Bryson DeChambeau offered to keep the course at Augusta looking null and void in search of Masters success


Masters chairman Fred Ridley vowed on Wednesday that Augusta National will never be outdated. However, this week may be the one struggling to cope with the protracted attack.

Ridley even admitted this, saying that the challenge of the par-five 13th, the best risk-reward hole in golf, “was reduced and it wasn’t good for the Masters or for the game.”

By adding that the sport was at a crossroads and ‘closer to a call to action’, his message was clear. If governing bodies don’t ultimately do something about how far the ball travels when their findings are released early next year, Augusta will plan a course of nearly 8,000 meters by April 2022.

With Bryson DeChambeau, we are at the beginning of a new, long-lasting revolution

With Bryson DeChambeau, we are at the beginning of a new, long-lasting revolution

DeChambeau never came close to solving Augusta's riddle in three appearances

DeChambeau never came close to solving Augusta's riddle in three appearances

DeChambeau never came close to solving Augusta’s riddle in three appearances

“Not every course can make changes, but we will take the necessary steps to ensure that we remain relevant,” said Ridley.

This therefore feels like one of those groundbreaking Masters like 1963 when Jack Nicklaus won for the first time, or 1997 when Tiger made his debut as a pro and won by 12 shots. Both made the track look tiny, and Augusta grew to nearly 7,500 yards accordingly.

Now we are at the beginning of a new revolution, with Bryson DeChambeau, the divisive genius who half of the game applauds his chutzpah and the other half regrets that his swing doesn’t have the grace of Rory McIlroy.

Right behind him are Matthew Wolff and Scottie Scheffler who are almost as tall. There are students who will soon be even longer. It now seems inevitable that the governing bodies will curb the ball to maintain our wealth of jobs, but it won’t change the direction of travel. This is a runaway train.

Masters chairman Fred Ridley vowed on Wednesday that August will never be outdated

Masters chairman Fred Ridley vowed on Wednesday that August will never be outdated

Masters chairman Fred Ridley vowed on Wednesday that August will never be outdated

Both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have made the job look dull in the past

Both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have made the job look dull in the past

Both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have made the job look dull in the past

Ridley and his fellow Green Jackets must have been deeply shocked to hear DeChambeau say that the par for him is more like 67 than 72. The fact that he thinks he can clear all of the tall pines protecting the left side of the 13th fairway, making it a non-dogleg par five, just might have been the last straw. It’s always been a huge advantage to hit the ball long in Augusta, with its generous landing areas, but this year will be one of those countries where it’s disproportionate.

Bryson and the bash brigade should be making hay while they can, just like Jack did in 1963 when he left founder Bobby Jones to complain, “He’s playing a game I’m not familiar with.”

However, these Masters will not only be won with longhitting. Jack and Tiger claimed 11 Green Jackets between them, but not one without an equally secure hand with the putter, a velvety touch around the greens.

DeChambeau has never come close to solving the riddle of Augusta’s greens in three Masters appearances. While the 27-year-old will blow us all away with where his ball keeps landing, he’ll have to wait to assemble his menu of two steaks and three protein shakes at Champion’s Dinner until he solves that particular puzzle.

DeChambeau has half the game applauding his chutzpah and the other half complaining

DeChambeau has half the game applauding his chutzpah and the other half complaining

DeChambeau has half the game applauding his chutzpah and the other half complaining

It is fair to say that the Masters has not been won by the most obvious names in recent editions. The last four winners were Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed and Tiger, and none of them favored them.

With little wind forecast and mild conditions adding to the feeling of a slugger paradise, the axis has shifted to the big hitters at the top of the world rankings. It is a curious fact that not one of the current top 10 in the world has ever won a Green Jacket and only Reed and Adam Scott are in the top 30. That must certainly change.

Given the favorable circumstances, it seems surprising that so few people discuss McIlroy’s odds. Three of his four majors were claimed under such circumstances, and two with wide margins. The word in practice is that the Northern Irishman looks his best, but can he do it when it comes down to it and restore the faith?

In this year of Masters firsts, could we see the first Augusta debutant to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979? It is certainly possible.

We’ve already seen 23-year-old Collin Morikawa win the American PGA, while his longtime college rival Wolff, just 21, became the first man in over a century to finish in the top four in his first two majors – fourth in the PGA, second at the US Open.

Given the favorable circumstances, it seems surprising that so few people are talking to Rory McIlroy

Given the favorable circumstances, it seems surprising that so few people are talking to Rory McIlroy

Given the favorable circumstances, it seems surprising that so few people are talking to Rory McIlroy

Throw in the gifted Scheffler, and there’s every chance a rookie will leave an indelible mark.

This was not a good period for European golf in terms of winning majors in America. Indeed, it’s the leanest run since Seve Ballesteros won here 40 years ago and the locks opened for his peers. The last 10 majors staged on US soil have all been won by Americans.

World number 2 Jon Rahm is the main hope, provided he doesn’t get involved in a snail party with playing partner DeChambeau for the first two days.

Perhaps the spell will be broken the way Willett won in 2016, by a good player who started under the radar and grabbed his chance when it came.

Tyrrell Hatton certainly fits that bill, while Tommy Fleetwood has served his time with two near misses at the US Open, to go alongside his second-place finish at the Open last year.

World No. 2 Jon Rahm is the main hope, provided he doesn't get involved in a snail party

World No. 2 Jon Rahm is the main hope, provided he doesn't get involved in a snail party

World No. 2 Jon Rahm is the main hope, provided he doesn’t get involved in a snail party

Finally the weather. You can change the date and even the season, it seems, but the 84th Masters will start today amid a storm warning similar to the one that threatened last day last year.

On that occasion, the worst weather settled elsewhere and it led to the best that golf has to offer, with a Masters wonder from the incomparable Woods.

Despite all the legitimate concerns about hitting the Augusta test for a long time, there’s definitely another treat in store, if the weather lingers again.

Even without the oft-missed customers, there is still enough magic about the gift given every April to send us into winter with the warmest glow.

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