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MASTERS: Augusta National hole-by-hole
by Trey Luerssen, FOXSports.com
In 1930, at the ripe old age of 28, Bobby Jones had won every major golf tournament on two continents. He was the best there was. No one was close. But he hung up his spikes from competitive golf to devote his time to his business and building what he called his "dream course."
Jones' friend, Clifford Roberts, often vacationed in Augusta, Ga., and found a 365-acre plot that had been developed as an arboretum and nursery. So, along with grandiose Georgia pine trees lining rolling hills, there were hundreds of different species of flowers, trees and shrubs.
Jones had played Cypress Point in Monterey, Calif., and was very impressed with the architecture, especially how its designer, Alister Mackenzie, had worked the holes in and around the natural topography of the area.
Mackenzie was brought on to design Augusta National and quickly became kindred spirits with Jones. The two set out to build a course that had four defining principles:
- The course should be pleasurable to as many people as possible.
- The course should require strategy and skill, or it would not stand the test of time.
- The course should give average players a fair chance, while demanding the most out of experts who wish to break par.
- The course should preserve the natural beauty, make use of natural hazards and use a minimum of artificiality.
It's obvious that Jones and Mackenzie succeeded in all four areas at Augusta National.
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| Augusta National No. 13 |
Other than the Old Course at St. Andrews, August National is the most famous course in the world. It's splendor is only matched by its challenge. The fairways are wide, the greens are quick. But don't be fooled, Augusta National can lull you into triple bogey in the blink of an eye.
The course has been tweaked over the years, a little bit of rough has been added and some holes have been lengthened. But Augusta National is still very much as it was when it was created. It's still the perfect golf course.
Here is a description of each hole on America's greatest golf treasure. After each hole are the clubs typically hit by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in their prime, and by Tiger Woods in 1997 and 2005:
No. 1 Tea Olive Masters memory: Seve Ballesteros was one shot behind in 1983 when he opened with birdie in the final round, part of a birdie-eagle-par-birdie start that sent him to a four-shot victory and his second green jacket. Palmer: Driver, 7-iron. Nicklaus: Driver, 6-iron or 7-iron. Woods '97: Driver, sand wedge. Woods '05: Driver, sand wedge. No. 2 Pink Dogwood Masters memory: Phil Mickelson hit his tee shot into the creek on the left, took a penalty drop, then went for the green with a driver off the deck that he had to bend some 80 yards around the trees. It reached the front of the green, and he made a 90-foot birdie putt to get into contention in 2003. But his first Masters would have to wait one more year. Palmer: Driver, 1-iron to 4-iron. Nicklaus: "I always figured I could get home in two under any conditions." Woods '97: Driver, 8-iron or 9-iron. Woods '05: Driver, 3-iron or 4-iron. No. 3 Flowering Peach Masters memory: Jeff Maggert was leading in the final round in 2003 when he found a fairway bunker to the left. His shot ricocheted off the face of the bunker and struck him in the chest for a two-stroke penalty. He took triple bogey on the hole and never recovered. Palmer: Driver, wedge or 9-iron. Nicklaus: 3-wood or 1-iron, 8-iron to wedge. Woods '97: 3-iron, pitching wedge. Woods '05: 3-iron, 8- or 9-iron. No. 4 Flowering Crab Apple Masters memory: Jeff Sluman made the only ace on this hole in Masters history with a 4-iron from 213 yards in 1992. It carried him to a 65 and a share of the first-round lead. He wound up tied for fourth, his highest finish in the tournament. Palmer: 3-iron or 4-iron. Nicklaus: 2-iron to 4-iron. Woods '97: 5-iron. Woods '05: 4-iron or 5-iron. No. 5 Magnolia Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus made eagle twice in the 1995 Masters, with a 5-iron from 180 yards in the first round and with a 7-iron from 163 yards in the third round. Palmer: Driver, 5-iron. Nicklaus: Driver, 5-iron to 7-iron. Woods '97: Driver, wedge. Woods '05: 3-wood, 7-iron. No. 6 Juniper Masters memory: Billy Joe Patton, trying to become the first amateur to win the Masters, made a hole-in-one with a 5-iron from 190 yards in the final round. He missed the playoff between Ben Hogan and Sam Snead by one shot. Palmer: 5-iron or 6-iron. Nicklaus: 5-iron. Woods '97: 7-iron. Woods '05: 6-iron or 7-iron. No. 7 Pampas Masters memory: Byron Nelson drove the green in 1937 Masters for a two-putt birdie when it played at 320 yards. That inspired Augusta National to alter the hole, moving the green back 20 yards and to the right