for screwing with the powers that once were - they totally did not get it! I waited for confirmation from Hawkins, Diaz, et.al. but to no avail. Now that '08 duplicated the boring '07 version we are finally seeing across the board the journalistic accuracy depicting how a small group of men (and just possibly one man - F. Ridley) transformed what was once the absolute best sporting event into a joke. Can Mr. Ridley hear Bobby Jones & Clifford Roberts screaming right now? We all know they are aware of their drastic mistakes - why would they backtrack on some "changes" to the 11th this year. To John Hawkins and all the other "courageous" golf writers in our community who have "come out of the closet", I say....finally!

Lastly, I contend that the present day Augusta National, if not changed back, will forever produce winners (and worthy they are, no doubt) like Zach Johnson, and the Trevor Immelmans of the world. Not only was Tiger not totally interested, nor were many of us who look forward to this event for months in advance. A true shame.

Mike, that's a strong letter. (I won't pass it on to Zach or Trevor). Just one thing: Tiger Woods could be wearing his sixth green jacket this month, had he made a few putts. He had his chances in both '07 and '08. And had he made those charges, the roars would have been unforgettable, and I'm not sure you'd be writing.

--Bob Carney

Some of us thought perhaps we'd watched a different tournament when post-Masters reports called the it boring and decried the loss of roars post course-alteration. Players--Tiger included--were happy to cooperate with these reports, calling the course just "too tough" and the tournament "more like a U.S. Open." We heard from some of you, readers, too, saying you thought the Masters had lost its Sunday magic.

Here are two reports that challenge that conventional wisdom. First, David Barrett on Golfobserver.com:

OK, if I read one more story about how this was the second straight dull Sunday at the Masters, I'm going to scream.

For the first three days, there were plenty of red numbers on the scoreboard. Trevor Immelman had three rounds in the 60s on the way to an 11-under 205 total through 54 holes--a total that has been bettered only four times in the last 28 years and eight times in the history of the Masters. The cut came at 147, the lowest since 2002.

The greens were reasonably receptive as the course remained in the same condition as on Wedneday when Masters chairman Billy Payne said it was playing just the way Augusta wanted it. Then on Sunday, the winds came and scoring became difficult. Hey, it happens.

The AP's Doug Ferguson takes a similar tack.

Remember, it was only a year ago when Jim Nantz produced a colorized version of Arnold Palmer?s victory in the 1960 Masters. Palmer didn?t birdie either of the par 5s on the back nine, but rallied with a 30-foot birdie on the 17th and a 6-iron to 6 feet on the final hole.

He closed with a 70.

One final thought: Woods missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 13th, failed to get up-and-down for birdie on the 15th (not the easiest chip), missed a 12-foot birdie on the 16th and three-putted for bogey on the 14th. Convert all those and he shoots 68, coming from six shots behind to the win his fifth green jacket.

Still a boring Masters?

Couldn't agree more. And even without Tiger making those putts, we watched every shot. For the past two years, despite the weather, there has been the potential for a spectacular come-from-behind finish by the world's best golfer. The fact that he didn't make that charge is not the fault of the course. And had he done it, we'd be talking about the prospects of a Slam--and one of the most exciting Masters ever.

--Bob Carney

We're getting a bunker full of mail on the Masters course changes and set-up. Like John Hawkins, who covered the event for Golf World, and many other writers, some--but not all--or you think that the course changes have subtracted drama from the event.

Gene Martineau of Roseville, California, says "Congraluations to the folks at the Masters. They have accomplished their stated goal of Tiger Proofing their course so well that Tiger may never again win another Green Jacket."

And Doug Foy or Fort Wayne thinks he knows where, exactly, the roars have been removed:

I always look forward to your in depth issue that comes out after every major. I do agree that some of the fun has been takin out of the Masters. By looking through the hole by hole chart that you always provide, it is obvious that the par 3's & par 4's are all being played over par while the par 5's are being played under par. The tees could be moved up a little on the par 5's so more players would not lay up, but the big difference is the par 4's are just to tough to birdie and easier to bogey. Hopefully the "Big Dogs" at Augusta noticed the same thing.

