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2002 PGA Tour Preview--Part I: The Majors

© Jeeho Yoo

The season's first major will also be the most anticipated one. With significant changes on nine of its 18 holes, including five from the usually-televised second nine, Augusta National Golf Club will present a much different challenge at the 2002 Masters. In fact, since Tiger Woods stormed the field in his record-setting 1997 victory, Augusta has grown more rough, planted a few more trees and moved back many tee boxes by substantial yards. But this recent makeover is different not only in its sheer amount but in its implication for scoring.

Take 13th hole, for example. This 485-yard par-5, also known as Azalea, used to be the shortest par-5 in major championship golf-not anymore, as the hole now plays 510. It should still be reachable in two, but cutting the ball off the tee and getting home with a mid- to short-iron won't be as easy. The beautiful finishing hole, dubbed Holly, is now 60 yards longer at 465 thanks to a new tee box. The infamous fairway bunker on the lefthand side has been enlarged by about 10 per cent, and now it is a 320-yard carry over that hazard. The hole will require tighter tee shots, while the second shots will be more uphill than ever. Remember the 2001 Masters when Tiger drilled that centre-cut tee shot and hit a sand wedge to the green? Won't happen again.

Don't buy any of those Tiger-proofing theories regarding the lengthening of Augusta, which will play 285 yards longer at 7,270. The longer any course is, the more it plays into Tiger's or any other long hitters' hands. Loren Roberts finished tied for third at the 2000 Masters thanks to deft putting touch, but he may never duplicate that same feat; statistically speaking, Roberts is the second shortest hitter on the Tour. Putting will always be at premium on Augusta's slick greens, but now long drives off the tee will be more important than ever.

The second major of the year, the U.S. Open, is heading to New York City, as the Big Apple hosts the first PGA Tour event since September 11th. The site will be the Black Course at the Bethpage State Park, arguably the finest public golf course in the U.S. and now the first ever daily-fee, state-run public course to host a U.S. Open. At 7,214 yards from the championship tees, the Bethpage Black Course will also be the longest course in U.S. Open history, surpassing Congressional Country Club's Blue Course at 7,213 yards in 1997. Aside from logistical problems that accompany hosting of a major championship, especially on a course that has never done so before, the Black Course will likely live up to its solid reputation.

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