Dry weather adds to mysterious aura

The Asssociated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- One by one, players trudged up the hill leading to the clubhouse at Augusta National, then paused and gazed back at a course that by now they should know all too well.

But this Masters seems to contain more mystery than ever.

Part of that is the sheer length. The tees were pushed back on six holes, stretching the course to 7,445 yards, the second-longest course in major championship history behind Whistling Straits (7,514 yards) two years ago at the PGA Championship.

Masters chairman Hootie Johnson vigorously defended the changes Wednesday, especially at No. 11, pointing out that Bobby Jones intended the second shot to be played with a 3-iron or more.

"He [Jones] probably was hitting into a green that ran at 2 on the Stimpmeter," said Retief Goosen. "The condition of the greens now are different than they were in the 1900s. You hit a 3-iron on the front of that green, it rolls off into the water."

And then there's the weather.

Not since 2001 has the Masters been contested over four days in relatively dry, fast conditions. That's a significant date, because serious expansion at Augusta National didn't start until the next year.

"We haven't really played many Masters with dry conditions yet," Ernie Els said. "We might find out this week."

Answers should start arriving today when the 70th Masters gets under way.

"I think everybody wants to see what will happen, what the winning score will be," former champion Mike Weir said. "I think single digits, for sure. On Monday, I said 8 under would win. But I forgot how much the course changes day to day. Now, I'm thinking 5 or 6 under."