Payne seeks to make golf, Masters more accessible

When the video game was complete, Billy Payne had to try it out.

It was, after all, about his course, his tournament.

When EA Sports released Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters, Payne teed it up with his 12-year-old grandson, Bo. The Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament chairman, losing by seven in his match, decided the front nine was enough.

"I told him my back was hurting," Payne said.

Payne talked about accessibility at his annual "State of the Masters" address the day before the tournament. He announced earlier in the week a new online ticketing system that would offer fans an opportunity to purchase a limited number of daily tournament tickets. The tournament already features a Junior Patron Program. Now a video game will try to attract more youths to golf.

The game, released last month on three platforms, offers gamers an opportunity to play Augusta National and the Par-3 Course for the first time.

"This decision was completely based on our motivation to positively influence the growth and visibility of the sport of golf," Payne said. "Playing video games is a popular entertainment choice for kids today, and our involvement may, we hope, inspire greater appreciation for golf and, in turn, encourage participation."

Payne said proceeds from the game will go to the newly formed Masters Tournament Foundation, which will support the growth of the game around the world.

At his briefing, Payne also mentioned giving more people an opportunity to walk the grounds at Augusta National. He said tickets became available because of attrition.

"Somebody thought we would be adding just to do this," he said, "but we have, in fact, reduced modestly the number of tickets we sold the last five years.

"So it's just a supply of tickets that replenishes itself annually and predictably, and what you're not going to get is an exact number, but it's fair to define it as a significant number."

Payne was unsure what the chances are of getting a ticket to the 2012 Masters.

"All of these experts we have are saying you are going to get X, Y and Z, and I wouldn't tell you those numbers, but I will tell you that we already get hundreds of thousands of requests the old, simple, mail-it-in way," Payne said. "It's not a real good chance, but it's a chance."

As for the course, Payne said a few minor changes were completed last summer. The No. 10 fairway was sand-capped to improve drainage. The club also rebuilt and re-grassed greens at Nos. 11 and 17, adding heating and cooling systems underneath each. Pin locations on each green also were restored.

"We hope these improvements illustrate our continuing desire to provide a fair, yet challenging, test for our skillful players," Payne said.

"So how will the course play this year? Well, I'm confident that we have done all that we can do, and I am once again very proud of (senior director of golf course and grounds) Marsh Benson and his entire, very capable staff for his tireless preparations of the grounds."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.