Maginnes: Hey, you whiners, it's supposed to be hard

Too often this week, John Maginnes has heard people say the conditions at the Masters are too tough. That's ridiculous, he says, noting that none of those complaints have come from the players, who love Augusta National's risk-reward nature.

By John Maginnes, PGATOUR.com Contributor

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Enough, already!

On too many occasions this week, I have heard members of the press and several of the patrons say that the conditions at Augusta National are too tough. Too tough? Are you kidding me?

This is the only major championship that is played at the same venue every year. It annually produces the most dramatic and exciting conclusion of the season. Well, perhaps not last year when the reigning Masters champion took his game north in June -- you remember that, don't you? But, nearly every year.

Ask a player what championship that he would most like to win and the majority of PGA TOUR players will tell you the Masters. That doesn't mean that the tournament has to play under the same conditions every year. Heck, even if the powers that be wanted it to, that wouldn't happen. There are too many variables. Not even the green coats of Augusta National can control the weather, although I hear that they are working on it.

So, let's set aside the fact that the Southeast is experiencing unseasonably cold weather this first week of April. What could have been done to improve scoring? The simple answer is to soften the greens. Sure, they could have given them a drink of water in the evening to make them more receptive to approach shots. That probably would have made the scoring significantly better. But that would have been an artificial solution. Remember, golf is an outdoor sport.

A year ago the course played soft and wet. Phil Mickelson prevailed, bombing his two drivers over Tim Clark. Tim, who shared the lead after 36 holes this year, finished in the middle of the pack in driving distance in 2006. The suggestion by these statistics is that even when the course plays slow and soggy, the modest players off the tee have an opportunity at Augusta National.

This year the conditions are firm and fast from tee to green. These conditions should bring even more players into the mix. However, a pristine short game has always been required to prevail in the Masters. The pressure put on the short game of this year's champion will be even greater than in years past because the greens are so hard to hit in regulation.

Obviously, Augusta National has undergone some growth in the past few years. When Tiger Woods blitzed the field in 1997, the course played at 6,925 yards. Tiger shot 18 under par and broke multiple Masters scoring records. The 2006 Masters was played at the current yardage of 7,445. Phil's winning score was 7 under par.

However, in the decade between those two victories, no player shot lower than 16 under and that was only done once -- by you-know-who. And five of the winners shot less than 10 under. There is a pretty good chance that the latter trend will continue this week. I will even go out on a limb and guarantee it.

The irony of all the chatter about the Masters being too tough this week is that none of it is coming from the players. Some players have suggested that one of the things that they love about Augusta National is the risk-reward nature of the course. We have grown to love the challenge the players face coming through Amen Corner. The two par 5s on the back usually create the potential for a two-shot swing among the leaders.

Eagles have been scarce on these two medium-length par 5s this week. Both holes have played back into a cool breeze, making aggressive play a low-percentage proposition. All the players ask for is a level playing field. Even if the conditions are difficult -- and even uncomfortable -- as long as they are fair the players are happy.

They are happy because brilliance is still a possibility even under these conditions. Retief Goosen managed to shoot 70 on a Saturday that most regard as the most difficult day in recent memory at the Masters.

Some of the most heart-wrenching moments in golf have come on the 18th green at Augusta National. When you think of Ben Crenshaw's victory in 1995 and Nick Faldo's comeback win over Greg Norman in 1996, the image is not of their great shots. Only the most brilliant shots overshadow the memory of the celebration on the 72nd hole like Tiger's embrace with his father in 1997 and Phil's leap (or hop) to victory three years ago.

On Sunday, another champion will be crowned. The Green Jacket could make its first-ever trip Down Under. An Augusta native could win exactly 20 years after another favorite son, Larry Mize, did. Or at long last, another European could don the coveted prize. Tiger or Phil could add to their legacy, too.

One thing is certain, though. History will be made and it won't be easy -- and that will be more than enough.