Golf-Masters-Players expect high scores again at Augusta

By Larry Fine

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 9 (Reuters) - Augusta National's evolution to become one of the more rigorous all-round tests of championship golf will bring high scores again this year, top players said before Thursday's start to the U.S. Masters.

Years of "Tiger-proofing" measures, such as lengthening holes, tightening fairways, adding trees and growing rough, have transformed Bobby Jones's cathedral of golf following Tiger Woods's amazing debut triumph in 1997.

Zach Johnson matched the highest winning score in 71 editions of the major last year with a one-over 289 and fellow American Phil Mickelson, winner of two of the last four Masters, believes the trend of higher scores will continue.

"They won't be lower," Mickelson told reporters during preparations for the opening major of the year.

"I think the scores may get a little bit higher. The length is the biggest factor, (as well as) all of the trees and the tightening of the golf course."

Woods set 20 Masters records with his 1997 performance, becoming the youngest champion at 21 in winning by the widest margin (12 shots) and with the lowest score -- 18-under par.

Since then, the course has been stretched by almost 500 yards to 7,445 yards making approach shots into the notoriously fast, sloping greens harder to place.

"You used to say that par was 68 for the longer hitters," Woods said, referring to the four previously accessible par-fives on the course.