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Jack Nicklaus’ Old Augusta Warning Quietly Came True With a Key Masters Change

Originally posted on DailyClubGolf | By Sneha Abraham | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 7:31 PM ET

Jack Nicklaus told everyone exactly what Augusta National needed to do, and he said it in 2016. It just took a few years for the club to catch up.

At his annual Masters press conference in April 2016, Nicklaus answered when asked about Augusta National buying land from Augusta Country Club and whether the 13th hole needed to be longer.

It’s safe to say that he didn’t hedge.

“I’m sure that from a traditionalist standpoint, the best way is probably to lengthen the hole,” Nicklaus said. “And then you don’t change anything else.”

He also named the reason it had to happen.

“Augusta National is about the only place, the only golf course in the world that financially can afford to make the changes they have to make to keep up with the golf ball,” Nicklaus said.

Augusta National acted ahead of the 2022 Masters, and the club extended the 13th hole Azalea by pushing the tee back onto land acquired from Augusta Country Club. Same hole, longer and precisely what Nicklaus had outlined six years earlier.

The change fixed a real problem. Over time, the 13th hole had become easier. Many top players were reaching the green in two with short irons, so the creek in front didn’t matter much anymore. A hole that was meant to be risky had turned into an easy birdie chance for many.

Nicklaus saw this back in 2016 because he understood what the 13th hole was supposed to test.

“The tee shot, second shot on 13,” he said when listing Augusta’s most consequential shots.

The new tee has brought the challenge back. The creek is important again. The trees near the tee also come into play. Players now have to think more before trying to reach the green in two. That’s the kind of hole Nicklaus wanted to protect years ago.

Augusta National’s Change Affects the Masters Field

Players reaching Augusta National this week are going to notice the 13th feels different.

It’s not as forgiving anymore. Even for players like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Bryson DeChambeau, going for it isn’t such an easy call now. The drive has to be more precise, and the creek is very much in play.

That’s the kind of pressure it is meant to create, and Jack Nicklaus pointed it out years ago. The club finally made the change.

Do you like this change to the 13th hole? Let us know what you think.

This article first appeared on DailyClubGolf and was syndicated with permission.

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