If Augusta National was prepped

[wolfpack]

If Augusta National was prepped like the US Open (rough) what would be the winning score?

[dlygrisse]

About the same as a US Open @ Oakmont.

[Well Played]

I'd say take whatever the winning score was in the past, and add 5-6 strokes. I think the rough would be worth that much... Assuming the greens were left alone (i.e. not made slower to compensate for more penal rough).

[Dizz]

They did it the year Zach Johnson won... Think it was +2.

[wolfpack]

I don't remember there being shifted fairways and 5 inch rough anywhere, just a primary.

[Dizz]

Obviously my comment was a little tongue in cheek, they did not set it up as penal as a US Open but its the closest we've seen. Honestly it really comes down to the week before or the week of weather wise- tight fairways, thick rough and a dry course makes every course hard. I think it just depends on how tricked up they wanted to make it-- rough, pulled in fairways, pin placements, green speed, and totally firm and fast... you could see +5 win it. If there is a ton of rain and the course is wet the players are gonna go crazy. Remember Bethpage a few years ago? The course was supposed to be impossible and the whole area got drilled with rain and next thing you know Ricky Barnes got it to -11... once the course dried back out I think the winning score was -5 or 6.

I hope they never make it any harder than they did in 2007. I don't want to see over par win that tournament... I just looked ZJ won at +1.

[J13]

I am fine with the US Open being a brutal test with players hacking wedge out into the fairway on par 4's but that's about it. Nothing entertaining about having multiple tourneys setup that way. I can hack out of the deep rough with a wedge so I don't want to see that every week on tour. I want to see them display their expertise on knocking pins down from 155yds out.

[scratchswinger]

2005 was really cold and windy, I remember that playing a huge role in the high scores. The tempatures were in the 40's for some of the early rounds. Guys were not able to hit long irons into the par 5's and short irons into the par 4's because the ball was not carrying.

If they really let the rough grow, tightened the fairways and shaved the banks even more, I could see the winning score being +5 or higher. They could setup Augusta to play harder than any course on the Open rotation if they wanted to, including Oakmont.

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='J13' timestamp='1370791991' post='7199664']
I am fine with the US Open being a brutal test with players hacking wedge out into the fairway on par 4's but that's about it. Nothing entertaining about having multiple tourneys setup that way. I can hack out of the deep rough with a wedge so I don't want to see that every week on tour. I want to see them display their expertise on knocking pins down from 155yds out.
[/quote]

I agree, the Masters is about back nine birdies and eagles. Not clutch par saves.

[tembolo1284]

I'd say +10 would be the winning score. You wouldn't be able to stop the ball on the greens out of the rough..

Would be too penal. I wish they did it.

[tommytom11]

[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1370786354' post='7199274']
About the same as a US Open @ Oakmont.
[/quote]

or even a few shots higher

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='wolfpack' timestamp='1370761190' post='7198628']
If Augusta National was prepped like the US Open (rough) what would be the winning score?
[/quote]

My thoughts would not be about the winning score but rather what sort of total moron(s) would set up Augusta with a US Open style presentation. I would wonder if said person(s) had even the slightest shred of insight into the game of golf, or course design and strategy. I would be most certain that someone who would totally ignore the experience of Bob Jones and genius of Alister MacKenzie would likely have the combined intellect of Beavis and Butthead. Heh heh heh, fire is COOL!!!

[MtlJeff]

Even if they let it grow, i'm not sure it would affect the score THAT much. The top guys tend to hit a lot of fairways there, it's not the tightest course in the world. If they grew rough and narrowed the fairways too it would become almost unplayable.

The year Zach Johnson won was mostly about the weather and not the setup, but if they tightened the fairways and grew long rough, yeah i think +5 at best wins it

If they just grew rough but kept the fairways wide not much change i dont think

[SadTrombone]

Assuming you mean narrow the fairways in addition to growing the rough to 5"-ish....

