Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley fears The Masters course will have to be extended to over 8,000 yards despite rule changes to reduce hitting distances.

Changes to cut up to 15 yards from shots for top players will apply at the elite level from 2028. The current course measures 7,550 yards after Tiger-proofing at the start of the century – and could be extended to “more than 7,600 yards” for one round this year, said Ridley.

But the former US Amateur champion said: “I hope we will not play the Masters at 8,000 yards. But that is likely to happen in the not too distant future under current standards. “Accordingly, we support the decisions that have been made by the R&A and the USGA as they have addressed the impact of distance at all levels of the game.

“What we found though, over the years, is that we lengthen the golf course, everybody says it’s really long and then two or three years later it’s not really so long. So my guess is that even when this change is implemented that maybe other aspects of technology that are within the rules and the physicality and ability of the players will catch up.” Ridley added the tournament has no plans to establish a formal pathway for LIV Golf players to qualify for the Masters.

Danny Willett, meanwhile, will defy the doctors and return to action at the Masters only six months after shoulder surgery. The 2016 champion went under the knife after the BMW PGA last September and spent six weeks in a cast before extensive rehab. And the world No.260 said a return to Augusta inspired his early comeback.

“I’m a relatively gritty human being,” said the Yorkshireman. “The body feels really good, the body’s strong. I’m able to hit balls. I was never planning on being ready for this. The doctors said it would take 12 to 18 months, and we’re just over six. I don’t think any of them really would have given me a sniff of playing this week. Obviously I’ll definitely play two rounds, but hopefully you know we can keep knocking off the rust and try and play well.

“After this I’ve still got eight weeks off until the next tournament to keep getting stronger.” Seeking his first Major, Tommy Fleetwood will have local Gray Moore on his bag with his regular caddie Ian Finnis suffering from a chest infection.

Sir Nick Faldo said: “Tommy hasn’t broken through but has got very close. Mega heartache at Hoylake for him so he has to dig deep and come back from that. He definitely has a chance.”

There are no Scots or Welsh teeing up this year and there are only six UK players in the field – the lowest this century. There were 15 in 2021 but LIV and the retirement of Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle leaves Willett, Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy as the only UK contenders.