Here's Malcolm Roberts of Huntington Beach, California, after reading our coverage:

I hope Trevor Immelmann is not insulted by the backhanded compliments mentioned in your coverage of this year's Masters. Whenever Tiger doesn't win people act as if its a tragedy or a fluke, and by the way this other guy happened to hit more fairways and greens and putt better. While I agrre with Mr. Russell that past Masters had more flash the tournament had to change before bomb 'n' gouge players took what skill is left in the game ( with the better equipment factored in ) out. Jack Nicklaus has been quoted many times that off the fairway should be a penalty; bravo to the majors for returning good all-around golf to the rewards podium.

And David Crow of Huntington Beach, California:

Re: Masters not being "fun"anymore. If "fun" means shooting like 25 under Par as Lorena Ochoa did in Mexico (a WAY TOO EASY course?), then maybe the Masters isn't "fun". Instead, the Masters remains a rarity - a REAL TEST of golf skills. Go MASTERS!!!!!

This editor's two cents: Trevor Immelman was 11 under par after three rounds, and got to ten under par on the par fours. (Amazing.) On Sunday, despite five or six tees being moved up and hole locations made quite accessible, the weather took its toll, with temperatures dropping into the low 60s and winds gusting to 30 miles per hour. That was Mother Nature, not Father Payne.

--Bob Carney

We'll take a moment away from the Green debate to engage in the Green Jacket debate: Have the leaders of Augusta National toughened the to the point that it has lost its roars, made it "more like an Open", "a survival contest." That is the post-mortem story of the tournament. Read John Hawkins' game story or visit Geoff Shackelford and you'll here plenty from the media. Being one of the few on the other side of debate--I think Tiger's putter might have made this one of the most exciting Masters ever, but did not-- I was curious about our readers would think. And now the letters are coming in:

Michael Lach of Irvine, California writes:

In my humble opinion after playing and watching golf for over 50 ears (also a single-digit handicap), the green coats of Augusta have succeeeded in making this a boring tournament where the luckiest person wins. The greens are so tricked up that a good shot becomes bad, a perfect shot might be a good one. However, a lucky shot that hits on the top of a rise within a one-foot square on the green, and trickles near the hole becomes a great shot...This is luck, not skill. In the US Open, if you hit the fairway, you have a decent chance of making a good-to-great shot, not so at Augusta anymore. The days when someone rallies on the back nine with a 30 to win it are gone, unless it rains heavily and the greens are soft....

The pros now have trouble making birdies on 13 and 15, which were the most exciting holes in the Masters, expecially on Sunday....Quite honestly, I dozed off and not because Tiger didn't charge, but because I knew no one would make it interesting. The winner chopped it around and still won by 3....

I'm not so sure. Eight-under par is a reasonable winning score, one predicted by Justin Rose prior to the event. There continue to be birdie and even eagle opportunities at 13 and 15. Birdies by Woods and Snedeker at 11 and 12 respectively did create huge roars. Despite weather that conspired against charges on Sunday, to suggest that the 2008 Masters was not exciting or that the champion is somehow not the "right" one, is way wide of the mark, in this humble opinion.

--Bob Carney

Interesting that this letter from Missouri reader Hallie Gibbs was sent to us on Friday, in response to David Owen's column about Tiger in the May issue of Golf Digest, just at the point that most of us expected the usual Tiger charge to be gathering for a fifth Masters victory.

Owen writes of Tiger's dominance:

The real explanation, I think, is that Tiger's rivals try even harder when Tiger is playing well and end up focusing on him instead of staying out of their own way. When all those other guys finally, truly give up -- that's when Tiger will have to watch his back.

