Along with freshly planted trees on hole No. 11, and 17 players who are competing in their first Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club and tournament Chairman Hootie Johnson announced another first for this year's tournament: a brand-new playoff format.

Instead of beginning the sudden-death playoff on hole No. 10 and working down the back nine until a winner emerges - the way the winner has been determined in the past - any extra holes would begin on No. 18 and then be shuffled between 10 and 18 until there's a victor.

"We just thought it was best," Johnson said Wednesday morning during his annual state of the Masters news conference. "We really think this is a more exciting format."

The last time the Masters' playoff format was changed was 1976, when the sudden-death finish replaced the 18-hole playoff. Johnson didn't have any thoughts of bringing that back.

"Well, we just like sudden death," Johnson said. "Daylight could be a factor. But we think sudden death really suits us best."

He's found a believer in Jay Haas (Stats | Bio) .

"I like the sudden death," he said. "That says it all. Obviously, any of us would like to have a chance at sudden death."

In the past 27 years, six championships have been decided in that format.

Fuzzy Zoeller (Stats | Bio) birdied No. 11 in 1979 to win his only Masters title; Craig Stadler (Stats | Bio) won on No. 10 in 1982; Larry Mize (Stats | Bio) chipped in a birdie for victory on the second playoff hole in 1987; Nick Faldo (Stats | Bio) grabbed back-to-back playoff wins in 1989-90; and Mike Weir (Stats | Bio) bested Len Mattiace (Stats | Bio) on No. 10 last year to grab the green jacket.

Even Mattiace extolled the virtues of the new structure after Wednesday's practice round.

"It's very good," he said. "I think it's great. No. 18 is a great hole."

That was part of the reasoning behind the change. Instead of forcing spectators to move from hole to hole, they can remain in the same general area to see the end of the tournament. A move to Amen Corner, as one reporter suggested at the news conference, wouldn't be smart, Johnson said.

"Romantically, that sounds like a good idea," Johnson said. "Realistically, I don't think it would work too well.''

Will Nicholson, chairman of the tournament's competition committee, said fans would benefit.

"We settled on 18 and 10, primarily in consideration of all our patrons that are on the 18th hole,'' Nicholson said.

Said Jack Nicklaus (Stats | Bio) : "That's generally what's done on the Tour. I think that's reasonable."

Charles Howell would like to make the ride from the 18th green back to the tee box Sunday.

"I just hope to be here on Sunday worrying about it," the Augusta native said. "I just hope I'm in it."

Reach Josh Katzowitz at (706) 823-3216 or josh.katzowitz@augustachronicle.com.