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Older players on the way out at Masters

By DAVID MOFFIT

AUGUSTA, Ga., April 10 (UPI) -- The long-standing policy of allowing all former Masters champions to compete for as long as they like in the major golf championship is coming to an end.

The first crack in that tradition appeared this year when the Masters encouraged three former champions who have not played well in recent years -- 70-year-old Gay Brewer, 70-year-old Billy Casper and 79-year-old Doug Ford --- not to play this week.

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Brewer, who won the 1967 Masters, had not made a cut since 1983. Casper, the 1970 champ, had not made the cut since 1987. And Ford, who won here 45 years ago, made his last cut in 1971.

Masters chairman Hootie Johnson made it clear Wednesday that was just the first step in weeding out the former champions who are no longer competitive.

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"Decisions we made this year on the champions and those we asked to step aside, we made on what was the best interest of the tournament," Johnson said. "We do not have a formal policy on that but we will have one by next year -- a formal policy, no misunderstanding."

Johnson was asked to comment on the fact that the former champions weren't happy about the policy change.

"Yeah, I have a comment," Johnson replied. "We regret that someone, anyone, is not comfortable here. And if they not comfortable and not here we regret it, but I don't look back."

Johnson's annual pre-Masters news conference dealt mainly with physical changes to the Augusta National course, changes which he pointed out were made to offset changes in golf equipment, especially the long-carrying golf balls.

"It takes us a while to make a decision down here," Johnson noted wryly. "But the rapid pace of change has kind of speeded up our decision making process. Last year before the tournament, we recognized we had to make some changes, needed to strengthen some of par-4s."

Johnson said he was watching at Augusta National's par-4 No. 11 last when Phil Mickelson hit his tee shot.

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"I saw his drive come down and thought he chipped out of the woods," said Johnson. "After he made his shot, he was 94 yard from the green and said 'heck, there is no question about what we are about and we need to be aggressive.'"

Asked if he felt they had finally gotten the golf course set up the way they wanted it, Johnson replied, "We never really get it right, but we had to try."

Johnson said the rain which fell Wednesday will make the course play differently than it did earlier in the week.

"We had it like we wanted it (last) Sunday and Monday," he said. "That would be what we hoped to achieve."

Johnson said he felt "real good" about the changes on the 18th hole, which was lenghtened by 65 yards.

"A 3-wood and pitching wedge won't do for a finishing hole," he said. "I think most everybody agreed that the 18th as a finishing hole for a major championship was weak."

Johnson said he disagreed with six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus who was quoted as saying the changes "are going to eliminate half the field."

"I don't believe that," Johnson said. "I don't think there will be any more separation in the field than in the past."

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Nicklaus is not playing this week by his own choice because of problems with his back and the way he has been playing of late.

Johnson also said that the Masters hopes that the R&A and USGA can get together on a standard golf ball.

"We are concerned about how far the ball goes these days," he said. "But we are concerned about the golf game as well, not just the Masters tournament."

Johnson said Wednesday that there or no plans to return to a previous policy of inviting all winners of PGA Tour events to play in the Masters.

"We are pleased with present qualifications," he said. "We think the world golf ranking is a good way to earn their way into the Masters tournaments. Very comfortable with our qualifications. Do look at them every year, but I would say we are not giving any consideration to going back to an invitation to winning PGA Tour tournaments."

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