Masters chairman hints at possible changes to 13th hole

If patrons are cleared to return for the 2021 Masters Tournament in less than five months, they won’t see any change at the par-5 13th. But it’s coming down the road, Fred Ridley said Wednesday.

Ridley, chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, agreed that a change is needed to the design of the iconic hole, where the reward now greatly outweighs the risk because golfers are hitting the ball so far.

Photos from No. 13

There is room to move the tee back on the dogleg left hole, which measures just 510 yards, since the club bought adjacent land from Augusta Country Club in August 2017. But it won’t happen between now and the 2021 Masters, which begins April 5.

“I can say no to that because our season is underway, and we would not make any changes in that time period. Beyond that, I wouldn't speculate,” Ridley said during his annual State of the Masters news conference.

No. 13 played as the easiest hole in the 2019 Masters, with a scoring average of 4.473. There were 17 eagles and 56 more birdies (158) than pars (102) on the hole.

“It still provides a lot of drama, but its challenge is being diminished,” Ridley said. “We don't think that's good for the Masters. We don't think it's good for the game. But the issue is a lot larger than Augusta National and the Masters.”

Ridley said the golf world is “at a crossroads” as it pertains to the distance golfers are hitting the ball.

Interactive Course Tour

“We have always been very supportive of the governing bodies; we will continue to be supportive,” Ridley said. “We think that it's good that the game of golf is governed by the USGA and The R&A. We think they are great stewards of the game. Well, I think just sort of the broad statement, the golf course, other than a few, and I think that few is becoming a larger group of people, but it does play long for most of the players. It still does, particularly this time of year where we have more active bermuda grass that hasn't gone dormant yet.”

He was likely referring to Bryson DeChambeau, who is leading the PGA Tour in driving distance at 344.4 yards per attempt, and has been hitting it so far in practice rounds this week that the course is playing like a par 68 instead of 72 for him.

DeChambeau hit pitching wedge for his second shot into No. 13 in Monday’s practice round after flying it over the trees and the tributary of Rae’s Creek that line the left side of the hole, “cutting the corner drastically,” he said on Tuesday.

As for bringing back patrons in 2021, Ridley wants to see that happen, though attendance could be limited.

“I'm hopeful that we will see improved conditioned regarding this virus, but April is less than five months away,” Ridley said. “So there's certainly no assurance of that.”

He said the club was an interested observer at what happened last week at the Houston Open, where 2,000 fans were allowed on the course. It was the first time a PGA Tour event had allowed spectators since its restart in June after the three-month pause because of COVID-19.

Ridley also discussed plans for the Sunday green jacket ceremony and changes for the 36-hole cut.

Ridley said the green jacket ceremony would go on as planned in Butler Cabin, with proper social distancing, but there would not be a outdoor ceremony.

“Well, we won't have the putting green ceremony, because that primarily is for the people who are here in person,” he said. “We do think Butler Cabin is something that is really not only part of the history but emblematic of what the Masters is all about, giving the champion the green jacket.

“So we will be in Butler Cabin. We may be seeing, or viewers may be seeing, part of that room that they haven't seen before because we are going to be more spread out, but we will have the same people in the cabin with the same basic ceremony, but I think we can do it appropriately.”

As for the 36-hole cut, Ridley explained why the 10-shot rule -- those within 10 shots of the lead after 36 holes make the cut -- has been dropped. It was first used in 1962, five years after the cut was instituted, and has been in effect ever since. The top 50 players and ties will still make the cut.

Last year 65 players made the cut, but Ridley said that wasn’t why the 10-shot rule was dropped.

“It's not something we did just for this week,” he said. “Although it could be nice or could come in handy as it relate to darkness. I think that, really, two reasons. We thought that it was a reliable way to sort of better predict what our weekend field was going to be.

“But the other thing is we look back at the statistics, and the last few years, or the last several years, I think we've only had two players who have been in contention who made the cut only because of the 10-shot rule. While certainly it can happen, but it just doesn't. It's not relevant that often, and we thought this was a way to sort of tighten things up and have a more predictable field size for the weekend.”