David Owen doesn't give Tiger enough credit. It's not a chokefest out there. Tiger is that much better! Even when he isn't playing, nobody in the "Tigerless" tournaments grinds and makes putts like he does. It's one thing to say that Tiger is intimidating. But it's another to acknowledge that he is just that much better!

We remember the roars that Jack created at Augusta but tend to forget the times the roars did not materialize, the putts didn't fall and Jack was runner-up. He finished second four times in the Masters--in 1964, 1971, 1977 and 1981--more than anyone except Ben Hogan and Tom Weiskopf, who also had four. Jack came in first or second in ten Masters tournaments: six wins, four seconds. Tiger, I suspect, will equal both those marks before he's through.

To quote Owen again: "Even if Tiger retired tomorrow, he'd have my vote as the best player ever."

Amen.

--Bob Carney

Lots of comment this morning about players being uncomfortable at the Masters this year. Geoff Shackelford talks about it today in our Dateline Augusta, quoting players and writers. This comfort thing is mostly related to the course.  Hootie Johnson's  changes, the changes to the changes, yesterday's weather, tough hole locations, etc. The Masters used to have a comfort level that other majors didn't. Players aren't feeling that this week.

But other changes are making non-players a bit uncomfortable. These changes are really about you: Readers. Patrons. Letter-writers. Golfers.  Maybe-golfers.

These changes suggest a significantly different attitude at Augusta and perhaps elsewhere:

Chairman Billy Payne opening an electronic suggestion box for ideas on growing the game..

Free admission for kids to the Masters...

Televising of the Par-3. (Despite some "Cliff Roberts would turn over in his grave" comments.

I'll add the tournament allowing its web site (and golfdigest.com) to send Marty Hackel, Mr. Style, out to talk to patrons about the "scene" here at Augusta...never been done before.

(While we're at it, let's range beyond this major into the next one, the Open, and add the fact the USGA and NBC are cooperating with Golf Digest's effort to put an average player on the US Open course at Torrey Pines. )

I'm sorry, did you say the Masters is asking for suggestions and the USGA has invited one of us hackers to come try it's Open setup? I would have bet large money against either of those things happening a few months ago.

Golf may be finally getting it--golf the Industry and the Game, not Trevor Immelman's round today. Not single-digit guys who play early Sunday morning and would just as soon you find another sport if you're going to mess with their starting time. Golf, the game too many kids don't have time for between soccer and World of Warcraft. Grass roots golf.

The fact is, Arnie's tee shot into the fog yesterday is a pretty fair metaphor for the state of our game. The old game is over and we don't know where the new one is going .  Arnie inspired a lot of us in the press room to find golf and we forget what a pain in the neck we must have been to the proper golfers of the day. We now find ourselves defending their turf.

What Billy Payne has done here may not be perfect. Maybe you're cynical about suggestion boxes. Maybe you've had it with cute kids in white bibs distracting Peter Kostis from important wedge shots.  Maybe mixing promotion with tradition for you is like stirring beer into your bourbon.

Or perhaps, at the other end, you're one of those readers who thinks it's not gone far enough and have decided the whole U.S. Open Contest is a "farce" because the finalists aren't 16-handicaps shooting 130.  We can't please y'all. But as Joe Steranka, the executive director of the PGA told me today, "We can talk about family golf all we want. But televising the Par 3, showing all those kids and their dads, that's more powerful than anything we could ever do."

Here's my suggestion to Chairman Payne: Keep it up. Keep stirring the pot. A Junior Masters? Why not. More international invitees? Of course. Golf in the Olympics? Absolutely. Who knows what will show up in that idea box.

And if it gets uncomfortable for some of us old ones, so be it. Arnie won't be with us forever. Nor will Tiger and let's face it, we want post-Tiger golf to do better than post-Michael basketball.  That will take new new Tigers, new Arnies.... 

It's not going to happen by itself. Send Billy a suggestion.

