Weather, DeChambeau, Woods, Mickelson: ESPN Masters Preview Call

EPSN made Andy North, Curtis Strange, and Scott Van Pelt available for a pre-Masters media conversation during which the focus was mostly on the different weather and course conditions in November and what Bryson DeChambeau and the rest of the long hitters on the PGA Tour will be able to do at Augusta National.

When it comes to the Masters, people want to know how will the course play in November versus in April. Two-time U.S. Open champ Andy North thinks it will play significantly different than in the spring. Softer, he said, and that means the course will play longer.

Scott Van Pelt recalled a conversation with Phil Mickelson on the topic of this fall’s Masters, and Mickelson agreed. Softer. Longer. That plays into the hands of the longest hitters.

Curtis Strange, also a two-time U.S. Open champ, actually checked the weather.

More from The Masters

"“It looks very good through next week, through Friday, is what I got, anyway, it looks like the high 70s,” he offered."

All bets are off, though, if hurricane Eta, the one that hit Central America, slides up to Florida and Georgia on its way to oblivion.

Right now, no matter what, all eyes are on Bryson DeChambeau and his ability to hit monster long drives. No one knows exactly what to expect from him with his 48-inch driver. Everyone wonders what kind of success he will have on the course.

North, who walked with the DeChambeau group at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, had an up-close and personal experience in watching the mad scientist of golf.

"“You can watch it on TV, but until you’re standing next to him and actually watch the violence that he’s creating and how the golf ball leaves the clubhead, you can’t believe it. It is absolutely astounding,” he said."

North is usually prone to understatement, not exaggeration. He has heard rumors that DeChambeau is hitting a 7-iron second shot to the 8th green. The 8th is an uphill, 570-yard par-five, uphill more than 70 yards from tee to green. It is not an easy two-shot hole but many PGA Tour players can get to or near the green in two. They just don’t hit 7-irons.

"“Thirteen, he’s talking about trying to drive it over the trees into the 14th fairway and create that angle,” North suggested. “It will be places that we’ve never seen anybody even think about getting to.”"

The trees he’s talking about would have to be at or beyond the dogleg on the right side of the 13th, the ones that form a division between No. 13 and No. 14.

As far as the first nine, North speculated that DeChambeau might see the 4th hole as a longish par three.

Two-time U.S. Open champ Curtis Strange looked at the DeChambeau situation in a different light.

"“He’s proven that it wasn’t just about the ball and the club,” he said. “It was about the physical man, as well.”"

Because of the distances PGA Tour players are hitting the golf ball these days, there is much speculation on what could be done, if anything, to preserve existing courses in the face of the distance barrage. Strange and North had different opinions on whether Augusta National might start looking at a tournament ball.

“Could they come up with a golf ball that they require players to play that goes ten percent shorter or 50 percent shorter?” North asked. “There’s been a lot of rumblings that that’s becoming closer to actually happening.”

Strange said he didn’t see Augusta National being the only tournament on the PGA Tour schedule with a reduced distance ball. He suggested the idea of actual rough, but he doesn’t think the club will do that, either. The second cut at Augusta National is less than an inch high unless they have modified it.

"“They could add some bunkers,” Strange noted. “I don’t see them doing that. I think what Andy said — does it ramp up the talk on bringing the ball back for everybody?”"

As it always does in golf, the conversation turned to whether Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson had a chance to win the Masters again.

Both Strange and North agreed that it was a big ask for Woods since he has not played often this season, and when he has, he hasn’t played well. They are big believers in the need to play and need to be sharp before majors. But Mickelson’s chances, they thought, were slightly better because he has won, even though it was on the Champions Tour.

"“He won by a large margin at the Bass Pro Shops,” Strange said about Mickelson. “And he came from behind in Richmond on a pretty good little golf course.”"

He added that he would not be surprised if Mickelson’s name was on the leaderboard, but that’s as far as he would go.

North noted that Mickelson has been using a 47-inch driver and that if it gives him another 15 yards, it would be important in improving his chances.

If Mickelson did somehow win another green jacket, he would be the oldest Masters champ ever. Currently, the oldest is Jack Nicklaus who won at age 46.

When it comes to the atmosphere, all agreed that the absence of fans is going to be different for the top players who are used to being surrounded from tee-to-green at Augusta National. Even during practice rounds, there are few holes without hundreds, if not thousands of people watching the golf and admiring the scenery.

It could favor the newcomers who might get unnerved by the roars of a typical day at the Masters. It could be a letdown for veterans who are used to having a crowd that is enthusiastic and loud.

There are many high-level golfers who might sneak in this time around because there won’t be all the hubbub surrounding the tournament. Dustin Johnson is back from his COVID break. Rory McIlroy’s game seems built for Augusta National, according to Strange. And Bryson is on everyone’s mind.

"“I think the world who follows the game thinks that Bryson is automatically going to win, and we know that’s the not case,” Strange said, “but he’s pretty dog-gone good, and more than anything else, he’s full of confidence right now after winning the U.S. Open.”"

dark. Next. Callaway and Top Golf: A Golf Merger in the Making

ESPN will air the first two rounds of the Masters at 1 p.m. Eastern on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12-13. There will be special Masters coverage on SportsCenter, ESPN.com, ESPN+, and other ESPN platforms. In addition, College GameDay will take place at Augusta National on the Saturday of Masters Week.

Home/The Masters