The game to me is gone. I don't like it anymore. It's not fun. These new clubs, the balls, they are great and go long distance, but there doesn't seem to be any shape to them. It just not enjoyable. It's just hit-and-blast at the moment.
Q. Doesn't involve the same art?
IAN WOOSNAM: I don't think so.
Q. What can be done?
IAN WOOSNAM: I don't know, only way to go is go backwards. You have to change the ball to make those shots again. Needs to be softer. If you can imagine us playing with a pinnacle 20 years ago and trying to shape it, you can't shape a pinnacle or whatever, the hard ball. That's all you do, really. So the only way it get is back is get softer covers and squeeze the ball and make it go different shapes. But maybe that's in the past. Everything moves on. I don't like it. The other guys love it probably.
Q. Do you think the R&A and USGA have been keeping up with things?
IAN WOOSNAM: Depends where they want to see the game go to. They should have talked to a lot more people, pros But that's the way manufacturers want it to go. Come out with a club or ball that hits it further. It's a bit too late to stop it, really.
Q. Tim Fincham said the US Tour may bring in their own rules if the USGA don't do anything about it - do you agree with that?
IAN WOOSNAM: Yeah, spoiling all the golf courses -- you have to make the golf courses 8,000 yards long. It's a shame, really. Who wants to play in that, really. Your members at the course, having the rough like this, it's not fair for them.
Q. Do you find that scenario at Augusta?
IAN WOOSNAM: Yeah, that's the trouble. That's why I'm trying to find a driver, so I can hit it far enough to get it just over the hills where I can get a shorter iron. And now I'm pitching it 260, 265 ; hitting 4- and 5-irons into the greens, where if I could just pitch it 270, 275, I'll end up going in 90 to 100 yards and I've still got a chance.
Q. What did you think of the longer Augusta last year?
IAN WOOSNAM: It's a pretty good change. It's taking a lot of guys out of the ball game. Nicklaus always did well around there. It doesn't matter how old he was because he could get it far enough and it came down to getting the ball in the right position. Now, it's just power it down there. A lot of the guys have been taken out of the game. Especially the older guys, really.
Q. Do you relish going head to head with Ernie at some stage?
IAN WOOSNAM: I find it hard enough battling against myself don't mind playing against Ernie. I'd like to be in that position to have a chance -- I could kick him in the shins a couple of times. Knock a couple of drives past him and get him worried. (Laughter.)
RODDY WILLIAMS: Thanks very much.
End of FastScripts....