--Bob Carney

Augusta, GA. The early star of the Masters is someone who has never played the tournament, but was one of the last people to play golf with Bobby Jones. Louise Suggs, one of the 13 founders of the LPGA, stole the show Wednesday night at the annual Golf Writers Association of America dinner when she received the William D. Richardson award for contributions to the game of golf.

"All I know is there is more than one Tiger in the room tonight," the 84-year-old Suggs told about 400 people at the dinner honoring the best players and writers of 2007, referring to the tiger-print jacket she was wearing--and perhaps to her golf game. Tiger Woods was at the dinner to receive his one billionth Player-of-the-Year award. Suggs told the story of the time she defeated Sam Snead in an exhibition played on an executive course in Palm Beach. Snead was less than gracious in defeat, complaining about being beaten by a woman. "So I said to him,'Sam, why are you so upset? You didn't even finish second,'" Suggs reminded him.

Earlier yesterday Suggs, who went to her first Masters in 1939 and played Augusta National many times, sat in a chair outside the clubhouse and held court as a who's who list from the world of golf stopped to pay tribute, Jack Nicklaus among them. When Ben Crenshaw asked Suggs to demonstrate her grip--know as a textbook-flawless way to hold the club--and exchanged an admiring glance with Ben as she grasped an imaginary club.

When it was suggested to Suggs that she was "on a roll", having now won both the Richardson and the prestigious Bob Jones award from the USGA last year, she replied: "I'm more famous now than when I was famous."

Maybe not. Suggs won 58 LPGA events, including 11 major championships, as well as a bushel of major amateur tournaments. She played East Lake Country Club many times with Bob Jones, and was in the foursome with him during his last round of golf in 1948.

--Ron Sirak

(Photo: LPGA.com)

Changes to Augusta National this year are not extensive--the thinning of trees along the right side of No. 11 is a welcome change for both spectators and players--but there remains considerable talk about "Hootie's" changes, the major alterations made under previous Chairman Hootie Johnson. Chairman Billy Payne said yesterday he was satisfied that the golf course is now where the club wants it, adding that "we haven't found it necessary to revisit" the idea of a Masters ball.

For a great primer on what the "new" Augusta is and how it meets or does not meet the aims of founder Bob Jones, check out two well-reported pieces on the course: Ron Whitten's "What Hootie Got Right" in the Golf Digest April issue and Geoff Shackelford's report on the "second cut" (that is, the rough), which includes many candid comments, including this from Jack Nicklaus:

"The rough has done what they wanted it to do from the standpoint of making it so [the players] can't spin the ball as easily into the green...That's what they've accomplished. But I'm a proponent of no rough."

"It has probably made the course easier....Especially up around the greens. The balls used to roll out and away, and now mis-hit shots top closer to the green."

The "second cut" came up yesterday. Chirman Payne had the last word:

"We've always had different length grass here all the way from the beginning. I listened very carefully to the player interviews the last several days and looked back at last year's and they are split almost right down the middle about their opinion of the second cut.

But I think, first of all, we like it. We think it does put a premium on driving accuracy. However, we do believe that when you're in the second cut, it's more difficult to reach some of the pins because it does impact the ability to spin the ball.

The opinion I've just expressed, if you ask a hundred people, 50 would take the other side, but we like our side and that's what we're going to do. We like it."

--Bob Carney

(Illustration: Mike Keefe)

It seems strange to hold a Masters without Davis Love III, who had appeared in 70 consecutive majors, including 17 consecutive Masters (two runner-up finishes), prior to failing to qualify this year. After four months of re-habbing an ankle ligament injury, Love has made three cuts in seven starts. Nice re-cap of Love's efforts in the Canadian Press.

"I'm close to playing good," he said. "I'm just not getting it done. I don't know if I'm ready for Augusta or not. I'm not really playing good enough to compete right now, so I probably don't deserve to play."

But Love said he's far ahead of the recovery time that doctors set for him. He wouldn't have returned so quickly if he had already secured a spot in the Masters.

