Does the Masters on the new, extended Augusta now play like a US Open?
No, because there’s still basically no rough at Augusta and at the US Open there’s usually eight inches of the stuff. It has been suggested that none of this year’s majors will feature a winning score under par. What do you think of that? Well, I’ve never played at Oakmont, but it’s a US Open so we may as well accept it’ll be tough. I’ve heard that’s going to be like Winged Foot [last year’s venue] and that was, let’s say, “demanding”. Then there’s The Open at Carnoustie and we can only pray the rough is not as severe as it was in 1999. Even if it isn’t, if the wind blows it will make scoring very difficult. And then there’s Southern Hills in Tulsa for the USPGA, where I won my first US Open in 2001. In certain conditions that could be very tough. So yes, it’s possible. There is a growing argument about the ball travelling too far, turning courses into “pitch-and-putts” and forcing the authorities to lengthen and “trick up” layouts. What should be done about it? People always go on abo
