The Masters Tournament: Augusta National golf course guide
Ahead of the 83rd Masters Tournament, we take you on a tour of Augusta National and 18 of the most iconic holes in golf.
Hole 1: Tea Olive, par 4, 445 yards
Augusta's opening hole is a mid-range par-four, which gives players a clear sight of a fairway which sits just below the level of the tee box. To the right and typically unmistakable is the first of Augusta's bunkers, and it offers a good target for those who hit the favoured right-to-left shot-shape. This hole, however, shapes steadily from left-to-right following the fairway bunker, which means many tee-shots edge towards the left to open up the best angle from which to attack the green. Up ahead, there is just one bunker to the front-left, one of the least visited at Augusta. The green itself is typically undulating, with a steep false-front and sharp run-off to the right. Sunday's usual flag position is centre-right, which means distance control on approach is vital to setting up what could be an early opportunity.
Hole 2: Pink Dogwood, par 5, 575 yards
Played downhill and from right-to-left, this par-five offers virtually every player in the field the opportunity to set up an eagle chance. Again, there is one fairway bunker, perfectly positioned to the upper right section of the hole, and big-hitters will look to move their ball off the trap and kick down the hill to within mid-iron range. Anyone erring to the left runs the risk of being blocked out with their second shot, while there's a creek running deep within the trees there, too. Anything wildly left likely requires a chip out but accurate drives reduce the hole's difficulty. Indeed it was here that Louis Oosthuizen holed his second shot for a rare albatross in 2012. The green is shallow and triangular, with the back-right hole location providing the opportunity to use its contours. It's guarded by two bunkers, both of which represent decent and popular misses.
Hole 3: Flowering Peach, par 4, 350 yards
A short but dangerous par-four, which in today's game can be driveable depending on conditions. A series of fairway bunkers ensure that there's a big element of risk to go with the potential rewards of attacking this hole, where playing the second from the fairway is important given steep run-offs all around the green, particularly to the back-left. En route to winning, Charl Schwartzel holed out for eagle here and it was that year, 2011, which saw the hole register its lowest average (3.88) in Masters history. Typically, it plays slightly over-par but remains one of the best par-four scoring opportunities.
Hole 4: Flowering Crab Apple, par 3, 240 yards
A long, demanding par-three, the toughest 'short' hole at Augusta National and probably the worst of them. Not that it is a particularly bad hole, but when the pin is tucked away to the back-right it can be impossible to attack - anything short risks being plugged in sand, anything long leaves a devilishly quick downhill chip. The most accessible pin is to the front-left, and this does offer the opportunity to get a long-iron close. However, now the challenge is in the narrow nature of the target as anything either side of the green leaves a very delicate second. Wherever the pin is, par on this hole is a fine score.
Hole 5: Magnolia, par 4, 495 yards
Lengthened by 40 yards thanks to a new tee - the only change to the course from last year. Another dogleg from right-to-left and a sharp one, visibly, with driver in hand. To the left are two large, fearsome bunkers, from which reaching the green can be difficult, but to the right are thick trees which present an even more significant problem if flirted with. A steadily climbing hole, the challenge remains intense throughout as approach shots from the fairway are typically from some distance back, to one of the most dramatic greens at Augusta. One bunker to the back-left sees very little traffic; instead expect to see players take a cautious approach to the centre or front of the green and attempt to two-putt.
Hole 6: Juniper, par 3, 180 yards
A gem of a par-three, one of the most underrated in golf given that it is overshadowed by the more famous 12th and 16th holes. Players tee off from well above the level of the green, which has a steep ridge running from front-right to back-left. There are therefore three notable pin positions: front-left, which provides a genuine hole-in-one opportunity, using the contours; back-left, which is hard to locate due to the small top tier in that corner; back-right, which is again a small target and will often see players watch their ball fall away to the front portion of the green, as they're afraid to go long and leave another downhill chip. A delightful test which will see plenty of birdies but more than one disaster and that's without considering the sole bunker, at the front-left, which is best avoided.
Hole 7: Pampas, par 4, 450 yards
A rare thing at Augusta in that it's an almost perfectly straight hole, which for some players presents an even more demanding question from the tee as the shot shape can be hard to visualise. Tall trees overshadow the fairway, but it's up at the green where the big challenge lies as this one tilts steeply from back-to-front and is guarded on all sides by bunkers. As such it's hugely important to approach from the fairway, and when doing so front pin positions are easy to attack to the extend that we should expect to see a hole-out eagle or something very close. However, stray but a yard or two long or short and scrambling par becomes extremely difficult.
Hole 8: Yellow Jasmine, par 5, 570 yards
The second of four par-fives plays the longest, as following a slightly downhill tee-shot the approach is uphill and blind to a green which then sits below the level of the fairway. A large fairway bunker to the right tends to see plenty of action and from there it's a lay-up for everyone, but those who do find the fairway can usually reach the green, with the contoured mounds which line it effectively expanding the target zone. The green itself is narrow at first but widens towards the back, which is where they'll tuck a pin out of site on at least one of the four days, and does not have any bunkers surrounding it.
Hole 9: Carolina Cherry, par 4, 460 yards
An iconic par-four, which can make a player look extremely foolish. The first challenge is to find the fairway, which is wide enough yet the trouble found to the left is such that many will bail out to the right, where even from the pine straw there tends to be a route to the green. Those who do find the short stuff will have a short-iron in hand for their approach to a multi-tiered green, which is guarded to the left by two bunkers. Its primary defence, however, is the size of each tier and how difficult it can be for a player to first find the appropriate one and then avoid spinning their ball off it, potentially 50 or 60 yards back down the fairway given the severity of the slope. Another brilliant example of Dr. Alister MacKenzie's green design and a fun hole - for most.
