Analysis | Tiger Woods' mastery of long courses helps in majors

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger-proofing Augusta National Golf Club: They didn't really do that, did they?

It has been told often enough, though the story is probably apocryphal. Seven years ago, when Augusta National employed noted course designer Tom Fazio to lengthen the legendary Masters layout, then-chairman Hootie Johnson asked Fazio how long the course could stretch if every bit of available real estate was used.

More than 8,000 yards, Fazio told Johnson.

Augusta National isn't there yet, but at 7,445 yards for the tournament that starts Thursday, it is getting closer. At its present length, it is one of the longest courses used for major championships.

Torrey Pines South in San Diego will measure 7,643 yards for the U.S. Open in June — the longest course in major-championship history. Others in the top four are 7,561-yard Medinah Country Club at the 2006 PGA Championship, 7,514-yard Whistling Straits at the 2004 PGA and Augusta National.

Results indicate Tiger-proofing, if that is what some major venues are doing, might not be all it is cracked up to be.

Woods has won the regular-season tournament at Torrey Pines four years in a row since designer Rees Jones lengthened it, the last victory by a record eight shots in January. Woods also won that 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah by five shots and he has won the Masters four times, twice since the major lengthening and toughening of the course in 2002.

The solemn club members in the green jackets at Augusta National didn't necessarily beef up the course because of Woods' one-man wrecking job in 1997, when he shot 18 under par and won by 12 strokes for his first Masters title. But if ever there was a signal something had to be done, then it is probably fine to blame it on Woods.

When Zach Johnson won last year, his 1-over 289 matched the highest winning score in Masters history. Score one for the course, with an assist from cold and windy weather.

The notion of combating advancements in the technology of golf equipment had long been discussed in the wood-paneled offices occupied by the power brokers of Augusta National.

Something as meaningful as altering a course that was created and designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie was taken seriously, and slowly, by members who had grown tired of seeing players needing nothing more than a driver and pitching wedge to reach the 18th green.

Regardless of the motivation behind building a meaner Augusta National, Woods' length off the tee, his ability to spin the ball out of the first cut, his short game and his tournament-success rate mean he is probably as well prepared as anyone to take on the challenge.

Still, the top-ranked Woods knows there is plenty of trouble at Augusta National, and you don't have to go far to find it.

"You've got to fight through every hole," he said. "It's just the nature of that golf course. I've played some interesting clubs off of some holes. For instance, [No.] 12, I've hit as little as a wedge and as much as a 4-iron. It's hard to describe.

"People don't realize how difficult that place is until you actually get there and you see. Any hole can get you there, so it's not just one hole."

Since the Masters began keeping hole statistics in 1942, the toughest hole on the course has been the 495-yard, par-4 10th, with the 505-yard, par-4 11th the fourth-most difficult and the 155-yard, par-3 12th over Rae's Creek the second-toughest hole.

But the 11th actually might be the toughest hole because of recent remodeling. It has been lengthened twice, and trees have been added.

"Eleven has become by far the hardest hole," Woods said. "They put those trees in there, and the angle of the tee shot [is more difficult]."