AUGUSTA NATIONAL GROWTH
The course has been lengthened 13 times and shortened twice. The biggest change came for the 2002 event, when 285 yards were added. It is 735 yards longer now than when it opened.
YARDS YEARS CHANGE
6,700 (1934-1937) n/a 6,800 (1938-1947) + 1. 5 6,900 (1948-1951) + 1. 5 6,950 (1952-1955) +0.7 6,965 (1956) +0.2 6,980 (1957-1973) +0.2 7,020 (1974-1975) +0.6 7,030 (1976-1977) +0.1 7,040 (1978-1980) +0.1 6,905 (1981-1993) - 1. 9 6,925 (1994-1998) +0.3 6,985 (1999-2001) +0.9 7,270 (2002) + 4. 1 7,290 (2003-2005) +0.3 7,445 (2006-2008) + 2. 1 7,435 (2009) -0.1 SOURCE www.pgatour.com
B The history of Augusta National
also sets it apart, as it is the only
course that hosts a major each and
every spring. That means images of
great golf shots and golfers abound
most everywhere. Like on the 15th hole,
where Gene Sarazen carded his alba-
tross in 1935, and where Seve Balles-
teros dumped his 4-iron into the water
back in 1986, opening the door big and
wide for a surging Jack Nicklaus.
You can’t hit a putt on 17, or look at
someone doing it, without thinking of
the Golden Bear that same year, fol-
lowing his right into the hole. The 16th
green is Tiger’s, of course, with that
marvelous, slow-as-molasses chip-in,
and the 11th belongs to Larry Mize,
draining his wedge as he drained the
blood right out of Greg Norman’s face
– and turned the Great White Shark
pale. No course in golf has hosted more
majors, which means no course has
more major stories to tell.
(Left) Jack Nicklaus tees off on No. 18
during the 1986 Masters. (Right) At
the 2005 Masters, Tiger Woods hits his
drive on the 18th hole that was length-
ened by 60 yards three years earlier.
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