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Sluman-Proofing Augusta National?

Masters Course Tabbed For Redesign

By James Stammer, Guest Columnist
April 6, 2001, 7:19 a.m. EST

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Are you ready for this? Forty-four-year-old Jeff Sluman is now the official poster-boy for change at Augusta National. That's right, the 5'7", 140-pound pro is the reason that club officials are scrambling to protect their prize from the onslaught of technology.

This is no April Fools joke, so wipe that smile off of your face. The once short-hitting Sluman has become a symbol of the impact of technology on today's game.

Augusta chairman Hootie Johnson announced Wednesday that there will be major changes to the course in time for next year's Masters.

Sure, change has been inevitable during the club's 68-year history. Every hole has undergone some form of modification over time. Never has it been this extensive or announced this far in advance.

Award-winning architect Tom Fazio will assist in the redesign. The "weaker" par-4s will be the most extensively reworked holes. Those would be the fifth, 11th, 14th and 18th. Strengthening these holes would include adding length, and requiring accuracy off the tee. Many of the course's bunkers are no longer in play from the tee for today's professionals.

Many pros currently hit wedges into four or five of the course's 10 par-4s. Johnson wants to eliminate this leisurely stroll through Augusta's azaleas.

Johnson said that the changes have been under consideration since Tiger Woods' 1997 assault on the course and the tournament record. But he said the moves are not in response to Woods, but to Sluman.

"Jeff Sluman was regarded as a short hitter," Johnson said. "Now he's approaching being a longer hitter. (Everyone) hates to see people hitting sand wedges to 425-yard par-4s."

Ironically, Sluman isn't even in this year's field. Perhaps he'll be the heavy favorite in 2002.

The home of the Masters currently plays 6,985 yards. How much length will be added? According to Johnson, "Probably all we can."

Reaction from the players was mixed. Many of the older players felt that the course has to be protected, but that golf would be best served if the ball were addressed instead of the course. Greg Norman, who shares the course record of 63 with his neighbor Nick Price, feels that on certain holes, change is needed. John Huston and Hal Sutton were among those who wish the course would simply stay as it is.

The work will start shortly after this year's Masters concludes and will be finished when the course reopens for members in October.

Fazio, who has worked with Augusta National on other previous changes, promises the redesign will not be too radical or over-the-top.

I just hope that Fazio confers with Sluman first. After all, he is the new poster boy and the main reason behind all of this hoopla.