• The Masters: Course Guide

The 18 wonders of Augusta National

Alex Dimond April 2, 2012

ESPN will be providing live commentary during all four days of The Masters from Augusta National - along with all the news, views and opinion when it gets underway on Thursday.

Host to the tournament every year, Augusta National is the star of every Masters - regardless of who ends up wearing the famous green jacket come Sunday evening.

Designed by the Scot Alistair MacKenzie, at the behest of the the club's founders Bobby Jones Jr and Clifford Roberts, the course is widely accepted as the greatest in the world. Jones, a player of unrivalled skill during his playing days (he won all four 'majors' of the 1930 season, in a run of domination that became the stuff of legend), had a vision for how the beautiful rolling hills outside Augusta could be sculpted into a majestic golf course - and MacKenzie certainly delivered.

With many holes extended in recent years to keep up with advances in golf club technology and player power, the course has been returned to something approaching how it originally played, with long iron approaches and demanding drives restored to their former difficulty.

At 7,435 yards it remains a stern test of the finest players, one that rewards greatness and punishes mistakes with an even hand - with experience generally the common denominator for those who play well.

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1st: 'Tea Olive'

Par four
455 yards

The hole: A relatively straightforward par four, the tee-shot is the key shot of the hole. A large bunker is poised to capture any ambitious drives that are leaked too far right on the gentle dogleg, while recently planted trees down the left prevent bailing out. The green - and expect to read this more than once over the course of this guide - is both steeply sloped and very, very quick.
The route: Longer hitters will fade a three-wood into the fairway - limiting the risk of finding sand - although the more nervous may seek the comfort in the bigger head of the driver and increase the chance of running into some trouble. Pin positions on the green are often inviting - but most of the field will happily take par to begin their adventure.
The difficulty: Not the greatest on the course by any means; it is the fairway bunker that remains the key component. Finding the fairway is paramount, then the centre of the green.
Historically: T-6th hardest hole

Remember when? Charl Schwartzel began the final round of the 2011 Masters considered an outside candidate for victory, before chipping in from 70 feet at this hole to get his day off to the perfect start. A repeat performance at the third and four successive birdies to finish later, and the South African was crowned a surprise champion.

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2nd: 'Pink Dogwood'

Par five
575 yds

The hole: A long, dogleg left par five, the second is an early birdie opportunity - one that seemingly becomes both harder to claim and more crucial to success as the tournament progresses.
The route: A long, drawn (or faded, for the left-hander) tee shot provides a vital foundation for this hole. Only shorter hitters won't be able to get within range of the green in two, but for those that do there is still a decision - with bunkers protecting the left and right of one of the largest greens on the course, going for it in two isn't always the best bet.
The difficulty: This hole will see its fair share of birdies - until Sunday, when everything becomes a lot harder. The second shot is all-important; going for the green may bring the reward of a possible eagle, but making an error and leaving your ball in an awkward position could rule out any chance of a birdie you may come to rely on later.
Historically: 16th hardest

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3rd: 'Flowering Peach'

Par four
350 yds

The hole: The shortest par four on the course - by some considerable distance - the length is just tempting enough to persuade some players to drive straight at the green. A collection of bunkers must be respected for those who lay-up in the fairway, although the one to the right of the green is rarely in play until Sunday.
The route: Long-iron or even three-wood up the fairway to a preferred yardage for a wedge shot is how the majority will play this hole.
The difficulty: The pin placement on Sunday is always treacherous - with close-range birdies only earned with pinpoint approaches. On earlier days, there is scope to pick up a shot, with a well-played pitch easier to more amenable pin placements.
Historically: 14th hardest

Remember when? Starting out in contention back in 2003, veteran American Jeff Maggert saw his challenge fall apart after he errantly found one of the fairway bunkers. Playing up against the lip, the ball rebounded up off dirt before hitting Maggert - resulting in a two-shot penalty that ended any hopes he had of victory.