Hole 10: Camellia, par 4, 495 yards
Statistically the toughest hole at Augusta National and one which as recently at 2013 ultimately decided the outcome, as Adam Scott shook off Angel Cabrera in their title play-off. As with the ninth, the first challenge is to find the fairway on this right-to-left hole, and those most comfortable hitting a draw will find that task easiest. A well-hit drive (often a three-wood) can bound a long way down the fairway, which slopes from right-to-left, and that helps given the approach shot is played uphill to a relatively small target. Bunkers short of the putting surface are more aesthetic but the one to the front-right is there to punish those attacking a pin position in that area. To the left is another steep run-off, where Rory McIlroy's Masters hopes ended in 2011, and the middle of the green is always the target.
Hole 11: White Dogwood, par 4, 505 yards
From the toughest hole on the course to Amen Corner, beginning with the devilishly difficult 11th hole - which ranks second in the all-time charts in terms of difficulty. The test here is relentless. First, trees to the right mean luck is required to find a route to the green for those missing on that side, and any such attempt runs the risk of finding the water which guards it. Trees to the left, on the other hand, extend the hole's already formidable length and almost force the player to bail out right of the green towards the 12th tee, which then means chipping up onto the surface and again towards water. A wonderful hole, on which Larry Mize chipped in to break Greg Norman's heart some 30 years ago.
Hole 12: Golden Bell, par 3, 155 yards
One of if not the most iconic hole in golf, largely due to its sheer beauty and the simplicity of the design. To make a great par-three, you need a small green, a short yardage, hazards aplenty, beautiful surroundings, hard-to-judge wind... and this hole has all of them. It really is the blueprint when it comes to quality holes and will throw up everything from a potential ace to as many as six or seven. It was here that Jordan Spieth's Masters bid went up in smoke in 2016, whereas Fred Couples remembers the hole fondly as his ball somehow stayed on the bank when it appeared destined for a watery grave, before he went on to win his sole major championship. Just a wedge for some, no more than a seven-iron for anyone, but a hole which requires clear thinking, judgement of distance, and execution. Perfection.
Hole 13: Azalea, par 5, 510 yards
The shortest of Augusta's par-fives and a hole which has struggled somewhat to keep up with the times. On his way to title number two here, Bubba Watson reduced it to a driver and a wedge and there must be a chance that somewhere down the line it is made a par-four - perish the thought. For now, it's a five and not to be labelled a complete pushover, as most players cannot take Watson's line and will have to flirt with trees both left and right, with the former also guarded by Rae's Creek. That runs all the way up to the green and will catch any mishit approaches, be they second or third shots. The green has some subtle run-off areas, which create penal bowls, while the back bunkers are to be avoided. A hole to attack but with due caution.
Hole 14: Chinese Fir, par 4, 440 yards
There is not a single bunker on the 14th hole and while the fairway is reasonably narrow, you'll see most players approaching the green from it. The green itself presents the key challenge, as it is possibly the most dramatic on the course bar the ninth, with humps and hollows more familiar to those who play the Old Course at St Andrews. Watch out for the back-centre pin location, which is in a bowl and therefore will be threatened by accurate approach shots, but we'll also see a high portion of three-putts and even four on this subtly tricky hole.
Hole 15: Firethorn, par 5, 530 yards
The final par-five and statistically the easiest hole on the course, despite being guarded by a lake. From the tee, the fairway target is wide but it is effectively narrowed by tall pines to the left, which block the path to the green. Even so, most can attempt to sling their ball around them, with the right-hand greenside bunker a good target and one from which getting up and down is fairly straightforward. Those laying up must ensure they control their spin, otherwise their ball may fall down another steep bank and into water, while it's also possible to go through the back and find water there, too. A genuine eagle chance as Sergio Garcia showed in 2017 - although he ran up a 13 last year.
Hole 16: Redbud, par 3, 170 yards
Another brilliant par-three, made so by its topography which helps make for a natural amphitheatre. The first task here is to avoid water to the left and, depending on the pin position, doing so should set up a birdie chance. Pins to the left are in effect bigger targets because the green slopes that way from a spine down its centre, and you may well see an ace or two, particularly on Sunday where the traditional hole location lends itself to that possibility. In contrast, the hole is made much more challenging when the pin is tucked over the front bunker or in the top-right, with players forced to gamble if they want to hit it close. Danny Willett made birdie here en route to victory in 2016 but the most iconic shot remains Tiger Woods' chip in, en route to his fourth Masters title.
Hole 17: Nandina, par 4, 440 yards
A hole which changed in 2014 when the Eisenhower Tree was cut down having been damaged beyond repair by a storm. In its absence, the fairway is a wider target and, much like hole 14, the real challenge here is up at the green. From the fairway, the target appears shallow and slopes away in each corner, while getting up and down from either of the bunkers guarding it is extremely difficult. Watch for shots going through the green, leaving tricky up-and-downs.
Hole 18: Holly, par 4, 465 yards
And so to the final hole, another demanding par-four and one made famous by the drama it has witnessed down the years. Off the tee, the fact that this hole is left-to-right is clever in itself as for so much of the round, players will have been asked to hit the ball right-to-left. Failure to get the shot right on demand means either sand to the left, or trees to the right, from where Angel Cabrera forged an unlikely escape on the way to his Green Jacket. The green is narrow and long, guarded to the front by sand and again to the right. Three tiers make for various hole locations but Sunday's is always behind the front-left bunker, on the middle tier, and accessible only via the best, bravest approaches. A fitting end to a sublime golf course which lives up to its reputation.