on an upslope and surrounding the green with bunkers. Palmer: Driver, 9-iron or wedge. Nicklaus: 3-wood or 1-iron, 8-iron to wedge. Woods '97: 2-iron or 3-iron, sand wedge. Woods '05: Driver-sand wedge, or 2-iron-pitching wedge. No. 8 Yellow Jasmine Masters memory: Bruce Devlin had 248 yards to the green when he holed his second shot with a 4-wood in 1967. It was the first time someone had made a double eagle since Gene Sarazen in 1935, and it remains the only albatross on this hole in Masters history. Palmer: Driver, 3-wood. Nicklaus: Driver, 3-wood, as little as a 5-iron in favorable conditions. Woods '97: Driver, 2-iron to 4-iron. Woods '05: Driver, 2-iron or 3-wood. No. 9 Carolina Cherry Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus hit 9-iron into 12 feet in 1986 and was ready to putt when he heard back-to-back cheers from behind him on the eighth green. "Why don't we try to make some noise ourselves?" he said to the gallery. He made the putt, and so began his charge to victory. Palmer: Driver, 9-iron or pitching wedge. Nicklaus: Driver, pitching wedge or sand wedge. Woods '97: Driver, sand wedge. Woods '05: Driver, pitching wedge or sand wedge. No. 10 Camellia Masters memory: Ben Crenshaw was at the front of the green with the pin to the back. With his challengers watching from the fairway, Crenshaw holed a 60-foot birdie putt and went on to win by two shots over Tom Watson. Palmer: Driver, 5-iron or 6-iron. Nicklaus: 3-wood, 4-iron to 7-iron. Woods '97: 2-iron or 3-wood, 7-iron or 8-iron. Woods '05: 3-wood, 6-iron. No. 11 White Dogwood Masters memory: Larry Mize was in a sudden-death playoff with Greg Norman in 1987 when he missed the green to the right. Mize's 140-foot chip was gaining steam when it dropped in for birdie, giving him the green jacket and dealing another blow to Norman's psyche. Palmer: Driver, 3-iron. Nicklaus: Driver, 4-iron or 5-iron. Woods '97: Driver, 9-iron or pitching wedge. Woods '05: Driver, 5-iron or 6-iron. No. 12 Golden Bell Masters memory: Fred Couples' tee shot came up just short of the green and began to tumble down the bank into Rae's Creek when it was stopped by a blade of grass. He chipped to 4 feet to save par, and went on to beat Raymond Floyd by two shots. Palmer: 7-iron. Nicklaus: 7-iron or 8-iron. Woods '97: 8-iron. Woods '05: 8-iron. No. 13 Azalea Masters memory: Having overcome a six-shot deficit, Nick Faldo was in the lead and in the fairway in 1996. He debated club selection for about five minutes before he settled on a 2-iron that he hit over Rae's Creek and safely on the green for a two-putt birdie that all but ended Greg Norman's hopes of a recovery. Palmer: Driver, 3-wood. Nicklaus: 3-wood, 3-iron to 5-iron. Woods '97: 3-wood, 4-iron to 6-iron. Woods '05: 3-wood, 3-iron to 5-iron. No. 14 Chinese Fire Masters memory: Horton Smith chipped in for birdie from 50 feet in the final round on his way to a 72 and a one-shot lead over Harry "Lighthorse" Cooper in 1936. Palmer: Driver, 7-iron. Nicklaus: Driver, 5-iron. Woods '97: 3-wood, sand wedge. Woods '05: 3-wood, 8-iron. No. 15 Firethorn Masters memory: Gene Sarazen was three shots behind when he hit the "shot heard 'round the world" in 1935, which put the Masters on the map. His 4-wood from 235 yards went into the hole for a double eagle. He tied Craig Wood and defeated him the next day in a playoff. Sarazen's double-eagle is credited as the shot that put the Masters on the map. Palmer: Driver, 3-wood or 2-iron. Nicklaus: Driver, 2-iron or 3-iron. The least iron he ever played was an 8-iron. Woods '97: Driver, 5-iron to a pitching wedge. Woods '05: Driver, 8-iron when it was downwind in 2005. No. 16 Redbud Masters memory: Tiger Woods had a one-shot lead over Chris DiMarco when he missed the green long in 2005. He chipped away from the hole up the slope, watched it make a U-turn at the top and roll back toward the hole, pausing for 2 full seconds until dropping for birdie. Palmer: 4-iron to 7-iron. Nicklaus: 5-iron or 6-iron. Woods '97: 8-iron. Woods '05: 8-iron. No. 17 Nandina Masters memory: Jack Nicklaus in 1986 became the oldest Masters champion at age 46 with an unforgettable charge. His 18-foot birdie sent him to a 30 on the back nine and a 65, giving him a one-shot victory and his sixth green jacket. The pose Nicklaus struck when the putt drop is captured in a bronze of him outside his clubhouse at Muirfield Village. Palmer: Driver, 9-iron or wedge. Nicklaus: Driver, anything from a 6-iron to a wedge. Woods '97: Driver, sand wedge. Woods '05: Driver, pitching wedge. No. 18 Holly Masters memory: Arnold Palmer was tied in 1960 with Ken Venturi, who was in the clubhouse at 5-under 283. He hit 6-iron into 6 feet and made the birdie, becoming the first Masters champion to birdie the last two holes to win by one stroke. Palmer: Driver, 7-iron. Nicklaus: Driver, 5-iron to as little as a 7-iron. Woods '97: Driver, sand wedge. Woods '05: 3-wood, 8-iron.
