The 13th hole at Augusta National, home of The Masters
The 13th hole at Augusta National, home of The Masters

The Masters 2019: Player distances prompt Augusta National to ponder changing 13th hole at famed Amen Corner


Masters organisers will wait to see how golf's distance issue is addressed by the game's governing bodies before deciding whether to lengthen the 13th hole at Augusta National.

Advances in fitness and equipment technology have seen players hit the ball further and further in recent years, leading to many championship venues being lengthened in an effort to continue to test the world's best players.

The fifth hole was lengthened by 40 yards for this year's Masters, but when it comes to the par-five 13th, club chairman Fred Ridley said: "Although we now have options to increase the length of this hole, we intend to wait to see how distance may be addressed before taking action.

"That hole does not play as it was intended to. The momentous decision that (co-founder) Bobby Jones often spoke about of going for the green in two is, to a large extent, no longer relevant.

"While there is no hesitation to make changes that are necessary, Amen Corner is a sacred place in the world of golf. I am hesitant to move too quick in that regard."

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said in February 2018 that golf's governing bodies are finally ready to address the problem after conceding their "line in the sand" has been crossed.

The findings of a two-year study conducted by the R&A and USGA are due by the end of the year and Ridley added: "I think everyone involved now is sort of going through the process of thinking about what are the options.

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"My preference, as I stated, would be to see what happens, what the governing bodies decide is best for the game, and then we will take appropriate action in response to that."

Ridley ruled out the possibility of introducing a limited-distance ball specially for the Masters and also played down the chances of staging a professional women's event, despite the success of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur last week.

"Our focus throughout our history, in terms of our efforts to promote the game outside of the Masters, have always been on amateur golf," added Ridley, who played in the Masters three times as an amateur.

"I think what we would like to do, and hopefully will achieve, is doing things that will benefit professional women's golf, and all of golf.

"But by promoting women amateurs, the future stars of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, we'd like to think that that is something that's going to benefit them as well, and I think that the LPGA would agree. So that's the track we are going to continue to take."

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