The masters is KICKING off BIG TIME! This is HUGE NEWS… and we have some huge talking points in this video. Round one of the Masters is here and tiger woods is on the back foot and i think it could be his last masters As we know it with him in it. But in the VIDEO we TLAK the GOLF BALL ROLL BACK and how the Masters chairman Fred Ridley has SOME huge news on the golf ball roll back!
Round one is half way through in the 2023 Masters and we have seen a-lot of players LAY UP do we like this was this the correct decision but eh BEST bit of news came from Harold Varner III and in the Washington POST!
Tiger Woods is paired with Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.. there are also so many big pairings in there. This is very interesting! We have seen some majors of the game hype up the masters quite rightly, Phil Mickelson says it’s “great to be back” at Augusta National, where the course is in great shape but playing long and hard, and details why he worked on his chipping game ahead of the Masters Tournament. Dustin Johnson will also be a key one to watch!
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Articles referenced in this video – check the full stories here 👇🏼
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/04/05/harold-varner-iii-liv-golf-masters/
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/masters-2023-augusta-national-chairman-on-ball-rollback-we-restate-our-desire-to-see-distance-addressed
24 Comments
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE 13th hole? BETTER OR WORSE?
What they've done to the 13th is like adding 50 yards to the 18th at Wentworth which is a similar risk & reward hole that often decides the PGA Championship. The Masters bosses are clearly very worried that recent scores in this event are so low that it makes a mockery of the term "Major." Bubba started it by blasting his way to 2 green jackets a decade ago.
I admire Varner for his honesty. When Mcdowell and DJ were quoting the "idiot notes" they were given by Greg Norman to say they were doing it to grow the game, it was truly embarrassing to witness players making themselves look stupid.
Let's be honest. The entire reason for wanting to limit the golf ball comes down to 1 hole at Augusta, and 1 course in Scotland. Now, I love tradition as much as the next guy. But it seems ridiculous to stunt an entire sport just to keep these in play.
There are so many new courses that would be amazing to see the pro's play at — maybe it's time. Yankee stadium, Boston Garden….etc all ended up being rebuilt. It's ok to evolve.
Just call the d*mn 13th at Augusta a par 4 if it's really that big of a deal. Most courses have turned their par 5's into par 4's for professional play. Lowest score still wins — so who cares?
I think all the masters have done is make 13 a par 5 again. The best players will prevail. Tough (as you mentioned it being) is not going into a par 5 with an 8 iron.
Best part of the coverage (which was excellent as usual) was Rorys walk and talk. It was brilliant and I wish it had been longer.
Loving your B9 channel
Make the woods smaller. Driver clubheads are the size of a Whopper. Smaller wood clubheads will mean smaller sweet spots, means they can't just get up there and crank on it.
550 yards is not a long Par 5 for these guys, Drive – 350, 6/7 Iron 200. It is much more of a challenge to make sure your drive is landing in the right area but the best will rise to the top! You mention we would be Driver, 3 Wood etc… but we will never get a chance to play it so what does that matter? Guaranteed on Sunday there will be fewer layups and the ones who do make it will be in with a shout, might take a few years for the players to get enough confidence to go for it in two but it will come.
Today's golfers have it too easy, Jack and Co had to hit 1 and 2 irons even to some par 4s.
If they cannot take a 5 iron on, God help them.
They should be able to play any of those shots, above the feet or whatever and they will all equally have to manipulate the opportunities to win.
So there were no eagles on 13 after the 1st round?…. Clickbait all you want mate, you ain’t going to catch Rick Sheils..also, if your a ‘world top 50 coach’ should you not be in Georgia this week…
I'm a bit on the fence about 13. I like it that it's made it a true par 5, but they might have lengthened it too much. Par 5s should be reachable in 2 for the real bombers but not the whole field. If the bombers aren't going for it then it's a bad move. Today we saw a good mix of layup and go for it, and that was under ideal conditions. Next few days can't see anyone being able to with the predicted weather.
It does takeaway the chance of someone making a big move on the back 9 on the final day.
The 13th is ironic 🤷♂️they made it longer because folk are hitting it longer "but" only the big hitters are getting there in 2, so by making it harder(longer) it favers only the big hitters I guess,and laying up is boring
A par shouldn't be played with driver 7 iron, easy birdie hit the drive the way it is meant and you will be rewarded with a long iron or fairway wood into the green take the risk hit a good shot you get rewarded. It's no longer an easy birdie. And by the way it's not the ball it's the athletes playing golf today.
You would think the chairman of Augusta would know the designer was Dr McKenzie not Mr Mckenzie
A 3 wood and an 8 iron isn't a true par five, the distance was needed.
Augusta will 100% use the reduced flight ball if it gets instituted, they are most definitely interested in protecting their course, hence the comments about the "design integrity".
Golf will always be better for the bombers. And if they don't regulate the ball look for changes in clubs to go smaller MOI for the club heads… or perhaps outright ban metal woods. If they went back to persimmon then 300 yards would be about the limit.
I'm sure Varner has plenty of friends, he's just a blue collar guy and says it straight. He's a southern boy through and through, and I like him for his down to earth sensibilities. What he's saying in the comments send a lot like what me and the😉 guys say when we call each other out on our own BS… and everybody has some BS they sling from time to time.
Whether your on the pga tour, DP tour or any other pro tour your there to make money……the key words being PROFESSIONAL GOLFER 😂
Much respect for Harold Varner for being honest and speaking the truth!
Relax Harold. The PGA got so much better since LIV. Phil’s vision was spot on.
If a amateur can be 4 under, the course is competitive to those who take chances, makes game more competitive, there pros
Each has his own reasons for joining LIV Golf, but when someone approaches you and says, how would you like to work 2 days a week and I will double your pay… it’s pretty compelling. And so they don’t have to travel as much and they can spend more time with there families.
If it’s a par 67 for BAD. He is 9 over par at the time I’m watching this.
There isn't one single player who wants to use a restricted flight golf ball. If it hurts the long hitters, it hurts the shorter hitters more.
13 used to be a par 4 (Yes I know it was a card par 5) and now it is a true par 5, bombing will always have an advantage when the long shot stays in the fairway.
And that is my point, if they are going to move the tees back then also punish the long hitter by narrowing the fairway and make it a more severe dogleg.
They have the money… but I would rather that they put it back like they found it!
Sadly hitting a 5 iron above his feet doesn't seem to be Rory's only problem so far!
Why don't the Americans make a golf course with fairways all the same length and. make the game. for them easy for them to stop them cryingthere eyes out