Day backs Augusta plans to lengthen 13th

Reigning US PGA champion Jason Day agrees with reported plans to make the par-five 13th at Augusta National longer.

The famous venue in Georgia has hosted the Masters since 1934 and the first major of the season is the only one of the ‘big four’ tournaments to be held at the same place every year.

Jordan Spieth won the competition in 2015 after setting a record-tying 18-under over the four rounds, finishing four strokes ahead of runners-up Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose.

However, one of the talking points was the apparent easiness of the 13th, which is named ‘Azalea’, with several players making birdies and even better.

The lack of difficulty was clear to see as many players, including the likes of Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson, were able to cut the corner from their tee-shot and set up an easy approach shot to set up eagle opportunities.

Augusta officials are now deliberating whether to extend the length of the hole, which would result in the tee being moved back and making the drive harder for the field.

Day, who broke his major duck last year at the US PGA, is in favour of making changes and the Australian believes this would make life a lot tougher for the golfers.

“I do understand they are going to lengthen the 13th and I’m okay with that,” he said. “I guess what Augusta is trying to defend against is guys not caring and bombing it over the trees and past the corner, and then having 7-irons and 8-irons into the green.”