The par-four 11th increased to 520 yards and the par-five 15th now 550 yards, with Augusta National officially measuring 7,510 yards; Watch The Masters live from April 7-10 live on Sky Sports' dedicated channel
Thursday 17 February 2022 07:58, UK
Distance will be a talking point at The Masters this April, with Augusta National set to play to a record length in the tournament’s history after two holes were extended.
The Masters media guide, released on Wednesday, showed that the course now officially measures 7,510 yards - an increase of 35 yards from the 2021 contest - after significant changes were made to the Augusta layout.
The iconic par-five 15th, historically the tournament's second-easiest hole and home to many memorable Masters moments, has been lengthened by 20 yards and will now officially measure 550 yards.
Also extended is the difficult par-four 11th, already the second-hardest hole last year after averaging 4.40 strokes, with tees moved to the left and several pines right of the fairway removed.
A 15-yard increase means the 11th will play to a maximum of 520 yards and is longer than the 510-yard par-five 13th, which could be lengthened in future after Augusta National purchased land from the adjacent Augusta Country Club in 2017.
The tees at the final hole have also been extended back by 13 yards, though the official length at the uphill closing hole will remain 465 yards, with the course alterations the first significant changes since the fifth hole was lengthened by 40 yards in 2019.
The 86th Masters will be held from April 7-10, live on Sky Sports' dedicated Masters channel, with Hideki Matsuyama set to defend his title after becoming Japan's first male major champion in last year's contest.
Players not currently with an invite to the opening men's major of the year can still secure qualification over the next few weeks, although they will need to either win a PGA Tour event by April 5 or be inside the world's top 50 the week before The Masters.
Previous recipients of the Green Jacket get a lifetime invite back to Augusta National, while the winners of the other three men's majors receive a five-year exemption and there's a three-year exemption for those who win The Players.
Those who finished inside the top-12 and ties during last year's Masters get to return the following year, as do those who finish in a share of fourth or better at the PGA Championship, US Open and The Open.
Winners of PGA Tour events from April 2021 onwards and the 30 players who reached the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship all receive an invite, along with the world's top 50 at the end of the year and the top 50 players the week before The Masters.
There are also six spots available via amateur competitions, providing the players don't go professional before heading to Augusta, with both US Amateur finalists joined by the winners of The Amateur Championship, Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Latin America Amateur Championship and the US Mid-Amateur Championship.