"Because I was trying to get back in the Masters and getting back to playing well, I worked really hard," he said. "I've done really well and that's going to serve me well the rest of the year. But the Masters was definitely my motivation."

--Bob Carney

This morning the talk was Nick Faldo and Paul Azinger and especially Azinger's comments to the Mail about Faldo's personality facelift. "Nick Faldo has tried to redefine himself,"� Azinger is quoted as saying in The Mail on Sunday.

I'd say he is both who he is and who he was. Some people have bought it. Some have not. But if you're going to be a p***k and everyone hates you, why do you think that just because you're trying to be cute and funny on air now that the same people are all going to start to like you?

Meanwhile, another international bonfire continues to simmer. Colin Montgomerie's comments about the Asian invites here at the Masters-- India's Jeev Milkha Singh (80th); Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng (93rd); and Liang Wenchong from China (111th) received invitations thought they rank below Montgomerie in the world ranking--have been defused a bit by Montgomerie's manager, but the Asians have not forgot. "He's done in China," said one editor from there, referring to Montgomerie's appearance fees to play in Asian events and course design jobs. Surely an exaggeration, though Thailand's Marksaeng recent comments were as strong.

"I have no idea why he (Montgomerie) said that, but maybe he dislikes Asian players - he never talks to Asian players anyway.

This all gives the three Asian players more incentive to play well here at the Masters. And the real showdown will be at the BMW Championship in Shangai late this month when Montgomerie and the Asians will compete together. "He'll be on our turf then," said another editor, who added that unless Montgomerie says anything else, there will be no more debating the issue in the media. At least not from "host" Liang Wenchong. "[Liang] will let his game do the talking," he said.

--Bob Carney

Steve Hummer's Atlanta Journal-Constitution pre-tournament piece on Augusta Chairman Billy Payne is worth a look. Payne's Masters will be an international one, no matter what Monty thinks, and it will be open to children. But it will be as reverential as ever, says Hummer. When one columnist suggested that there would be children running amok at the National, Payne took exception.

"No, that's not going to happen," Payne said confidently during an interview last month. He can't be sure how many children will be on the grounds during the tournament ? there's even a pool going among the membership ? but he seems fairly certain that there will be no breaches of decorum.

Apparently, then, they are not going to install a ball pit next to the Butler Cabin or be offering pony rides at Amen Corner. Nor will Stuart Scott's trademark "Boo-Yeahs" ring through the pines as ESPN takes over airing the Thursday and Friday broadcast from USA Network. Chris Berman will not be commenting on Stewart "Kitchen" Cink or Larry Mize "Eyes Have Seen the Glory."

"I wouldn't respond specifically to any talent," Payne said, ever diplomatically. "I would say the tone of the Augusta broadcast is never going to change. It is respectful. It is in some cases almost reverential as it relates to this beauty. And I know it's going to continue like that."

In Payne's world now, everyone is on that same page.

It's also worth revisiting Dave Kindred's 2007 piece on Payne.

For everything Masters check out our Golf Digest/Golf World coverage. We're working with espn.com and masters.org.

--Bob Carney

Bill Fields' terrific story on Herb Wind and Amen Corner in the Masters Section brought back memories for Peter Kaufman of New York City.

I had the privilege of taking a college course in Sports Journalism in the early 1970's, taught by Herbert Warren Wind. That resulted in once or twice a year lunches with Mr Wind for about twenty years or so, to my absolute delight.� The substance of the lunches was blessedly one-sided, as I always implored him to do pretty much all the talking while I did all the listening (with the occasional question tossed in).�

Of this much I am certain: Mr Wind would have applauded the outing of his "mistake" regarding the musical provenance of the phrase "Amen Corner".� He treasured accuracy and precision in his incredibly textured and honed prose, and I cannot help but feel that Richard Moore's record-correction would have been rewarded� with one of Mr Wind's trademark broad smiles and a slight nod of the head.�� Tough to get Higher approval than that!

I agree, Peter. I think Herb would have loved Bill's piece. It was the most respectful, laudatory correction in the history of magazines.

