Silly Me: Ike's Replacement Likely In The Works

Here I was reserving an opinion on what to do with the fallen Eisenhower Tree at Augusta National, thinking we'd probably have the 2014 Masters to carefully consider the future of the 17th. After all, one of the top five architectural atrocities of all time has occurred on this hole, when Hootie Johnson and Tom Fazio littered the sides of the fairway with Christmas trees in one of the most heinous acts defying the legacy of Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie. Not to mention, plugging gaps that allowed the horrifying recovery shots of Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman in 1986.

Heaven forbid that would happen again!

The trees have remained and are beneath ANGC in ways that are hard to explain to those who can't fathom what Bobby Jones was all about.

Anyway, you all have spoken: replace Ike's tree, with 420 votes cast it's 58% to 42% in favor of a replacement and I'm pretty sure of the large variety.

As I write in a Local Knowledge post, what could have been going through my mind? This was a done deal the minute the specimen had to go: Augusta National almost assuredly had a plan to replace it.

Reminder: Asia-Pacific Amateur On ESPN2 Starting Thursday

A spot in the Masters is on the line and last year for the golfer named Tianlang Guan or Guan Tianlang captured the title.

All four rounds of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will be carried by ESPN2 starting Thursday. All times ET:
 

Thursday, Oct. 24  2:30 a.m.  First Round  ESPN2, WatchESPN

Sunday, Oct. 27 4 a.m. Final Round ESPN2, WatchESPN

4:30 p.m. Final Round Highlights ESPN2, WatchESPN

Friday, Oct. 25 2:30 a.m. Second Round  ESPN2, WatchESPN

Saturday, Oct. 26 4 a.m. Third Round ESPN2, WatchESPN

Nanshan International Golf Club in China hosts the 2013 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and in 2014 Royal Melbourne is the host.