Creek reverts to friendly trickle

The masters of the Masters are never satisfied. They are always fine-tuning their fabled golf course.

For this year's Masters, the change is the water level in the creek fronting the 485-yard, par-five 13th hole - always one of the key holes in the Masters.

For years the creek - not to be confused with Rae's Creek in front of No 12 - was little more than a trickle, which often allowed players to play out of the water hazard, rather than taking a penalty drop.

But six years ago, apparently mainly for appearance's sake, the creek was dammed just beyond the 13th green, which raised the water level and left no chance for a contestant to even find his ball. Most players, as might be expected, did not like the change - nor did the galleries - and apparently Masters officials listened.

They removed the dam last summer and allowed the creek to return to its original trickle, leaving patches of sand and two grassy banks from which to play errant shots.