Augusta expected to yield high scores

AUGUST — Augusta National’s evolution to become one of the more rigorous all-round tests of championship golf will bring high scores again this year, top players said before Thursday’s start to the US Masters (Friday in Manila).

Years of "Tiger-proofing" measures, such as lengthening holes, tightening fairways, adding trees and growing rough, have transformed Bobby Jones’ cathedral of golf following Tiger Woods’ amazing debut triumph in 1997.

Zach Johnson matched the highest-winning score in 71 editions of the major last year with a one-over 289 and fellow American Phil Mickelson, winner of two of the last four Masters, believes the trend of higher scores will continue.

"They won’t be lower," Mickelson said during preparations for the opening major of the year.

"I think the scores may get a little bit higher. The length is the biggest factor, (as well as) all of the trees and the tightening of the golf course."

Woods set 20 Masters records with his 1997 performance, becoming the youngest champion at 21 in winning by the widest margin (12 shots) and with the lowest score – 18-under par.

Since then, the course has been stretched by almost 500 yards to 7,445 yards making approach shots into the notoriously fast, sloping greens harder to place.

"You used to say that par was 68 for the longer hitters," Woods said, referring to the four previously accessible par-fives on the course.

"Now you have to drive the ball well in order to win here. Before you could spray it all over the place and it didn’t matter. It’s playing a lot different and a lot more penal off the tee."

Eighteen eagles were registered overall last year whereas when Briton Ian Woosnam won in 1991 there were 18 eagles at the par-five 15th alone, and a record 37 overall. During Woods’ 1997 campaign 15 were posted in the second round.

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said officials were happy with the way the course is now set up and that last year’s high scores were a result of bad weather conditions.

"We had the perfect storm last year of weather and very difficult conditions making the course play extremely hard," Payne said.

"It will be a tough, competitive test with a premium on accuracy and putting, which is what it has always been intended to be."

The champion Johnson agreed.

"It was playing long and with the wind, being cold, the ball doesn’t go very far," he said.

World No. 2 Mickelson added that all elements of golf would be examined at Augusta.

"This is the most complete test of golf, I believe, because it tests all areas of your game," the 2004 and 2006 champion said.

"It’s important to drive the ball well because if you don’t, you’re in the trees and you don’t have a chance. It’s important to be creative and hit shots when you are in rough.