--Bob Carney

Golf World's Bunker story about the Masters admitting children 8-16 for free, drew a fast, unfettered response from Toronto reader Jim Szabo:

"And here is Tiger putting on 18 for the win"................"Waaaaaaa, Daddy I wanna go home!!!!"  

The decision to allow each patron to bring a child between 8 - 16 free on Masters tournament days is a HUGE mistake.  Sure, you want to interest the next generation but not during the Masters!!!  Let them do it during practice rounds when the atmosphere is much looser and players will not be bothered by the "quick to be bored" kids being dragged around by daddy.  It is going to be a disaster.  Save this letter and publish it the Monday after the Masters along with my "I told you so" letter.  It is going to be a nightmare.  Picture it.  It is already a tight squeeze due to the limited land that the course sits on and now you are going to potentially double the amount of spectators!!!  And the extra 25,000 or so are going to be children!!  Wake up!!  Have you never been to a child's birthday party???
 
I have been a patron at the Masters for many years and I look forward to that week more than Christmas itself.  However, I am not looking forward to sharing it with 25,000 kids. 

Jim, Jim, Jim. You sound like W.C. Fields: "I never met a kid I liked."

Things will be better than you think because:

1. There won't be 25,000 kids since only the "named" ticketholder may bring a child. If your wife and you each attend but the badges are in your name, only you may bring a child. If you give the badge to your cousin for a day, he may not bring a child.
2. Augusta has plenty of room. It sits on 365 acres.  This year it's added a 2,000-person seating area on hole 16.
3. At the Masters attendees seem to know how to act;  they'll know how to manage their children. I took my son last year and at one point, much sooner than I'd hoped, he was done. We left. But he was bragging about being there later.

Augusta seems to be saying, show kids the best of the game and the real competition--they can watch the Par-3 on TV--and maybe they'll get as taken with golf and the Masters as we are. Good for Billy.

--Bob Carney

Reader Mike Fiechtner writes to give thanks, for, among things, Dan Jenkins' "The First Masters I Covered" piece.

I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciated reading your article on golfdigest.com and hearing about your first experience of the Masters. I'm still waiting for my first and I'm not sure I'll get to experience it but it was nice to hear your impressions and descriptions. I can't even imagine how beautiful it is there. It definitely looks amazing on TV and I'm sure it's even more beautiful in person. How long do you plan on covering the tournament? Seems like you should have some sort of record like Arnold Palmer's 50 Masters. You got him beat by 6! Thanks again for the nice article! Have a great day and God bless, Mike

Mike, Dan says thanks, that he'll cover the Masters until they tell him he can't, and maybe a couple after that.

For more on the Masters (we're sure we're not the only ones already looking forward to the first major) check out our Masters countdown area, prepared in conjunction with Masters.org and ESPN.com, where we're bringing back stories like Dan's.

Happy New Year! And good luck getting to Augusta in April!

--Bob Carney

"I'm just a normal guy from Iowa."
--Zach Johnson

Those debating the merits of the "new" Augusta and the Masters course set-up, should enjoy the discussion about what Augusta's championship slope rating ought to be on Golfclubatlas.com. Suffice it to say, discussers agree it's stratospheric. Meanwhile, as reported in Golf World this week, ratings were up. Overnights were up one percent, but now national numbers have arrived and the picture is brighter: Ratings increase eight percent over 2006.

Some will argue that it was that likeable kid Zach Johnson who did that. Mark Rylak of Bedminster, New Jersey, out in USGA country, is one of them. "It appears as though yet another major championship was won not only by an American, but an American who went to college.  I'm not sure what was more impressive, Zach Johnson's winning performance on the course or his conduct following his victory in interviews.  His intelligent comments and kind words to his wife and others were priceless.  Further proof that not only does collegiate golf lead to major success on the golf course, it also leads to the development of fine young men like Mr. Johnson."