A BUNCH. 10 at least (over par). Depends on how silly the USGA would want to get with routing the fairways.

I could see them making the entire left side of 11 4" rough leaving you a 10 yard landing zone up the right side by the trees.

I could also see them reversing the fairway on 10 and running the fairway up the right side with thick rough down where the fairway is now.

What other silly crap would they pull, let's see...

Oh, they'd have to add a tee about 100 yards back on #12...while changing nothing else. They'd make #13 and #2 into long-a** Par 4s. If they stopped watering the greens just after the Masters, they might lose them like they did at Shinnecock, which they seemed to enjoy so much. How much fun would that be on 16? Especially if you put it in the back right bunker.

You could really trick that course up too much, and the USGA would find a way to do it.

But if you just mean a general narrowing and growing-in the rough, probably 10-12 over.

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1370833289' post='7202998']
Assuming you mean narrow the fairways in addition to growing the rough to 5"-ish....

A BUNCH. 10 at least (over par). Depends on how silly the USGA would want to get with routing the fairways.

I could see them making the entire left side of 11 4" rough leaving you a 10 yard landing zone up the right side by the trees.

I could also see them reversing the fairway on 10 and running the fairway up the right side with thick rough down where the fairway is now.

What other silly crap would they pull, let's see...

Oh, they'd have to add a tee about 100 yards back on #12...while changing nothing else. They'd make #13 and #2 into long-a** Par 4s. If they stopped watering the greens just after the Masters, they might lose them like they did at Shinnecock, which they seemed to enjoy so much. How much fun would that be on 16? Especially if you put it in the back right bunker.

You could really trick that course up too much, and the USGA would find a way to do it.

But if you just mean a general narrowing and growing-in the rough, probably 10-12 over.
[/quote]

Move 18 tee back, let the trees on the tee box grow and add thick rough short/left of the bunker.

[jnradioactive]

No idea...

[SadTrombone]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1370833772' post='7203066']
[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1370833289' post='7202998']
Assuming you mean narrow the fairways in addition to growing the rough to 5"-ish....

A BUNCH. 10 at least (over par). Depends on how silly the USGA would want to get with routing the fairways.

I could see them making the entire left side of 11 4" rough leaving you a 10 yard landing zone up the right side by the trees.

I could also see them reversing the fairway on 10 and running the fairway up the right side with thick rough down where the fairway is now.

What other silly crap would they pull, let's see...

Oh, they'd have to add a tee about 100 yards back on #12...while changing nothing else. They'd make #13 and #2 into long-a** Par 4s. If they stopped watering the greens just after the Masters, they might lose them like they did at Shinnecock, which they seemed to enjoy so much. How much fun would that be on 16? Especially if you put it in the back right bunker.

You could really trick that course up too much, and the USGA would find a way to do it.

But if you just mean a general narrowing and growing-in the rough, probably 10-12 over.
[/quote]

Move 18 tee back, let the trees on the tee box grow and add thick rough short/left of the bunker.
[/quote]

This is the USGA we're talking about. They'd probably put thick rough IN the bunker. Why does it seem like the Mike Davis era of the USGA could screw up a wet dream?

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1370834117' post='7203108']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1370833772' post='7203066']
[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1370833289' post='7202998']
Assuming you mean narrow the fairways in addition to growing the rough to 5"-ish....

A BUNCH. 10 at least (over par). Depends on how silly the USGA would want to get with routing the fairways.

I could see them making the entire left side of 11 4" rough leaving you a 10 yard landing zone up the right side by the trees.

I could also see them reversing the fairway on 10 and running the fairway up the right side with thick rough down where the fairway is now.

What other silly crap would they pull, let's see...

Oh, they'd have to add a tee about 100 yards back on #12...while changing nothing else. They'd make #13 and #2 into long-a** Par 4s. If they stopped watering the greens just after the Masters, they might lose them like they did at Shinnecock, which they seemed to enjoy so much. How much fun would that be on 16? Especially if you put it in the back right bunker.