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4th: 'Flowering Crab Apple'

Par three
250 yds

The hole: If the third can be considered short, then this hole more than makes up for it. A monstrous par three with bunkers front and left, some players will even be forced to hit fairway woods to get all the way back to the hole from the furthest tee positions.
The route: Depending on the tee position (which is varied throughout the week) a long-iron to the middle of the green is the high percentage shot. Pins over the front bunker are more accessible than they appear (but only slightly) as a distinct slope behind the hole feeds back towards it.
The difficulty: Due to the significant length of the hole, players can often pull their shots as they strain to ensure they go the full distance - bringing the left bunker fully into play. Birdies are rarer than bogeys here.
Historically: 4th hardest

Did you know?: The only palm tree on the course stands to the right of the fairway at this hole - which used to be called Palm Hole to commemorate that fact.

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5th: 'Magnolia'

Par four
455 yds

The hole: Formerly a very straightforward dogleg left par four, a decision to lengthen the hole slightly and reposition the bunkers that protect the corner has given it a new lease of life.
The route: A three-wood or, in many cases, driver to the right of the protective bunkers is the standard shot. From there, a mid to long iron into a distinctly tiered green demands precision, especially with a bunker behind the green offering a potentially unwelcome shot.
The difficulty: Steeply uphill off the tee, the difficulty of the hole is avoiding the temptation to take on too much - both with the tee shot (where the bunkers can be cleared, leaving a potentially short shot in) and with the approach (to pins that often are positioned mere feet from severe slopes).
Historically: 5th hardest.

Remember when? This used to be one of the least known holes on the golf course. Masters tradition used to forbid the televising of the front nine, and it has not been until recent years that the holes around the fifth have got anything like the television coverage of their back nine cousins.

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6th: 'Juniper'

Par three
180 yds:

The hole: A familiar par three, where both the tee and green are many yards above the level of the rest of the hole. A huge bunker protects the front of the green, while going long leaves a horrible pitch back up a step bank.
The route: Picking a club and having the courage of your convictions is key here, especially on Sunday where the regular front-left pin position is the ultimate in risk-reward for an adventurous approach.
The difficulty: Getting the yardage, or contact, wrong can be catastrophic - with the bunker and severe undulations of the run-off areas making a chip to the green very troublesome. Hitting the green is very important, with players that manage that are likely to give themselves an opportunity for birdie.
Historically: 13th hardest

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7th: 'Pampas'

Par four
450 yds

The hole: One of the most dramatic on the front nine come Sunday afternoon, 'Pampas' is a mid-length par four with a narrowness that will shock players who will have become accustomed to a bit more space on previous holes. The green, elevated a long way above the preceeding fairway, is protected by no fewer than five deep bunkers.
The route: A three-wood threaded down the middle - hit lower or higher depending on how firm the descending fairway is - is the order of the day, with the most confident players tailoring their shape to find the side of the fairway that will give them the best approach into the pin.
The difficulty: Finding the trees off the tee makes a bogey almost a certainly. If the short stuff is found, the approach is one of the most gloriously entertaining in major championship golf - the bunkers are on high alert but a pinpoint approach will feed back towards the pin.
Historically: T-11th hardest

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8th: 'Yellow Jasmine'

Par five
570 yds

The hole: A long, winding uphill par five, the eighth is the second obvious birdie opportunity on the front nine. As long as the drive avoids the large bunker on the right of the landing area, players will expect to be on or around a green that is unprotected by bunkers (although a hillock runs behind it) in two. Slightly favours a draw with both shots.
The route: Most players will take driver, drawing the ball away from the bunker. The green cannot be seen from where the majority of players will play their second shots, so expect to see numerous players hitting long irons or even woods on low trajectories - before walking up after them and relying on the roars (or otherwise) of the crowd to let them know how they have fared.
The difficulty: The pressure of this hole is in the minds for most players, who will expect a birdie when standing on the tee. But misplaced tee-shots or second shots can leave players scrambling to get back in position to make a four - and overcompensating can then see players walk away for bogeys, although rarely worse than that.
Historically: 15th hardest

