Phil Mickelson Criticizes Masters Length Changes on Par-5s
A familiar voice from the fairways is chiming in again at Augusta National Golf Club, even without a Saturday tee time. Phil Mickelson, absent from the tournament due to a family matter, took to US News Hub Misryoum and voiced frustration while the second round unfolded on Friday.
Mickelson, a three-time Masters champion, focused on the par-5 13th and 15th holes. He said they have been lengthened “to the point that they’ve lost their drama,” adding that seeing “so few players long enough to go for 13 & 15” has reduced “so much excitement and intrigue to the back nine.” His message also underscored a broader belief that “longer isn’t always better.”
Those comments land on solid ground when placed against the course’s measurable shift over time. Augusta National, founded in 1933, opened at 6,800 yards, and now measures more than 7,500 yards from the championship tees. During Mickelson’s career, the course has changed repeatedly, including adjustments influenced by the 1997 Masters, when Tiger Woods’ runaway win reshaped the strategy around the par-5s and helped usher in what became known as “Tiger-proofing.”
Distance, however, isn’t the only deciding factor, and that matters when evaluating whether the Masters feels different in real time. In 2023, a new back tee stretched the 13th from 510 yards to 545 yards. A year earlier, the 15th was moved 30 yards back and 20 yards to the left, demanding a longer and more precise drive to reach the go zone.
The tournament itself has already shown how tough the choices can be when conditions turn. On Thursday, four eagles were made on the 13th and one on the 15th. On Friday, those totals dropped to just one eagle on each hole. With swirling winds and firm conditions, attempting to reach the targets on both par-5s has carried extra risk.
For the rest of the week, the strategic question is whether players can take advantage of temptation when it returns. If historical patterns at the Masters hold, the eagle chances on Saturday and Sunday should rise as weekend pin placements on those par-5s often shift toward more reachable targets.
Mickelson’s argument also fits a familiar debate about what makes the back nine swingy: whether spectators want lofted iron shots into par-5s or prefer the do-or-die drama that comes from more frequent attempts at distance. Defenders of the adjustments would say adding length helped restore high-stakes decisions, especially as the power game has kept expanding. Mickelson can’t be dismissed entirely, either; he himself has authored unforgettable moments, including a 6-iron from the pine straw between the trees on 13 in 2010.
Still, continued change appears unavoidable, even for players who built their careers on mastering Augusta’s quirks. At his annual pre-Masters address, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley spoke of the urgent need to roll back the golf ball, and US News Hub Misryoum noted in recent remarks that Mickelson has not appeared pleased about that prospect. If distance control tightens again, the par-5 conversation—about drama versus length—may only sharpen further in future editions of the Masters.