How Augusta National Has Been Tweaked Since Tiger Woods' First Masters Win
Augusta National has undergone numerous changes since the inception of the Masters in 1934, a nearly annual array of tweaks and overhauls that continue to this day.
The most recent is moving the professional tee on the par-5 13th hole back 35 yards, onto land the club purchased several years ago from neighboring Augusta Country Club.
Making the move more interesting is that Augusta National did not leave the original tee, which saw the hole measured at 510 yards.
The official yardage is now 545 yards, and while the tee shot is not expected to change in terms of its difficulty, the result will mean a longer second shot into the risk-reward hole that is protected by a creek. There will be plenty of conjecture about this as the 2023 Masters plays out.
Chances to reach the par-5 13th hole in two shots will likely be more risky this year with the tee moved back.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Just the changes since Tiger Woods's first Masters victory in 1997 have been numerous. Referred to as “Tiger-proofing," the course yardage has been stretched by more than 500 yards since then. A significant amount of yardage was added under the direction of chairman Hootie Johnson in 2002. The course now measures 7,510 yards.
Here are some of the more significant changes made to the course since Woods won in 1997.
No. 1: In three different years beginning in 2002 a total of 45 yards was added by extending the tee. The fairway bunker was reshaped in 2002 and extended 10-15 yards toward the green.
No. 4: In 2006, the tees were moved back 30-35 yards.
No. 5: In 2019, the Masters tees were moved back 40 yards. Woods bogeyed the hole in each of the four rounds during his 2019 victory.
No. 7: This hole has endured some of the biggest changes. In 1997, it measured 360 yards and was the sixth-easiest hole on the course. In 2002, the tees were moved back 40 yards. In 2006, another 35-40 yards were added. The hole now measures 450 yards and was the ninth most difficult last year.
No. 8: The par 5 saw 15-20 yards added in 2002.
No. 9: The tee was moved back 15-20 yards and shifted to the golfer’s right 10 yards in 2002. The fairway bunker was doubled in size.
No. 11: Another hole that has endured numerous changes. The tees were moved back 30-35 yards in 2002. There were 36 pines trees added to the right of the fairway in 2004. The tees got pushed back another 10-15 yards in 2006. Last year, the tees were moved back another 15 yards with some trees removed along the right side. It played as the hardest hole last year with an average of 4.47 strokes. In 1997, it ranked as the fourth easiest at 4.098.
No. 13: Before this year’s additional yardage, the hole was lengthened 20-25 yards in 2002.
No. 14: The tees were moved back 30-35 yards in 2002.
No. 15: In 1999, fairway mounds were reduced and pine trees were added to the right and left of the fairway. In 2006, the tees were moved back 25-30 yards and shifted 20 yards to the golfer’s left. In 2022, the tees were moved back another 20 yards. Interestingly, the hole yielded no eagles last year.
No. 17: The tees were moved back 10-15 yards in 2006.
No. 18: In 2002, a whopping 60 yards were added to the tee, with the bunker complex on the left adjusted to make it larger, with trees added to the left of the fairway bunkers.