No. 18 isn't what it used to be, adds some excitement to Masters finish

AUGUSTA - The Masters isn&#39;t really supposed to begin until the back nine on Sunday. By the time players reached the 18th hole in recent years, though, it was usually over. <br> <br> A back nine that seemingly had everything was lacking one thing -- a tough finishing hole, one that meant something. <br> <br> Other holes had glamour and intrigue, but 18 was merely where the Masters usually ended. <br> <br> Indeed, when Tiger Woods flipped a half sand wedge for his shot to the final green last year, the stewards of Augusta National could barely stand it. <br> <br> Tournament chairman Hootie Johnson said, ``We just hated that time after time pulling out a sand wedge or pitching wedge to par fours.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> That won&#39;t happen this week when Augusta National unveils a new beefed-up 18th hole, with the hope that disasters of days past will lurk again. <br> <br> To win on Sunday, the new Masters champion will have to deal with a finishing hole that might look much the same but has changed completely. It&#39;s longer and tighter, the fairway bunkers are bigger, and the green has a new ledge perfect for a back right pin. <br> <br> Greg Norman said, ``I think you&#39;ll find 18 now will get itself up there in the top ten, 12 finishing holes in the world.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> That&#39;s what Johnson and others had in mind when they commissioned architect Tom Fazio to make the most sweeping changes ever to Augusta National during the offseason. <br> <br> The result was added length and expanded bunkers on nine holes, beginning at the par-four first and continuing through the back nine. <br> <br> All will affect shots during the Masters. None of the changes will have as big an effect as moving the tee back 60 yards and to the right on the 18th.