Please, Augusta: Ease up and return roars that make the Masters

Save the bogeys for the U.S. Open. We watch the Masters for birdies and crazy rallies, like those managed over the past quarter-century by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. Masters memories were not intended to be nightmarish, even for the winner.

The biggest shot, in terms of a clutch blow delivered at a crucial time, came when Immelman rolled in a 15-footer for par on the 11th, just as Steve Flesch and Woods were making critical errors in the groups ahead. Hardly the stuff dreams are made of, really.

Augusta officials said they stuck to their decades-old plan as far as the set-up, putting the pins in advantageous positions on Sunday in order to generate a few roars from down the hill, where Amen Corner is located. The biggest noise probably came when Flesch dumped his tee shot in the water on No. 12, effectively ruining his chances of winning.

"We've got them all in the honey holes," said Fred Ridley, chief of the ANGC competition committee, shortly before the leaders teed off Sunday.

Yeah, but the course itself was still a bear. Ridley, it has been sarcastically noted elsewhere, was once the president of the USGA, where extreme course set-ups that cross the line have become the stuff of legend over the years. But in fairness, the changes to Augusta pre-date Ridley's arrival.

Last summer, in what was viewed as retreat of sorts, the club removed a few trees located down the right side of the 11th hole, which is the most difficult on the course. More chainsaws should be gassed up when the club shuts down in a couple of months, because the character of an American treasure is being sacrificed for the sake of the club's ego.

Woods, a four-time champion, flatly stated after his first round that it was going to be a grind getting through the week, and he was spot-on.

"Well, there's really no roars out there anymore because you can't -- it's hard to make the eagles and the big birdies," he said.

Or little birdies. Speaking for us fans, we want to watch them in all shapes and sizes.

As a final plea to the club for a return to moderation, consider the performance of arguably the greatest player in the history of the game over his past three-plus seasons at Augusta. Over his most recent 13 rounds, Woods has posted exactly one round in the 60s and broken par a total of five times.

Funny that the club has initiated a program last week to allow kids into the tournament for free. Had I watched Sunday's play as a teenager, I would have bought a soccer ball the very next day.

After all, there's more scoring in soccer.

So, how about bringing back the fun, boys? Make the most famous club in the land less august and more like the old Augusta.