Notes: Woods Speaks on Augusta, Wie

By MERCER BAGGS
Managing Editor, GolfChannel.com

LEMONT, Ill. -- Augusta National is getting longer. And the reigning Masters champion isn’t thrilled.
 

”I’ll tell you what, they’re trying to get it to play like it used to play,” four-time winner Tiger Woods said Wednesday after his pro-am for this week’s Cialis Western Open. “But they fail to realize the greens are running at 12 (on the stimpmeter) now. They used to run at, what, 7 and 8?
 
“I don’t quite understand it because we haven’t had – since they changed it in 2002, we have yet to have a dry Masters.”
 
Augusta National announced Tuesday that they are adding length to six holes: Nos. 1, 4, 7, 11, 15 and 17. The additions will measure the course at 7,445 yards; an increase of 155 yards.
 
Nine holes were altered leading up to the 2002 Masters, which added 285 yards to the venue.
 
“When we went into this year’s Masters, we thought that over par could probably win the tournament, and it rained. It softened the golf course up, and there were (still) only a handful of guys under par.
 
“We have yet to have it hard and dry and fast for the entire week, and if we do, with these new tee locations, it’s more likely that over par will win.”
 
Woods and Chris DiMarco finished regulation this year at 12-under-par 276; though, they were seven strokes clear of third place. Only 16 of the 50 players who posted four rounds finished under par.
 
That 12-under winning total tied the lowest number since the 2002 changes. Woods also won in ’02 at 12 under. Champion Mike Weir and Len Mattiace finished regulation at 7-under 281 in 2003. And Phil Mickelson captured his first major championship at 9-under 279 last year.
 
“I don’t agree with it, but we’ve all got to play it,” Woods said.
 
WIE-SY DOES IT
One thing that Woods agrees with is the right of tournament sponsors to invite players at their discretion.
 
Woods, who received his first PGA Tour sponsor’s exemption in the 1992 L.A. Open, near his Southern California home, said that he has no problem with Michelle Wie competing in next week’s John Deere Classic.
 
“Well, if the sponsors want to get a crowd, that’s why they do,” Woods said. “I got an exemption when I was 16, too. I understand where she’s coming from.”
 
The John Deere, which is contested the week before the British Open, is traditionally a tournament that is bypassed by the top-ranked players and overlooked by media and fans.
 
Two-time major champion John Daly was also asked his opinion on the matter.