One in all my favourite “Masters magic” parts is the course design. It’s not overly punishing for prime gamers—profitable scores have been getting decrease through the years—however it makes the world’s greatest suppose by way of technique in a means 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 fascinating 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 method doesn’t require a mid-iron right into a inexperienced that isn’t designed for it. There are numerous dangerous 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 areas, 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 appears like a gap that’s outlined by the place you must miss relying on the opening location. That kind of check may match on a U.S. Open structure, 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 rather a lot 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, resembling Charl Schwartzel in 2011. However I’m gentle on reminiscences 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 slightly 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 choose right here is that the golf green bunkers are an computerized one-shot penalty. It’s principally 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 the planet, Yellow Jasmine tends to get slightly misplaced. It’s a really fascinating gap, although. A punch bowl inexperienced you possibly can’t see out of your second shot? There’s rather a lot happening right here.
The drive is fairly important right here as a result of the golf green bunker is a stiff penalty. You possibly can 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 numerous luck across the inexperienced given all of the humps and hollows. I feel it really works higher on the primary 9 than it might 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 unsuitable spot could be tough. This can be 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 pressure a driver up previous the fitting fairway bunker. It’s narrower in particular person than I believed it was.
The inexperienced makes this gap. There are such a lot of little sections and run-offs—Donald Ross could be proud. A very good shot offers you a birdie look however there are some nasty spots round this inexperienced. That dividing line is every part at Augusta.
11. ninth (Par 4 — 460 Yards) “Carolina Cherry“
The tee shot right here is fascinating. It’s a straightforward fairway to hit however not straightforward to discover a flat spot that offers you one of the best angle for a frightening second shot. Gamers must push it all the way 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 numerous 90-degree putts. Actually a enjoyable check within the trendy 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 unsuitable with a ball-buster par-4 previous to a stretch of nice birdie alternatives that awaits. Nevertheless it 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 generally. Gamers are very risk-averse right here and it may well get slightly 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 straightforward 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 a large slope—which can be utilized as a backstop on Sunday.
8. 14th (Par 4 — 440 Yards) “Chinese language Fir“
The 14th could be a skip for some of their “Masters playlist” of prime holes—particularly as a result of it’s sandwiched between two world-famous par-5s—however I feel 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 areas.
7. sixth (Par 3 — 180 Yards) “Juniper“
I completely love this gap. It’s not anyplace 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 may 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 often 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 green bunker in the course of the golf green will get no play in any respect—within the Masters, at the least—however it provides to the panorama splendidly.
For my cash, there isn’t a higher place on the planet to look at a tee shot on a protracted par-4. Gamers must form it from right-to-left to catch the velocity slot. The inexperienced, which is tilted right-to-left, is framed majestically by towering pines. It’s a spot I dream about after I consider golf.
4. sixteenth (Par 3 — 170 Yards) “Redbud“
How will you 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 making an attempt to maintain their tee pictures up on the highest shelf. The accuracy wanted for the highest shelf gap areas is tough to explain.
Whereas the Sunday location is thought for hole-in-ones and getting the ball shut, it’s additionally been the house of heartbreak. Should you 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 compelled to suppose 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 depart a full wedge shot into the opening. Analytics inform us that getting the ball nearer is sort of all the time higher—however the third inexperienced is so treacherous that a few of these 40-yard wedge pictures appear rather a lot tougher than if they will 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 trendy recreation. My scorching scorching take is that it is a higher quick par-4 than the tenth at Riviera.
2. thirteenth (Par 5 — 545 Yards) “Azalea“
If somebody who wasn’t aware of golf course structure wished to start out from scratch to find out about design, I might ship them right here.
That is every part you need in a golf gap. For prime gamers, it’s a straightforward par any day of the week if they need it. The extra aggressive you get, the extra threat comes into the equation. The tee shot requires accuracy and the second shot—which often options the ball being above the participant’s ft—is so tempting that you just virtually must go for it if the yardage is cheap.
The inexperienced is massive, however lacking lengthy could be awkward. It’s only a gap the place you often 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 shedding 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 areas 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 occasions it appears easy and at occasions it appears endlessly complicated—which is strictly how I might describe Augusta Nationwide.
These are my prime 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:
