With their 2020 season in disarray, PGA Tour officials moved quickly to ensure that there was still plenty to play for.

They re-jigged their schedule and managed to save three of the year’s majors, with the PGA Championship moving to August, the U.S. Open to September, and The Masters to November.

The latter move is particularly striking. Most golf pros and spectators are used to Augusta National being in full springtime bloom in its traditional April timeslot, and the temporary move to winter will change how the famous course both looks and plays.

That could have some intriguing ramifications when it comes to who might – and who probably will not, compete for the fabled Green Jacket. So, with that in mind, here’s five ways in which The Masters 2020 could differ from the norm.

#1 – Softer Greens and Fairways

With lower temperatures and more average rainfall in November than in April, Augusta National – a course known for its fast-rolling fairways and lightning greens, will be considerably softer.

That will hand something of an advantage to the longer hitters (but not wholly so (more on that shortly), while receptive greens typically favour those who can hit their iron shots nice and close given that there is less run-off. This is a particularly interesting angle for those who will partake in some Masters 2020 outright winner golf betting odds to follow.

The legendary Fred Couples has played a winter round at Augusta, and as he reported ‘I don’t think it’ll touch 70 degrees (21°C) in November, so the course will play extremely long.’

Shorter hitters and those wayward on approach could be severely hamstrung at this year’s Masters, then…

#2 – Course Management on the Par 5s

And yet, those lacking in distance could follow the lead of Zach Johnson, who out-thought the longer hitters in a weather-affected edition of the Masters back in 2007.

With the wind blowing fiercely in this part of Georgia during that week, Johnson didn’t even attempt to take on the Par 5s in two shots, sensibly laying up while those around him sent their long-distance approaches here, there, and everywhere.

With stronger winds expected in November, three of Augusta’s par 5s will be playing into a considerable breeze, negating the advantage that most of the longer hitters will have. Managing the course’s key scoring holes will be essential.

#3 – Less Tree Coverage?

One of the biggest ‘crimes’ of temporarily moving The Masters to November is that we won’t get to enjoy the stunning flowers that line the course – particularly those beautiful azaleas that add a pop of colour to the typically green backdrop.

That lack of growth could affect the action in another way, too. Augusta features heavily tree-lined fairways, and the thickness of the foliage in April can block some approaches into greens and provide a considerable obstacle when hitting into the greens; unless your name is Bubba Watson, that is.

But in November? Less growth will surely mean less of a hazard for the players to overcome.

#4 – Tough Rough

One of the interesting things about golf being played ‘behind closed doors’ is that there are no on-course patrons trampling down the rough as they make their way around the layout.

That could be less of a factor at Augusta. Much of the rough here is flat-lying pine straw anyway, but there will be some holes where the grass rough remains virile and untouched…bad news for those who stray from the fairway off the tee.

#5 – Two Tee Timing

Traditionally, The Masters doesn’t utilise a two-tee start, instead sending three-balls out one after the other from the first.

But with approximately two-and-a-half hours less daylight in November than April, there could be the two-tee start that would mean some three-balls starting on the back nine.

Is that significant? It certainly could be. The back nine at Augusta tends to play much harder than the front, with six of the nine holes typically averaging over par year-on-year. It could take some serious discipline and mental strength for those starting on the tenth tee to stay in the hunt on the opening two days.

This factor, and the four others outlined above, suggest that The Masters 2020 could be an even tougher edition to win than normal…