455 yards, par 4
A slight dogleg right with a deep bunker requiring a 327-yard carry off the tee. The bunker now has a tongue in the left side, so anything that barely enters might be blocked by the new lip. The tee has been moved back 20 yards, and trees were added on the left side.
575 yards, par 5
A dogleg left that can be reached in two by the big hitters. Fairway bunker on the right comes into play, but it's difficult to reach the slope, which shortens the hole. Green guarded by two bunkers in front.
350 yards, par 4
One of the best par 4s in golf, a hole that hasn't been changed in 23 years. Big hitters can drive the green, but not many even try because of all the trouble surrounding the L-shaped green that slopes severely from right to left. Most players hit iron off tee to stay short of four bunkers on the left side.
Augusta National No. 15
240 yards, par 3
Tees moved back 35 yards into the woods behind the third green, and tee slightly elevated. Should be a long iron for big hitters, fairway metal for others. Deep bunker protects right side of the green, with another bunker left. Club selection remains crucial because of the deceptive wind. Green slopes to the front.
455 yards, par 4
The hole was lengthened by 20 yards four years ago, and the fairway bunkers extended 80 yards toward the green. Bunkers are so deep that players can only see the sky. Green slopes to the front.
180 yards, par 3
An elevated tee to a large green with three tiers, with significant slopes marking the three levels. Getting close to the hole is a challenge. Hole has not been changed in 31 years.
450 yards, par 4
This hole's changes likely will get the most attention. The tee was extended by 40 yards, and some trees were trimmed slightly on the left side. The tee shot is through a chute of Georgia pines, played to the left-center of the fairway into a slight slope. Green is surrounded by five bunkers.
Augusta National No. 16
570 yards, par 5
An accurate drive is important to avoid the fairway bunker on the right side. The hole is uphill and features trouble left of the green. No bunkers around the green, just severe mounding.
460 yards, par 4
Tee shot should be aimed down the right side for a good angle into the green, which features two large bunkers to the left. Any approach that is short could spin some 60 yards back into the fairway.
495 yards, par 4
A long hole that can play shorter if drives catch the slope in the fairway. Difficult to save par from the bunker right of the green. The putting surface slopes from right to left. Has played as the most difficult hole in Masters history.
Augusta National No. 17
505 yards, par 4
Amen Corner starts here. Tee has been lengthened by 15 yards, and more pine trees were added to the three dozen on the right side, tightening the fairway. A 300-yard drive is required to get to the crest of the hill. A pond guards the green to the left and a bunker is to the back right. The safe shot is to bail out short and to the right in a swale.
155 yards, par 3
Perhaps the most famous par 3 in golf, and the shortest hole at Augusta. Club selection can range from a 6-iron to a 9-iron, but it's difficult to gauge the wind. Rae's Creek is in front of the shallow green, with two bunkers behind it.
510 yards, par 5
An accurate tee shot to the center of the fairway sets up players to go for the green. A tributary to Rae's Creek winds in front of the green, and four bunkers are behind the putting surface. From tee to green, there are about 1,600 azaleas.
( / Associated Press)
440 yards, par 4
The only hole on the course without a bunker. Even if the drive avoids trees on both sides of the fairway, the green has severe contours that feed the ball to the right.
530 yards, par 5
Tee has been moved back about 30 yards and to the left about 20 yards. A cluster of pines is starting to mature on the right side of the fairway, making it critical to be straight off the tee. The green can be reached in two with a good drive, but a pond guards the front and there is a bunker to the right.
170 yards, par 3
The hole is played entirely over water and eventually bends to the left. Two bunkers guard the right side, and the green slopes significantly from right to left. Pars from the top shelf of the green on Sunday are rare. Woods' chip in 2005 made a U-turn at the top of the ridge, trickled to the cup and paused two full seconds before dropping for birdie.
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440 yards, par 4
The tee has been extended 15 yards, making the Eisenhower Tree to the left of the fairway more prominent and 210 yards from the tee, requiring another accurate tee shot. The green is protected by two bunkers in the front.
465 yards, par 4
Now among the most demanding finishing holes in golf, this uphill dogleg right is protected off the tee by two deep bunkers at the left elbow. Trees get in the way of a drive that strays to the right. A middle iron is required to a green that has a bunker in front and to the right.
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