4 Changes To Augusta National For The 2024 Masters (As Explained By Rory McIlroy)
Small changes and minor alterations are inevitable at Augusta - Rory McIlroy explains the handful of touch-ups carried out at the home of The Masters before its 2024 edition
![Rory McIlroy and Harry Diamond at The Masters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xmbfSzLXYARs7dk3FH4VxB-415-80.jpg)
Augusta National Golf Club is always tinkering with its 18-hole layout in the pursuit of perfection - and the build-up to the 2024 Masters has been no different.
Since Jon Rahm bested Brooks Koepka at the exclusive Georgia layout 12 months ago, work quickly began on shaving this off by 1mm and adding a lick of paint to that fence, and so on.
But in terms of serious alterations or noticeable changes, what has been done? Rory McIlroy recently took a trip to Augusta as part of his latest scouting mission as he attempts to complete the career Grand Slam more than a decade after his most recent Major victory.
Upon his return, and ahead of the Valero Texas Open - in which the four-time Major winner would go on to finish third after a sparkling Sunday - McIlroy ran through the handful of adjustments from his point of view.
The first of which was the par 5 second hole tee box being moved back by 10 yards - a modification that the Northern Irishman says is extremely subtle.
McIlroy said: "I thought it was going to be a different visual than it used to be, but it’s -- I thought whenever someone said they moved it back and to the left, I thought the tee box was going to point you out towards that right bunker and you’re going to have to hit more of a draw around the corner.
"I mean, if you didn’t know, you would think you were on the same tee box, it doesn’t look that much different. You can still see left of the bunker and I thought it was really going to force you to hit some sort of draw shot around the corner, but you can still, you can still hit a straight away shot and keep it left of the trap. It’s not as drastic of a change as I thought it was going to be."
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Elsewhere, McIlroy says Augusta National's team of greenkeepers and ground staff have been busy refining the club's putting surfaces in order to allow for greater versatility in pin positions.
As well as a new tee box on the second, that par 5 hole's green has undergone a minor face lift. Number two has been joined by the 240-yard par 3 fourth (Flowering Crab Apple) and 180-yard par 3 sixth (Juniper) in receiving a modification.
McIlroy continued: "And yeah, there’s new greens on 2, 4 and 6. Slightly -- there’s like a back middle hole location on 2, there’s a slightly bigger area in there where they can sort of move that around a little bit.
"On 4 they’ve sort of made the back right section a little bit bigger for an extra pin position there. And then 6 is different, like the top right plateau is definitely bigger and then they’ve flattened out a section in the back left to maybe have an extra hole location there, too. Those are the three changes."
McIlroy will hope the changes play a small part in his first Masters success, with the 34-year-old at least hoping to improve on his missed cut in 2023.
The World No.2 has regularly suffered from a slow start in recent years, with no under-par round on Thursday since 2018. Prior to that year, McIlroy had only carded more than 72 on Thursday once in nine attempts - that occurred in his second ever appearance at Augusta in 2010.
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
Which LIV Golfers Played In The Tokyo 2020 Olympics
The men’s field of 60 featured 14 players who would later sign for LIV Golf – here are the details on who they are and how they performed
By Mike Hall Published
-
The 5 LIV Golfers In Contention For The $18m Individual Title
With tournaments running out, there are still a handful of players in contention for the $18m individual title - here are the details
By Mike Hall Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reacts To First Open Missed Cut In Five Years
The four-time Major winner struggled yet again on Friday, as McIlroy stuttered to a four-over-par round of 75 to miss the cut comfortably at Royal Troon
By Matt Cradock Published
-
9 Big Names To Miss The Cut At The 2024 Open
A number of box office names are heading home early after missing the cut at Royal Troon
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Rory McIlroy Gets Putting Tips From Luke Donald Ahead Of Open Championship
The world No.2 said he picked the brain of Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald to help with getting a feel of the greens at Royal Troon
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
‘I Blanked Tiger Woods’ - Rory McIlroy Admits Never Receiving Woods' Message After Changing His Number
Tiger Woods reached out to console McIlroy after his US Open collapse but the Northern Irishman admits missing the message
By James Nursey Published
-
Everything Rory McIlroy Said Ahead Of The 152nd Open
From his game being in "really good shape" to accidentally blanking Tiger Woods, here's everything McIlroy said ahead of Troon
By Elliott Heath Last updated
-
'I Have Felt So Sorry For Rory' – Gary Player 'Pulling' For McIlroy To Win Open After Pinehurst Agony
Gary Player spoke to Golf Monthly about Rory’s struggles, Bryson’s bravado, Jon Rahm’s millions and Troon’s “easy” front nine.
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
'Erratic Band Of Rain' Set To Cause Havoc At Royal Troon? Open Championship Set For Wet Moving Day
The weather at Royal Troon is set to turn very wet on Saturday as those who make the cut battle towards the title in heavy rain
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
Rory McIlroy Reveals He ‘Contemplated’ Player-Captain Role At Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy rejected an approach to be Ryder Cup player-captain in Ireland in 2027 - and says Keegan Bradley won't be able to do both if the USA skipper qualifies for his own team
By Paul Higham Published