In our PBA Experience league, we did the last four weeks on major patterns:  two weeks on the PBA World Championships pattern, and two weeks on the Tournament of Champions pattern.  However, our lane man was not able to get the most recent versions of these oil pattersn -- he was only able to download the 2006-2007 versions, which meant the 50 foot TOC shot.  Last year was the first time they used the Masters pattern for the TOC, since last year was when they had the huge entry of former winners, etc.

If you're on the Masters pattern, odds are it'll be a fairly slick pattern, but don't necessarily get too deep.  You might be able to find a good look playing more direct from outside -- that's how the TV show worked out in the Masters and the TOC last year, but of course the shot always plays differently on TV than during the week.  If you get the 50' shot, be prepared for a flood.  It will dry up quickly (not a lot, but in a hurry), but that just means early hook.  Play a hook/set reaction and completely avoid relying on the almost nonexistent backend.

The ToC pattern was changed this past year in an attempt to accommodate the seniors that were invited to bowl.  I think the idea was that having them bowl in the 50' pattern, which was nothing like they bowled on when they were on tour, would effectively shut them out.  The Masters pattern, or something that was similar to it, was used to make more styles playable.

SH