If there’s one man who’s in position to criticise elements of Augusta National golf course, then it’s six-time Masters winner, Jack Nicklaus.
Nicklaus is very much one of the beating hearts of Augusta and he sits atop the standings for most wins there in history.
As usual, Nicklaus will be one of the legends to take the opening tee shots on Thursday to get things underway as we go in search of our 2025 Masters champion.
However, while Augusta National might well be regarded as one of the best golf courses in the world, that doesn’t make it immune to needing change.
And according to Nicklaus, there is one hole out there that he is stunned hasn’t been altered.
Jack Nicklaus names the hole at Augusta that needs changing
As time goes by and the technology improves, so does the distance a player can hit the golf ball.
Nowadays, a PGA Tour player will comfortably clear 300 yards on most occasions and it’s because of this, that Nicklaus feels the third hole at Augusta needs amending.
Speaking back in 2021, Nicklaus had his say on why the third needed lengthening.
“A lot of them will hit three wood on the third hole, I don’t know why they haven’t moved the third tee back about 30 yards. They have the room to do it and I don’t think it would affect anybody,” Nicklaus said in a previous interview.
The other issue Jack Nicklaus always had with Augusta National
Given his status in the game, Jack Nicklaus can pretty much say anything about any golf course and nobody is going to get too upset with him.
It seems, though, that he isn’t afraid of telling the powers that be at Augusta what needs sorting out and going back further, Nicklaus complained about the sand used in the bunkers.
“The type of sand they had. I think it came from North Carolina. I’m sure the sand changed a little bit but remember Augusta sand is so heavy,” Nicklaus said.
“You almost have to hit a bunker shot twice as hard as you do any place else to get that thing out of it. And you can’t get any spin out of it. They have changed that sand again. The sand at Augusta is now is better than when I played. I never liked the sand at Augusta. I thought it was really difficult.
Nicklaus has also picked Pebble Beach in the past over Augusta as his favourite course, which very much shows that despite his record here, he has a few issues.
Still, the ‘Golden Bear’ remains synonymous with Augusta National and come Thursday, everyone will be glued to their screens as he gets things underway.
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