You could really trick that course up too much, and the USGA would find a way to do it.

But if you just mean a general narrowing and growing-in the rough, probably 10-12 over.
[/quote]

Move 18 tee back, let the trees on the tee box grow and add thick rough short/left of the bunker.
[/quote]

This is the USGA we're talking about. They'd probably put thick rough IN the bunker. Why does it seem like the Mike Davis era of the USGA could screw up a wet dream?
[/quote]

church pews?

[SadTrombone]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1370834365' post='7203144']
[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1370834117' post='7203108']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1370833772' post='7203066']
[quote name='minitour' timestamp='1370833289' post='7202998']
Assuming you mean narrow the fairways in addition to growing the rough to 5"-ish....

A BUNCH. 10 at least (over par). Depends on how silly the USGA would want to get with routing the fairways.

I could see them making the entire left side of 11 4" rough leaving you a 10 yard landing zone up the right side by the trees.

I could also see them reversing the fairway on 10 and running the fairway up the right side with thick rough down where the fairway is now.

What other silly crap would they pull, let's see...

Oh, they'd have to add a tee about 100 yards back on #12...while changing nothing else. They'd make #13 and #2 into long-a** Par 4s. If they stopped watering the greens just after the Masters, they might lose them like they did at Shinnecock, which they seemed to enjoy so much. How much fun would that be on 16? Especially if you put it in the back right bunker.

You could really trick that course up too much, and the USGA would find a way to do it.

But if you just mean a general narrowing and growing-in the rough, probably 10-12 over.
[/quote]

Move 18 tee back, let the trees on the tee box grow and add thick rough short/left of the bunker.
[/quote]

This is the USGA we're talking about. They'd probably put thick rough IN the bunker. Why does it seem like the Mike Davis era of the USGA could screw up a wet dream?
[/quote]

church pews?
[/quote]

No, nothing classy. Just something to trick it up and make Sergio wonder where the clowns mouth went.

[mr smith]

I would like to see the rough grown a little at Augusta but not quite Open standard amd nlt encroaching too far into the fairway. I would just like it a little moe penal for missed fairways but nothing as ridiculous as a Open.

[bscinstnct]

Make 16 mandatory that you have to "skip" it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg9GOMAB31Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[puttingmatt]

[quote name='bscinstnct' timestamp='1370837332' post='7203384']
Make 16 mandatory that you have to "skip" it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg9GOMAB31Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player
[/quote]

Another great shot at Augusta that does not get enough airtime !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

[tembolo1284]

I would love to see them set it up like a US Open. I think it would be almost unplayable in June. Esp if it was rock hard.

[wolfpack]

My first thought when I wrote the title was shifted (half width) fairways with 4-5 inch rough. Could you imagine #1 alone with a shifted fairway and rough? Everyone would start the tourney with a double bogey.

[.pacman.]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1370792862' post='7199698']
[quote name='J13' timestamp='1370791991' post='7199664']
I am fine with the US Open being a brutal test with players hacking wedge out into the fairway on par 4's but that's about it. Nothing entertaining about having multiple tourneys setup that way. I can hack out of the deep rough with a wedge so I don't want to see that every week on tour. I want to see them display their expertise on knocking pins down from 155yds out.
[/quote]

I agree, the Masters is about back nine birdies and eagles. Not clutch par saves.
[/quote]

??? The two par fives are but not the rest. Bloody hard holes I say.

[SadTrombone]

[quote name='mr smith' timestamp='1370836870' post='7203338']
I would like to see the rough grown a little at Augusta but not quite Open standard amd nlt encroaching too far into the fairway. I would just like it a little moe penal for missed fairways but nothing as ridiculous as a Open.
[/quote]
Meh.

We get a US Open once a year and PGA Tour golf every week. Get rid of the "second cut" altogether and make it shorter too.