Phil Mickelson Has Some Strong Thoughts About Augusta’s Added Length

On April 2, Phil Mickelson announced that he would not be playing in the 90th Masters as his family “continues to navigate a personal health matter.” But he didn’t fully stay away.

On Friday, Lefty took to Twitter to voice his displeasure about the length that’s been added to both of Augusta National’s second-nine par 5s. According to him, the excitement has been taken away.

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He then replied to his own tweet saying, “Not a single eagle putt on 13. Crazy.”

When The Fried Egg’s Will Knights pointed out that Jake Knapp, Kristoffer Reitan, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Max Greyserman, Sami Valimaki, and Keegan Bradley all putted for eagle on Friday at the final hole of Amen Corner, Mickelson said, “6 of 90. Like I said, ‘so few.’”

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First of all, Phil, that’s not what you said. Secondly, if every player were able to go for par 5s in two, it wouldn’t be a par 5. That’s what we call a par 4.

The true excitement on 13 and 15 comes when a player pulls a headcover off and decides to go on the offensive. They’re attempting to do something few players either want to do or are in a position to do.

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The anticipation and anxiety when the ball is in the air is what those par 5s are all about, especially with the tributary short of 13 and the pond short of 15.

Now let's be clear, Mickelson has forgotten more about Augusta National than I’ll learn in my lifetime, but as a fan enjoying the year’s first major championship on television, the additional length to both holes has made both tee shots that much more important.

And both holes, undoubtedly, will play a major role over the weekend as the field chases defending champion Rory McIlroy.