Rules, course changes seen as Masters Tournament returns

What Nick Faldo calls “the world’s greatest sporting event” opens its doors to the public for its 83rd edition Monday at Augusta National Golf Club.

Three days of practice rounds are set before the Masters Tournament starts Thursday.

Photos: Players get in Sunday practice

“It’s the whole atmosphere,” Faldo said when asked to explain his “greatest” comment.

“It never gets old, does it? Every time you come back, you can sit there and say this is really cool,” said Faldo, a three-time Masters champion who retired from the tournament before the 2007 event when he started calling it for CBS.

On Sunday, Faldo mentioned the Kentucky Derby as an event some would say was the greatest sporting event, “but for a weeklong event, this is quite unbelievable,” he said.

Lucky fans with practice round tickets will want to take a look at the fifth hole, one of the least seen parts of the course because it is tucked into the southwest corner of the layout. The tee has been moved back 40 yards on the par-4, which can play at 495 yards. It was the sixth-hardest hole on the course last year.

“Yeah, I was surprised (by the change),” two-time champion Bernhard Langer said Sunday after finishing the front nine. “It’s one of the hardest greens and it wasn’t that short.”

Langer said he hit driver off the tee and a 3-wood second shot Sunday, noting that the hole played into the wind and the fairway was wet.

“I’ll probably hit driver, 4-iron when the tournament comes around, but it’s still a long club to be hitting into a green like that,” Langer said. “For most of the guys, even the longer hitters, it’s going to be a little harder for sure because the bunkers are closer to them. It’s 280 to reach the first bunker.”

On Sunday, 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott said he likes the change and understands why it was done.

“Guys drive it better now,” Scott said. “Technology has helped that. When the course was stretched out a little bit over the last 15 years, driving became more important, and it has generally on tour. Guys have recognized that they’ll set their equipment accordingly to maximize their driving capability. More guys are putting themselves in a favorable position on this course.”

The fifth hole won’t be the only noticeable change since last year. A Rules of Golf change this year allows players to leave the flagstick in when they putt on the green. Many are taking advantage of it, including Scott.

It could be especially beneficial this week on Augusta National’s slick bentgrass greens. The flagstick would slow down downhill putts that are on line but are hit too hard. And on a green like No. 15, a putt that was headed off the green and into the water could be saved by hitting the flagstick.

“I think guys are leaving it in on those kind of putts just in case,” Scott said, referring to No. 15. “Why wouldn’t you? Maybe we’ll see it more because maybe you get a few more of those fast putts here than some other courses. It’s been working well for me, so I’ll keep doing it until it doesn’t.”

Practice rounds will be important for defending champion Patrick Reed, who is trying to regain the form that helped him shoot 15-under 273 to win last year. The Masters is the last time he won.

Reed, a former Augusta State golfer, has struggled with his swing to the point that he recently added noted instructor David Leadbetter to his team. Leadbetter was the man who helped rebuild Faldo’s swing starting in 1985, and he went on to win six majors.

As usual, there will be plenty of attention on Tiger Woods, who is having a strong season after closing last season with a victory in the Tour Championship, his first win since 2013.

Woods, at 43, is 14 years removed from his last Masters victory, and 11 years have passed since his last major championship victory. Of his 14 majors, four are green jackets. He tied for 32nd place here last year, closing with 69.

Just over a week ago, Woods beat Rory McIlroy 2 and 1 in the Round of 16 in the Match Play Championship, then lost in the quarterfinals.

“The thing I was impressed with the Match Play, it was Saturday morning and he really got himself in the right state, like the Sunday afternoon state,” Faldo said of Woods. “I’m sure he was pleased about that. He controlled his emotions and he played good and he beat Rory. I think that will help him coming here.

“He’s turned things and there are a lot of things he can do well here,” Faldo said.