AUGUSTA, Ga. - It's a mantra that's as much a part of Augusta National as the azaleas and pimento cheese sandwiches: The Masters doesn't begin until the back nine on Sunday.

Who'll ever forget Jack Nicklaus in 1986, charging from behind with a 30 on the final nine holes to win his sixth green jacket?

Or what happened a decade later, when Greg Norman staggered to the clubhouse with a 40, having surrendered a supposedly impregnable lead to Nick Faldo?

These days, it's hard to envision those sort of momentous events occurring on the final day of the Masters. In fact, the tournament could be over by the time they get to the back nine Sunday.

"There used to be creativity and imagination," Brad Faxon said. "Now, it's going to be plod along, plod along."

The Masters began today under cloudy skies. Former winners Tommy Aaron, Charles Coody and Sandy Lyle teed off at 8 a.m. Justin Rose of England was the early leader with birdies on the first two holes.

Beginning in 2002, Augusta National underwent two years of drastic changes, all in an attempt to stay a stroke ahead of younger, stronger players and their increasingly high-tech equipment.

The revamped course is longer off the tee, thinner through the fairways, thicker in the rough. But the changes also have removed much of the risk-and-reward shot-making that defined so many Sunday afternoons.

The back nine has become the place to protect what you've got - and hope the others guys make the mistakes. Of course, everyone else is likely to be playing it safe, too.

Is this what the Masters is supposed to be?

"It used to be the fun tournament," Faxon said. "I don't think it's as fun as it used to be."

Just look at No. 13, a par-5 that was lengthened to 510 yards. With the tee box farther back, most players have given up on trying to curl their drives around the pine trees and creek on the left side of the fairway, cutting down on the number of eagle chances.

Three-time winner Tiger Woods isn't surprised. In fact, he told Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson that stretching the hole would lead to less risk-taking.

"You won't see as many 7s on the hole, and you won't see as many 3s," Woods said. "You'll see a lot more 4s and 5s because you don't have that risk of taking the ball around the corner."

There's another par-5 at 15 - reachable in two, but requiring a long, accurate drive. A cluster of pines are starting to mature on the right side of the fairway. The green is guarded by a pond in front and a bunker to the right.

In 1986, Nicklaus eagled the 15th, followed by birdies at the next two holes on his way to that 30.

"To see a 30 now, it's much more difficult because you can't make two cheap eagles with irons in your hand," Woods said. "You're going to have to hit some really good golf shots in there with longer irons, if not woods."

When the players get to 18, they face one of the most fearsome finishing holes in golf: a 465-yard, uphill, dogleg right. Forget about birdie - this is a place where par will do just fine.

Is that necessarily a bad thing? Or does it just require a different mindset?

"It could be a Sunday fade in there," Jay Haas said. "Which one is more exciting, I don't know. But it shouldn't be a birdie on every hole."

At age 64, Nicklaus feels as if he's playing a totally different course than the one where he had so much success.

"Hitting good shots and putting well has not changed," he said, "but the golf course now does not have room off the tee. You must drive the ball straight."

Ernie Els, who always seems to play well at Augusta but is still seeking his first green jacket, said there are still plenty of opportunities for creativity.

Don't forget: Len Mattiace shot a closing-round 65 last year to force a playoff with Mike Weir, who won on the first extra hole.

"It all depends on what you do off the tee," Els said. "If you get in position off the tee, you can have some options."

Still, the final day of the Masters isn't likely to produce a Nicklaus-like finish. Instead, it's probably going to be decided by which golfer cracks first and makes the critical mistake.

Last year, only five golfers dipped into the 60s on Sunday. Mattiace was the only one to go lower than 68.

"You'll see more guys shoot higher numbers on the back nine," Woods said, "than more guys shooting 30 or 31 to win the tournament."