If finally happened last year: Augusta National built a new back tee measuring 545 yards, adding 35 yards to the iconic 13th hole at the Masters Tournament.
The 13th ranks as one of the great risk-reward holes in golf. Going for it should be a “momentous decision,” in the words of Bobby Jones, who assisted Alister MacKenzie in its design. It originally measured 480 yards when the Masters debuted in 1934 and played to 510 yards for the 2022 Masters. But that distance is shorter than many par-4s in major championship golf these days. One year later, we asked pros what they thought of the change and the Survey Says: mixed reviews at best. Making this change to the course was a momentous decision in its own right and one that time will tell whether it was the right one. We’ll also have to wait and see if and how the rolling back of the golf ball will impact how one of the great par-5s in golf is played in the future.