Mark refers disparagingly to Hank Haney's lightning-rod piece in Golf Digest in March, which argued that college is not always the answer for young talented golfers. I'm not sure it was college or even  Zach Johnson being a good guy that drove those ratings up, though. I think it was the scene that was set early on the back nine when Tiger stood to make the kind of charge Jack had so many times in the past.  Tiger in contention, even when he fails to seal the deal, is good TV.
-- Bob Carney

"It may not be out of place to say here that I never won a major championship until I learned to play golf against something and not somebody...and that something was par." Bob Jones, Down the Fairway

We may never stop talking about the 2007, Zach Johnson Masters. In a letter entitled, "Bikini Wax the Rough at Augusta", Nick from Newport Beach, unlike Dan Jenkins in his report, argues for the good old days:

The 2007 Masters was everything viewers expect from a Major, but not from the Masters.  The Masters lost its most profound and unique attribute when rough was added.  Jones's "no rough" design at this year's conditions may have been a classic - yet it is very difficult to compare this year... to past years.  Bobby Jones built a course that is meant to be generous to the tee shot, but penal to the approach.  Positioning off the tee differentiated easier approaches from more difficult.  The added length brought brought back long iron and wood approach shots - very positive.  However, the added rough eliminated shot making creativity and added "gouge" to Augusta vernacular.  Changes to grooves and a return to endless fairways at the Masters can't come soon enough. 

Nick, rough is one thing. Trees, "a million trees" as Tiger put it, are another. Look at old photos of the course Jones and MacKenzie designed and you'll see that everything has changed. It's been changed to add balance to the course. It's been changed to make it look better on television. It's been changed to defend against "technology." We may see a thinning of trees in years to come. But most of them, and the rough, are here to stay, I suspect. We're not going back.

"We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?"
--Jean Cocteau

The verdict is in. Sunday was great. Thursday, Friday, Saturday not so much. Ratings are up. And most of you thought the finish was plenty Masters-like. But, please, more birdies! More noise! Shane Bacon on Dogs That Chase Cars has more on the debate and  the Sunday finish.  I'm also hearing a split between golf insiders and casual fans on the great "Have They Ruined the Masters?" debate.

Here's Jeff Blessman of Algonquin, Illinois: "I watched the Masters this past weekend and am wondering what Masters all of the reporters watched?  The Masters I watched showed Zach Johnson taking the lead and winning the Masters on Sunday with superior golf under the conditions.  The only player who played better might have been Retief Goosen, who was under par for both Sat and Sun.  Many of the reporters seemed to say that Tiger lost the Masters when in reality Zach Johnson WON the Masters.  Tiger is a fantastic athlete but he is a human being not a god.  I applaud Zach Johnson and congratulate him on job well done.  Just because Tiger did not win, does not mean it was a fluke that Zach did.  He is a fine steady player or else he would not be on the PGA Tour.  All of the announcers were critical of him laying up on 13 and 15 when that was the correct thing to do for his game.  Peter Koskis even said that with his strong grip, going for the green could have lead to disaster.  Give Zach the credit he deserves and congratulate him for WINNING THE MASTERS!  Good job Zach."

I'm with you. I love Zach. Tiger had his chance. He didn't get it done. As Ron Sirak says, he's now only 16 away from Jack's record—of seconds.
-- Bob Carney

Red directional flags were rippling all week atop the tall fence at the end of the practice range, but yellow, the universal symbol of caution, would have been more appropriate. Bill Fields

We're still getting comments about the Masters course set-up, while the debate continues on golf blogs. For a very thoughtful assessment from a guy who's seen more Masters than most of have seen golf courses, read Bill Fields story in this week's Golf World, part of his "Letter from Augusta." Bill argues that the changes have cost Augusta something, a naturalness, a rhythm.

Not sure most of you agree. Our poll on golfdigest.com asks a slightly different question, but gets at the heart of the debate. We ask if you think the course set-up was unfair. Responses are running two to one, "No."