Frank Thomas

The first major of the 2007 season is underway.

Augusta National golf course is as much in the spotlight this week as the Masters tournament itself.

Augusta has been going through a series of defensive measures in the past few years designed to make the course competitive in the face of the Samson-like strength and length of today's PGA professionals.

The changes wrought to Bobby Jones' venerable layout have, by and large, brought nothing but cries of "shame" from all corners.

There is one reason for this "dumbing down" of Augusta. And there is one solution.

So says Frank Thomas, the former technical director of the United States Golf Association.

Frank has spoken out often and candidly about the USGA since he left his post of 27 years back in 2000.

On Tuesday of this week, Frank and I talked by phone about the state of the game today, its problems, the causes of those problems and the solutions.

Today, you can listen to part one of our conversation and hear Frank's take on the "new" Augusta National.

Click below to listen. Allow a couple of minutes for the download. Part one is about 12 minutes in length.

Come back tomorrow to hear part two.

Thomas1wtag.mp3