Augusta adds yards

There's a large surprise waiting behind the two-story hedges that separate the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club from the pavement of Washington Road. When the Masters is played in April, it's going to be the longest one ever.Six holes have been lengthened by a total of 155 yards and the course now extends to 7,445 yards - 520 yards longer than it was in 1999. This makeover marks the third time in the last seven years that the historic course laid out by Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie has been significantly toughened.Augusta National now ranks as the second-longest course in major championship history, trailing only the 7,514-yard long Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, where the 2004 PGA Championship was played.There is greater trouble everywhere you look, beginning with the 455-yard first hole, which is 20 yards longer than it was last year.The par-3 fourth hole is now a massive 240 yards, 35 yards longer than last year and it has drawn the attention of Tiger Woods."Well, [No.] 4 is brutal," he said.Woods will use a 5-wood that he recently added to his bag specifically for this hole.The seventh hole is now 85 yards longer than it was in 1999, and plays at 450 yards. The par-4 11th is now 505 yards, the par-5 15th now 530 yards and the par-4 17th now 440 yards.For every change at Augusta National, the longer hitters are going to benefit, but only if they hit the ball straight. Fred Couples, who played the course after it opened in October, said the intent of the makeover is obvious."I think we're all talented enough and for all of the length, it's very, very tight, so for a shorter hitter playing No. 7, if he hits four really good drives down the middle of the fairway, I would say he's got an advantage," Couples said.Hootie Johnson, the chairman of Augusta National, doesn't think players will be alarmed by the changes to the course. "These are the greatest players in the world, so I wouldn't expect them to be frightened," Johnson said in a response to an e-mail.