Opinion & Analysis

Barney Adams: Masters Tournament Committee won’t let course be overpowered

Published

6 years ago

Nov 6, 2020

Shortly, what is simply the most popular professional golf event as verified by its TV ratings will be gracing our TV screens. For clarity, I have never played Augusta National, and I attended the Masters once some 20 years ago and will be glued to my TV screen this year.

I have nothing but great respect for what the folks at Augusta have accomplished over the years. And frankly, it hasn’t always been perfect, given their treatment of announcers Jack Whitaker and Gary McCord.

I’ll not attempt to go into all the positive things they have done. This story is specifically about the course. Those of us who are Masters addicts no longer watch just par 3, 4, and 5 holes. We have been introduced to fairway and green slopes, hazards, and I have a better mental picture of the Augusta National layout than I do my home course! If asked to explain, I’d say the course is a masterpiece of combining length, shot-making recovery, and short game. In other words, the golfer has to be the complete package.

Except this year could be different… Starting with or at least emphasized by the recent U.S. Open we are told by TV announcers that professional golf is becoming a legion of long hitters. Not a casual mention, a constant forecast abetted by stories of players hitting the gym specifically looking for more clubhead speed.

Bryson DeChambeau sends out an Instagram message of a 403-yard carry, and it was picked up and discussed by the announcers during the Zozo event! Does this mean 400 is the new 300-yard bomb? Drive for show putt for dough hasn’t changed, it’s that TV loves the drive for show and it’s a TV business. And I’m sure they have the algorithms to substantiate their position. (I see a new Top Tracer coming, one that changes color and explodes at the 300 mark in the air)

I can’t visualize the powers that be at Augusta sitting quietly and letting this power story overshadow the great work they’ve done to the course. Yet in this COVID-19 era, it’s a very short window, since the U.S. Open and TV’s emphasis on distance. Maybe they will sit back like the rest of us and see how things work out?

I guarantee the folks at the Masters are not going to ultimately let their great course be outdriven. If it happens this year, the story for the next Masters will be an immediate work in progress. Tom Fazio on speed dial!

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Barney Adams

Barney Adams is the founder of Adams Golf and the inventor of the iconic "Tight Lies" fairway wood. He served as Chairman of the Board for Adams until 2012, when the company was purchased by TaylorMade-Adidas. Adams is one of golf's most distinguished entrepreneurs, receiving honors such as Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 1999 and the 2010 Ernie Sabayrac Award for lifetime contribution to the golf industry by the PGA of America. His journey in the golf industry started as as a club fitter, however, and has the epoxy filled shirts as a testimony to his days as an assembler. Have an equipment question? Adams holds seven patents on club design and has conducted research on every club in the bag. He welcomes your equipment questions through email at [email protected] Adams is now retired from the golf equipment industry, but his passion for the game endures through his writing. He is the author of "The WOW Factor," a book published in 2008 that offers an insider's view of the golf industry and business advice to entrepreneurs, and he continues to contribute articles to outlets like GolfWRX that offer his solutions to grow the game of golf.

3 Comments

BT

Nov 11, 2020 at 7:48 pm

Woolly rough and let the brush grow up in the trees. Make it a stroke penalty to miss the fairway

BT

Reply Report comment
Bob Jones

Nov 9, 2020 at 11:36 am

“I guarantee the folks at the Masters are not going to ultimately let their great course be outdriven. If it happens this year, the story for the next Masters will be an immediate work in progress.”

In other words, the powers that be are fighting as hard as they can to keep their course from coming obsolete.

Reply Report comment
Jack Nash

Nov 9, 2020 at 8:56 am

Solution? Greens 15 on the stimp lol

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

5 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

7 days ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

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Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.