O'Meara...Rough or No Rough?

Mark O'Meara jumps on the Augusta National criticism bandwagon while bemoaning the power game in a guest commentary for Scotland on Sunday:

The game is changing. Creativity doesn't seem to be as important as it once was.

The power game is more dominant than it has ever been. And guys who hit the ball as far as me have little or no chance to beat the bombers.

While I think the ability to hit long drives should always be rewarded, any advantage gained should not be overwhelming.

More length and more rough at Augusta National - so far, at least - hasn't really scared any of the big-hitters. The rough isn't so deep that you can't play out of it and it also has the effect of slowing the course down. Where wayward tee-shots used to run into the trees, they are now more often stopped from doing so by the longer grass. To me, that runs contrary to the way the course was originally designed.

Specifically, I think holes like the first and the now not so-short fourth would have been better left alone. Now, our opening tee-shot has to fly more than 330-yards just to make it over the bunker at the top of the hill. So a guy who carries the ball about 275 yards has really been taken out of the equation. That's just one example of where the power player 'who already has an in-built edge' has his advantage multiplied by the extra course yardage.

The sad thing is, I'm not sure any of the changes were really necessary. If I was in charge at Augusta I would have kept the course at around 7,100 yards and I would have eliminated any and all rough.

Instead, I'd cut the fairways tight, all the way to the tree lines, where the ball would run onto the pine needles. You'd either be in the fairway or on the pine needles under the trees. That would neutralise the power player enough that the shorter-hitter could compete.

Or you could just address the equipment that has helped fuel the distance disparity?

Comments

[Sean Murphy]

Add another one to the list of bemoaning, Geoff. According to O'Meara all of the changes made will play into the hands of the "Bombers". This must be Hooties idea of "TIGER PROFING" the course. LoL's. And this time around, compared to Sawgrass, we will be seeing marginal rough in the effort to keep Bombers tee shots from running off into the trees.

I particularly liked how O'Meara explained the cross roads of todays golf ball, while not actually referring to the ball:

"While I think the ability to hit long drives should always be rewarded, any advantage gained should not be overwhelming".

What he would like to say is that the "Incremental Distance Advantage" that todays golf balls which can only be compressed with a club head speed of 120mph or greater are giving only those that can a "Cheating" opportunity. The rules will simple have to be re-written to either eliminate Driver face give, or come up with a standard golf ball "CORE" give number, (compression) for some.

A Jones-MacKenzie "Masters piece" has been mauled beyond recognition, in Jones and Mackenzie's name (may you both rest in peace and not roll over in your graves) all for the sake of accomodating a golf ball that should be deemed illegal by the USGA (usually something gooofy again) fellowship anyway.

While you can technically add O'Meara to the "LIST" Geoff, you can also google Hal Suttons remarks a few years ago where he said refering to the effects of the golf ball " you have just reduced the field from 156 to about 5 players capable of winning this tournament". Sutton's words from a few years ago seem to be echoed by O'Meara and Nicklaus.

Steve, it certainly would appear that there are players that have had it with "Incremental Distance Advantages" with todays golf balls. I think its easy to say that their tired of all the bull-dozing that is taking place because of the golf ball as well.

The Corus is growing Geoff. The real question is, "Who" is going to restore the "Balance" that there once was?????

[St. Pete]

Bring the ball back to a respectable example. No more nuclear or steriod driven golf balls. HAHAHA. Lets get this trampoline act back on track. Cut the fairways down like O'Meara is suggesting, move the tees back up where all players have an equal opportunity of winning, where long ball hitters still have an advantage, and lets get back to the traditions of the sport that we all recognize.