Augusta debuts new look after Hurricane Helene rips through course and tears up trees ahead of Masters

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THE legendary Augusta golf course will debut a slightly different look ahead of the Masters this week.

The devastating destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene on Augusta has been laid bare.

Augusta will debut a new look ahead of the Masters this week[/caption]

Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc last September[/caption]

Four greens – including the 16th – were re-seeded and relaid after the gale wreaked havoc[/caption]

The public got its first look Augusta at the Women’s Amateur competition over the weekend[/caption]

The Masters, which kick starts golf‘s grand slam season each year, is also home to some of the most famous holes in the entire sport.

Helene’s 130mph winds wreaked havoc last September, with severe flooding and high winds uprooting several trees.

Two of the felled trees caused significant damage to the typically treacherous 16th green after they came crashing down.

Four greens – including the 16th – were re-seeded and relaid after the hurricane wreaked havoc.

Georgia and the surrounding states are still recovering from the twister.

Hundreds of people lost their lives, homes were wrecked and there was billions of dollars worth of damage.

And now Augusta chairman Fred Ridley has since confirmed the course looks in “spectacular condition” again.

Ridley announced last October that the club had donated £4.2 million toward the local relief fund.

He said: “I think we had minor damage to the course, the playing surfaces themselves.

“But we were able to get that back in shape, but I don’t think you’re going much difference in the condition for the Masters this year.”

That was true on Saturday when the public got its first look at the course with the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur being played.

Rory McIlroy detailed the major changes to the famous course after his scouting trip last month.

After a practice round at the Houston Open, the Northern Irishman said: “The loss of a few trees is definitely noticeable.

“But in terms of like they’ve had to redo that green, it’s exactly the same as it was.

“Apart from maybe a few less shadows on the green late in the day because of a couple of trees that were lost, it’s pretty much the same.”

Thunderstorms have threatened to cause havoc at Augusta this week too.

Monday’s practice round was delayed and fans were banned from entering the famous course.