Jack Nicklaus has called on Augusta National officials to forget about replacing the Eisenhower Tree and instead, give more definition to the 17th hole at Augusta National.
The Eisenhower Tree was brought down in the recent ice storm that savaged this region of Georgia, and the damage caused is very apparent with a great majority of the stately Georgia pines stripped of branches and snapped off at the top.
It’s the same all about Augusta except that Masters officials have worked tirelessly to present Augusta National in the best position it can.
However there is no getting away from the fact the view off the 17th tee looks ‘naked’ and that’s how Nicklaus described it.
The Big Three -Palmer, Nicklaus and Player have different views when it comes to replacing the Eisenhower Tree.
If fact, the ‘Big Three’ – Nicklaus, Player and Arnold Palmer – were asked whether Augusta National should replace the Eisenhower Tree, and each had strong opinions how to handle it.
ARNOLD PALMER: Well, I think I would probably put a tree right back where the tree was and try to get it about as similar as it was when it was taken out.
JACK NICKLAUS: Well, I look at the area, it does look a little naked. It’s not only Ike’s tree, but Little Ike and a couple other trees were gone. But they really had no effect on the play of the golf tournament as it relates to the tournament. I think the statistics show that I think there’s been an average of maybe five of six balls that have hit the tree a year by bad shots, and it affected the membership far more.
Could you put a tree back? Sure you could put a tree back. But I personally think that the hole needs definition a little further up, not back. There’s many things they can do and I’m sure that there will be many opinions from many different players about what they can do, and I’m sure that they will come up with a solution that they think is best for the golf course. I think it’s best to probably just keep my nose out of it, until I’m asked.
The Eisenhower Tree named after 34th US President Dwight D Eisenhower.
GARY PLAYER: You are being asked.
JACK NICKLAUS: I wasn’t being asked by who really wants to ask me (laughter).
GARY PLAYER: No, I think there’s never been a tree that’s been so significant in golf. Personally, I am anti‑trees I’m in the middle of fairways or on fairways, same as I’m against bunkers in the middle of fairways. There’s enough trouble, golf is a very tough game, particularly for members who don’t hit many fairways. I think the tree, as much respect as I had for the name attached to the tree, I think it’s best that the tree does not be put back.
I know that Bobby Jones is ‑‑ when they designed it, they wanted the golf course not to be like other golf courses. They wanted wider fairways with no rough and the pressure being put on the second shots and the greens itself, which are very severe. The 17th green was never designed originally for the type of shot that’s being played in there right now.
JACK NICKLAUS: Do you know what the 17th was originally?
GARY PLAYER: I don’t know what it was,
JACK NICKLAUS: It was a par 5.
