Augusta National Golf Club is "in discussions to buy" a parcel of land from neighboring Augusta Country Club, whose par-5 eighth and par-4 ninth holes "would be involved" in potential changes to Augusta National, according to sources cited by Alex Miceli of GOLFWEEK. The proposal would "move ACC’s ninth hole and change ACC’s eighth green, which sits on the other side of Rae’s Creek." As The Masters "grows in popularity, Augusta National desires better access to the left side of the 11th and 12th holes, which border the property line of Augusta Country Club to the south." The changes also would allow Augusta National "to lengthen the iconic par-5 13th hole, if club officials were so inclined." A source said that Augusta National has "approached ACC with an interest in acquiring land that includes the fairway and right side of the 388-yard, par-4 ninth hole." Enough room "exists left of the ninth hole to slide the entire par-4 over without disturbing the routing and flow of the Donald Ross-designed Augusta CC." The current fairway on the ninth hole "comes close to Augusta National's 12th green and 13th tee, at the heart of Amen Corner." The "anticipated purchase price of the parcel is believed" to be $27M. A source said of Augusta National, "They want to move the (13th) tee back. They also want to build a service road behind it so they can get service vehicles around 13, down to the right, all the way around to the 12th green and up around 11" (GOLFWEEK.com, 2/28). ESPN.com's Bob Harig noted looking out at Amen Corner sometimes "also means seeing golf carts on the ninth hole" at ACC. Harig: "You can bet that part of the reason for the purchase ... is so Augusta National can have the land; and so Augusta Country Club can't." But as for the 13th, it would be a "risky move to change the hole." It is "quite possible this reported purchase has nothing to do with the golf course but Augusta's desire to control as much as possible around its property" (ESPN.com, 2/27).
BILLY, DON'T LOSE MY NUMBER: GOLFCHANNEL.com's Will Gray noted golfer Billy Horschel "offered a candid dissent to potential changes" at Augusta National following his third round Saturday at the Honda Classic. Horschel said, "If they move that tee back any more, if they buy land and move the tee back and move it back by 40 yards -- I may get kicked out of there, but it’s the dumbest thing in the world. I mean, I’m being nice about it. I think it’s a great hole already. Golf is going in the wrong direction by adding length to the golf course” (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 2/27). GOLF.com's weekly roundtable discussed the potential changes, and SI's Michael Bamberger said, "I agree with Horschel. Adding length would kill the hole." Golf magazine's Josh Sens added, "Horschel is right on the money. You're going to modify what might be the greatest par-5 in the world for the sake of protecting par? Makes no sense." Golf magazine's Cameron Morfit: "We asked more than 100 people in the golf business, from major winners to administrators, to name the best hole at Augusta National. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but guess which hole won easily? ... Changing it seems like the wrong move." SI's Alan Shipnuck: "There's no good solution -- I hate to see it touched, or turned into a par-4, but so much of the shot value has been lost it's probably necessary to make it longer, even though that's painful to say" (GOLF.com, 2/28). Golf Channel's Geoff Shackelford: "I'm not a big fan of the idea of lengthening the hole too much. I think it's been playing very well since they lengthened it the last time. Any time you flirt with messing up with risk-reward issues on the greatest risk-reward hole in golf, it's always a little bit scary" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 2/29).
