Augusta National Finishing New Tee Box For 13th

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley was a bit evasive when questions flew regarding a possible new tee box for the par five 13th.

It was golf’s worst-kept secret when Augusta National opened its money-laden pockets and struck a deal with neighboring Augusta Country Club to buy property behind the existing 13th tee.

Pretty easy to see that the handwriting was on the wall.

Back in April at the 2022 Masters, Ridley admitted that the club’s hesitancy to change anything about the layout of the hole was because it’s “such an iconic hole” and one of the few where so much golf history has been made. But, Ridley also admitted, “at some point in time, it’s something that we likely will do. We just don’t have anything to say about it right now.”

And those are the terms you here so often at Augusta National:  “We just don’t have anything to say about it right now.”

You see, at Augusta National,  they don’t say very much at all — they just do.

At the same press conference last April, Ridley was pressed for a timetable for lengthening the 13th.  “Yeah, I mean, there’s no timetable,” Ridley said. “Nothing to announce at this time. That’s something that certainly we have considered and will continue to consider.”

Well, from the looks of the photo at the top, the time for considering has obviously come to an end and they’re been clearing trees and moving dirt.

You can bet that 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler pushed the ANGC powers from the “consideration” stage to the “let’s do this stage.”  Scheffler hit three-wood then eight-iron into the hole that plays 510, same length as a lot of par fours in the past few U.S. Open championships.

The challenge just isn’t the same at 13 as it was in the pre-Tiger Woods era.

Ridley’s observation last April:

“Admittedly, and I’ve said this before, the 13th hole does not have the same challenges that it has historically, and, I mean, I can just remember as a young guy watching the Masters, you know, some of the triumphs and tragedies. And while we still have those, the fact that players are hitting middle to short irons into that hole, you know, is not really how it was designed.”

So we could be seeing a new 13th next April, perhaps one that can play at, let’s guess — 560 to 575 yards.  Puts drive back in the equation and takes out eight-irons on the green for second shots.

Adrian Meronk Makes DP World Tour History:

History was made Sunday at the Irish Open and the DP World Tour now has its first tournament winner from Poland.

Overnight leader Adrian Meronk put together a sparkling final nine holes with three birdies and an eagle for 31 and a closing 66 for a winning 20-under par total at Mount Juliet Estate.  The victory made him the first winner on the Tour from Poland.

Ryan Fox once again was a factor over the final 18.  The hard-charger from New Zealand closed with an eight-under par 64 and finished solo second at 17-under.  For Fox, it was his fourth top-three finish in his last six events.  South Africa’s Thurston Lawrence finished by himself in third at 16-under par.

Meronk was overjoyed with his maiden victory on the DP World Tour.  “It’s such a relief to be honest. I’ve been coming quite close a couple of times this year, and to finally open the door, it’s just a dream come true.  “That’s why we practice every day – such a relief and so happy.

“I’m going to keep going forward. It’s another step for me,” said the 29-year-old Meronk.  “And I’m excited I achieved it here in Ireland, such a great history, and I’m just super excited. I can’t describe it.  It was an unbelievable feeling and to hit such a good shot on the last hole, I’m super proud of myself and my caddie, and yeah, super happy.”

Irish Open Scoreboard:

D.J. Still Can’t Win, Grace Takes LIV Exhibition:

There’s a reason Dustin Johnson went to the LIV — he’s having a tough time finding the finish line — even in a 54-hole exhibition.

Branden Grace upended 36-hole leader D.J. with a closing 65 to beat the rest of the has-beens and never-weres at Pumpkin Ridge on Saturday.

Grace shot 13-under to win and pad his extensive resume that included two lifetime PGA Tour wins — Heritage and Puerto Rico.

Carolos Ortiz finished second at 11-under, Johnson finished tied for third with Patrick Reed at nine-under.

Twenty-eight of the 48 players in the field shot over par.  Phil Mickelson kept up his stellar play with a pair of 75s and a closing 76, keeping his scoring average to date around 75.

In keeping with the “pay for lousy play” theme — Jediah Morgan cashed a six-figure check for shooting 21-over par for three rounds.

LIV Scoreboard: