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One among my favourite “Masters magic” components is the course design. It’s not overly punishing for high gamers—successful scores have been getting decrease through the years—however it makes the world’s greatest assume by way of technique in a approach most locations can’t match.
Right here is my rating of all 18 holes with feedback on what makes every of them distinctive.
18. seventh (Par 4 — 450 Yards) “Pampas”
On a course that prides itself on attention-grabbing angles and decision-making, the seventh gap has been stretched out right into a boring execution check off the tee. It’s a dead-straight gap with timber on either side, and gamers are challenged into hitting a driver so their strategy doesn’t require a mid-iron right into a inexperienced that isn’t designed for it. There are a variety of unhealthy drives that find yourself with punch shot approaches into the entrance bunker as a result of there are not often different choices for restoration.
The inexperienced has some enjoyable gap places, together with the entrance proper Sunday pin. It was a greater gap when it was shorter.
17. 4th (Par 3 — 240 Yards) “Flowering Crab Apple“
It’s the one lengthy par-3 on the course, which is honest. Good to see gamers hitting a long-iron or lumber right into a gap.
However on a course with three magical par-3s, the 4th doesn’t fairly have the identical attract. It seems like a gap that’s outlined by the place it’s best to miss relying on the opening location. That kind of check might match on a U.S. Open format, whereas the opposite par-3s are distinctly Augusta Nationwide.
16. seventeenth (Par 4 — 440 Yards) “Nandina“
What number of memorable moments have occurred on 17? There needs to be lots because it’s the penultimate gap in each Masters, however I’ve a tough time arising with something. Jack in ‘86 is the plain one. Some gamers have made birdie throughout closing stretches, reminiscent of Charl Schwartzel in 2011. However I’m gentle on recollections right here.
This was a greater gap when the Eisenhower Tree was nonetheless in play. Because it stands, it’s not very inspiring. It’s a gap the place you make par and transfer on.
15. fifth (Par 4 — 495 Yards) “Magnolia“
I’ll get up for Magnolia somewhat bit. That is such a greater gap in particular person than it’s on TV. The entrance of that inexperienced is wild and there’s a lot of technique concerned to not get caught up in a foul place. Some 10-handicaps would simply four- or five-putt this inexperienced.
The bone I’ve to select right here is that the green bunkers are an automated one-shot penalty. It’s mainly the identical in the event that they put water down there. These bunkers are so deep and also you simply haven’t any shot of getting there. I’m a fan of enjoyable restoration pictures, like we see at Augusta with a number of different holes.
14. eighth (Par 5 — 570 Yards) “Yellow Jasmine“
On a course with two of essentially the most well-known par-5s on this planet, Yellow Jasmine tends to get somewhat misplaced. It’s a really attention-grabbing gap, although. A punch bowl inexperienced you’ll be able to’t see out of your second shot? There’s lots happening right here.
The drive is fairly crucial right here as a result of the green bunker is a stiff penalty. You’ll be able to solely lay as much as the highest of the hill, leaving a prolonged third shot on a gap that may simply reward two good pictures. There’s a variety of luck across the inexperienced given all of the humps and hollows. I believe it really works higher on the primary 9 than it will on the second 9.
13. 2nd (Par 5 — 585 Yards) “Pink Dogwood“
I like Pink Dogwood, a gap that’s oozing with technique. There’s a new tee field this 12 months—it’s 10 yards farther again and barely extra to the left than in earlier years—requiring extra of a draw and maybe barely extra membership into the inexperienced.
It’s a splendidly framed tee shot, and the inexperienced is spectacular. There are areas to bail out however getting within the flawed spot could be tough. It is a top-five spectator gap on the course for me.
12. 1st (Par 4 — 445 Yards) “Tea Olive“
I’m an enormous fan of Augusta Nationwide’s opener, which supplies gamers the choices of laying again with a 3-wood or making an attempt to drive a driver up previous the fitting fairway bunker. It’s narrower in particular person than I assumed it was.
The inexperienced makes this gap. There are such a lot of little sections and run-offs—Donald Ross can be proud. A very good shot gives you a birdie look however there are some nasty spots round this inexperienced. That dividing line is all the pieces at Augusta.
11. ninth (Par 4 — 460 Yards) “Carolina Cherry“
The tee shot right here is attention-grabbing. It’s a straightforward fairway to hit however not simple to discover a flat spot that gives you the very best angle for a frightening second shot. Gamers must push it right down to the left to get into that space, however few pull it off. Most discover themselves on a downslope hitting to an elevated inexperienced.
The inexperienced is classy. It’s constructed into three tiers, highlighted by a menacing false-front that has claimed many victims through the years. There are a variety of 90-degree putts. Actually a enjoyable check within the fashionable recreation.
10. eleventh (Par 4 — 520 Yards) “White Dogwood“
White Dogwood has been sliding in my rankings the previous few years. It’s clearly a beautiful gap, and there’s nothing flawed with a ball-buster par-4 previous to a stretch of nice birdie alternatives that awaits. But it surely does really feel like the difficulty left of the inexperienced is so apparent and penalizing that gamers are reluctant to take it on with their second shot.
It’s a bail out to the fitting and a chipping contest usually. Gamers are very risk-averse right here and it could possibly get somewhat boring, which is in direct distinction to the subsequent 5 holes.
9. 18th (Par 4 — 465 Yards) “Holly“
What a tee shot. Slim, nerve-racking and simple to get twisted up within the left fairway bunkers.
Strolling as much as this inexperienced is a real “I can’t imagine it’s this uphill” second for first-time patrons. There’s something symbolic about having to trudge up that hill, hitting a second shot to an interesting inexperienced divided in half by an enormous slope—which can be utilized as a backstop on Sunday.
8. 14th (Par 4 — 440 Yards) “Chinese language Fir“
The 14th can be a skip for some of their “Masters playlist” of high holes—particularly as a result of it’s sandwiched between two world-famous par-5s—however I believe it’s essentially the most underrated gap on the course.
It’s the one gap with no bunkers, however the technique is paramount. The drive units up your angle into what’s the greatest inexperienced on the course. The contours are unimaginable till you might be there. You merely can’t be quick in your second shot, however lengthy is lifeless for sure gap places.
7. sixth (Par 3 — 180 Yards) “Juniper“
I completely love this gap. It’s not wherever close to as famend as the 2 par-3s on the second 9, however it’s criminally underrated.
It’s a picturesque, downhill tee shot to a inexperienced with my favourite gap location on your entire course—the again proper volcano. Something 10 ft to the left goes to complete some 50 ft from the opening and require a surgeon’s contact for a two-putt. I might sit right here all day.
6. fifteenth (Par 5 — 550 Yards) “Firethorn“
I’m a sucker for the heroic second shot on the fifteenth. The payoff could be huge however the penalty could be equally as damaging, which makes for a stellar closing par-5 on the second 9.
The third shot on this gap is a nightmare as a result of gamers must hit a exact wedge off a downslope to a skinny sliver of inexperienced—and something even remotely quick is normally going to spin off into the water until situations are delicate. It’s a gap that performs its function precisely how you’ll need it to.
5. tenth (Par 4 – 495 Yards) “Camellia“
It feels just like the land was born to be a golf gap. The wonder, and the way far downhill the slope plunges, is gorgeous. The golf green bunker in the midst of the green will get no play in any respect—within the Masters, a minimum of—however it provides to the panorama splendidly.
For my cash, there is no such thing as a higher place on this planet to look at a tee shot on an extended par-4. Gamers must form it from right-to-left to catch the pace slot. The inexperienced, which is tilted right-to-left, is framed majestically by towering pines. It’s a spot I dream about once I consider golf.
4. sixteenth (Par 3 — 170 Yards) “Redbud“
How are you going to not love the sixteenth? Any gap location used is intriguing as gamers are both making an attempt to funnel the ball towards the opening or trying to maintain their tee pictures up on the highest shelf. The accuracy wanted for the highest shelf gap places is tough to explain.
Whereas the Sunday location is understood for hole-in-ones and getting the ball shut, it’s additionally been the house of heartbreak. If you happen to go lengthy or left, it’s a horrible spot. I consider David Duval within the 2001 Masters who got here to the sixteenth tied till going lengthy and making a bogey. It’s a gap that asks a really particular query.
3. third (Par 4 — 350 Yards) “Flowering Peach“
This may be controversial, however I am keen on the par-4 third and have it listed, aptly, as my third-best gap on the course.
Gamers are pressured to assume by way of this gap backwards, beginning with the opening location and their resolution to both hammer a drive down near the inexperienced or lay again with an iron to go away a full wedge shot into the opening. Analytics inform us that getting the ball nearer is sort of at all times higher—however the third inexperienced is so treacherous that a few of these 40-yard wedge pictures appear lots more durable than if they’ll generate extra spin with a full wedge from the highest of the hill.
It’s a gap that appears to have gotten higher with the fashionable recreation. My scorching scorching take is that this can be a higher quick par-4 than the tenth at Riviera.
2. thirteenth (Par 5 — 545 Yards) “Azalea“
If somebody who wasn’t accustomed to golf course structure needed to begin from scratch to find out about design, I’d ship them right here.
That is all the pieces you need in a golf gap. For high gamers, it’s a straightforward par any day of the week if they need it. The extra aggressive you get, the extra danger comes into the equation. The tee shot requires accuracy and the second shot—which normally options the ball being above the participant’s ft—is so tempting that you just nearly must go for it if the yardage is cheap.
The inexperienced is giant, however lacking lengthy could be awkward. It’s only a gap the place you normally get what you deserve—and each shot leaves gamers with an enormous resolution to make.
1. twelfth (Par 3 — 155 Yards) “Golden Bell“
The genius of this gap is delicate. The entrance a part of the inexperienced on the left facet is considerably nearer to the tee field than the again proper portion of the inexperienced, which runs counter to how proper handed golfers sometimes pull the ball farther whereas dropping yardage on pushes to the fitting.
It’s not more than an 8-iron for many within the Masters, however they’re holding their breath your entire time. The wind could be mysterious. Gap places on the left a part of the inexperienced are tame, however it will get progressively hairier as the opening strikes to the fitting facet of the inexperienced.
At instances it appears easy and at instances it appears endlessly complicated—which is strictly how I’d describe Augusta Nationwide.
These are my high 18 holes ranked. How would you rank them? Let me know under within the feedback.
And take a look at a few of my different Masters protection:
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