The Fix is In?

Have the powers at August National Country Club, the uber-exclusive (even Bill Gates couldn't buy his way in), uber-traditional host of Golf's most illustrious event, the annual Masters tournament, fallen in with Nike and the starmakers? Over the last 10 years, the course has been lengthened several times (but never lenghtened in the 62 previous years of its existence). This year they've not only added another 155 yards, they've put in more trees, changed tee locations and generally made a tough course even tougher.

But is it tougher in a way that's designed to help The Man, the golfer who has brought more money and popularity to the game than perhaps any golfer in history, Tiger Woods? In a story on TheGolfChannel.com, Fred Funk said of the new layout: "If they want Tiger to win every year, then they got it with the changes they’ve made."