Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal admits he’s struggling to reach some of Augusta National’s par 4s in two shots.
Like most tournaments, it’s not uncommon for Augusta National to make tweaks to the course in a bid to keep up with the modern-day golf pros who hit it further than ever before. Usually these changes involve the lengthening of holes.
In the past five years alone, the tees on the second hole were moved back 10 yards, the tees on the 11th were moved back 15 yards, the tees on the 13th were moved back 35 yards, the tees on the 15th were moved back 20 yards, and this year the tee box has been shortened on the 17th – effectively adding on another 10 yards to the hole.
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That’s on top of all the various holes that have been lengthened in the years previous. While rollback rules will be implemented in 2028, it seems courses such as Augusta National will continue to lengthen holes for the foreseeable.
This might well be no problem if your name is Bryson DeChambeau, but for 60-year-old Olazabal these changes are something of an issue. In fact, the Spaniard confessed to not liking them one bit.
Asked if he’s getting used to the changes, he responded sharply: “That doesn’t mean I like it.
“Yes, obviously I’m getting used to the golf course playing extremely long for me. There are certain holes that I barely reach the green in 2. No. 5 is a good example of that, No. 11 is another one.
Olazabal is not a fan of the changes -Credit:Getty Images
“Then I do have a lot of par-4s that I’m hitting really long irons, even 7-woods on to the greens.
“As I said, it’s always great to be here. My goal is just to put a couple of decent scores the first two days and try to enjoy it as much as I can.”
Olazabal, though, is something of an expert around the greens. So he at least has that to fall back on.
“The more you play this golf course, the better it is,” he said. “We’ve always said, this golf course nowadays demands a whole game.
“You need to be long and straight off the tee. You have to be sharp with your irons, and on top of that, your short game has to be really good.
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“Knowing the contours of the greens and all that obviously helps you around the greens, and when you play it, I don’t know, 37 times or 38 times over years, you get to know the course a little better.”
Regardless of the changes, Olazabal is not knocking Augusta National. A golf club he’s won twice at, Olazabal is aware more than most just how special the Masters is.
“The feelings are great,” he said. “Every time I come here, this is a very special place for me, for my heart. I have wonderful memories. This place has given me so much in my career for major events. It’s always fantastic to be back here.”
