Thoughts and observations after spending seven days at the Masters . . .
Now that Phil Mickelson has won the only two Masters I've been to in the past 10 years, perhaps he should pay to have me cover every Masters. After all, I'm two-for-two with Phil this century . . .
Don't forget we Utahns can kind of claim Phil as one of our own. Phil's wife, Amy, grew up in Sandy and attended Hillcrest High School . . .
The changes at Augusta National over the past three years haven't ruined the course — it would be almost impossible to ruin Augusta — but I don't think they've improved it. Golfers seem to play more defensively now and rather than going for birdies, they're often content with pars on many holes. There wasn't the usual back-nine excitement this year . . .
I've been to a few U.S. Opens, and this tournament felt more like a U.S. Open with players just trying to hang on for dear life at times. Sure, these are the best players in the world and they should be able to handle difficult holes. But what's wrong with birdies and eagles and a lot of red numbers on the board? . . .
My biggest complaints about the changes? Hole No. 7, which used to be a nice little par-4, is too long at 450 yards with players having to hit into a green that is too shallow for long irons. Hole 11 is too long at 505 yards, especially with all those pine trees they put in down the right side. Either take out the trees or move the tees up. And now that the No. 1 tee has been moved back almost to the putting green, we media guys can't cut behind the tee to get to the clubhouse and must walk all the way around the putting green to interview players coming off No. 18. Can't they ever think about us writers? . . .
Utah amateur Clay Ogden had his ups and downs but didn't embarrass himself in shooting as well or better than eight other golfers for two days. Just making it to the Masters was a tremendous accomplishment. Not to take anything away from Ogden, but just think of the thousands of golfers out there who are as good or better than him, who will never get a chance to play in the Masters . . .
Even if you like Tiger Woods, it was good for the tournament that he didn't win again. If he keeps winning after all the lengthening of the course over the past three years, it will just prove that Augusta has been "Tiger-approved" rather than "Tiger-proofed" . . .
In person, Augusta is even greener than it appears on TV and much more hilly. And those birds you hear chirping on TV amid the quietness at Augusta? They're real. I could hear them out on the course as well (although, come to think of it, I didn't actually see them) . . .
But I did see a lot of jets fly over the course. Must be those corporate jets, giving clients a view of Augusta from above . . .
Boy, are they strict about everything at Augusta. It's as tough as airport security getting through the metal detectors. Not only can you not pack your pistol, but cameras and cell phones are strictly prohibited for obvious reasons. If you try to lie down, someone will tell you to sit up. If you start running, someone will be watching and say "don't run." Sometimes you feel like you're in elementary school again . . .
I talked to the director of security out by the 16th green Sunday and he told me he had 675 people working for him, including several people dressed like spectators, er patrons . . .
Prices really are low at Augusta. A pass for the week costs $175 (although that doesn't mean much, since they're impossible to buy unless you're born into the right family). Shirts are around $50, hats are $20 and you can get a sandwich and a drink for $5 total.
Did you know there's a golfer among the staid bunch of PGA pros who actually wears a ponytail? It's Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez . . .
If Phil Mickelson lets his hair grow a little more in back, I think he can start wearing a ponytail like Jimenez . . .
Covering the Masters begins to feel like the movie Groundhog Day by the end of the week. You get up, drive to Augusta, spend about 12 hours on the course and in the press facility, write a bunch of stories, drive back to your hotel in the dark and get up and do the same thing the next day . . .
But I'm not complaining. You can have your Super Bowl, Daytona 500, World Series and NBA playoffs. The Masters remains one of the greatest sporting events, if not THE greatest, in the world.
E-mail: sor@desnews.com