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9th: 'Carolina Cherry'

Par four
460 yds

The hole: A more devilish hole than television pictures might initially suggest. Fairly straightforward off the tee, the short-iron approach is horribly difficult - with a possibility of the ball spinning back off the green to 40 or 50 yards away a distinct possibility (players have even been known to putt off the tiered and back-to-front sloped surface).
The route: Playing the downhill tee-shot to the right opens up the green for the second shot, but also increases the distance to the flag (not necessarily a bad thing). The approach is slightly downhill to a green that slopes back towards the valley - meaning control of spin is paramount.
The difficulty: Did we mention the green is positioned in such a way that it's eminently possible to spin the ball off the green and 50 yards away? Even on the green, the slope is such that three-putts are always a danger, with the lightest touch needed to avoid them on anything approaching downhill.
Historically: T-11th hardest

Remember when? In 1996, Greg Norman came to the ninth trying to arrest the slide as he spurned a six-shot advantage to Nick Faldo. Instead, he spun his approach shot off the green - we did tell you it can happen - seeing his hopes of victory slip away with his ball.

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10th: 'Camelia'

Par four
495 yds

The hole: Now we're talking - the back nine begins with what is historically the toughest hole at Augusta National. Undulation is the primary difficultly of the tenth, which is a sweeping dogleg left that forces players to hit their approach into a large, elevated green off a steep sideslope.
The route: Drive, or three-wood for those unconcerned about the length of their second shot, should be struck on a right-to-left ball flight that allows the ball to catch the sideslope and roll down the hill. The second shot should clear a front bunker that is never really in play; although the one to the right of the green can be, depending on the pin placement.
The difficulty: The sideslope that is almost guaranteed to face players for their approach shot makes calculating distance and shot shape very difficult - never mind making a clean contact. The green is sizeable, but getting the ball all the way back to the pin is often difficult - the elevated green never appears as far away to players as it actually is.
Historically: The hardest

Remember when? In 2003, Mike Weir became the first left-hander to win the Masters after a final round where he didn't seem to miss a putt. In a play-off, it was the tenth where he finally saw off Len Mattiace, as the American stumbled in the trees left of the green - allowing the Canadian to win with a tap-in bogey. Eight years later, Rory McIlroy's green jacket fell apart with a snap-hooked tee-shot at this hole.

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11th 'White Dogwood'

Par four
505 yds

The hole: The start of the famously titled 'Amen Corner', the longest par four on the course, and also arguably the most difficult of the modern layout. The tee-shot demands a fade, one of the few such occasions on the course, while the approach demands incredible courage - a lake protects the left of the green, demanding a scary carry on most straight shots and providing fear for those who draw the ball too far.
The route: A strong drive with a touch of fade down the right hand side of the fairway leaves the best approach to the green. With water on the left, the approach should be brought in the other way - right-to-left - to reduce the risk of finding trouble, although the bail-out area often means players over-compensate.
The difficulty: Overhanging trees demand a fade off the tee, something that not all players are comfortable with. Assuming the fairway is found (no certainty), the approach demands both courage and supreme accuracy - which is usually too much for many players, who bail out into the run off area right of the green.
Historically: Third hardest

Remember when? Larry Mize chipped in from off the green to win the tournament in a sudden death play-off. The Augusta native - winner of just one PGA Tour event prior to that success - broke Greg Norman's heart with a precise pitch-and-run that he could probably never repeat again if he tried 100 times.

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12th 'Golden Bell'

Par three
155 yds

The hole: The shortest hole on the course, but also the one where the danger is most obvious. Rae's Creek runs across the front of the putting surface, which is not just shallow, but also protected by bunkers front (one central) and back (two, left and right).
The route: Another shot that demands a correct club choice and perfectly executed swing: the landing zone is just too small to allow anything less. The shot gets increasingly more difficult the further right the pin is placed (so guess where it is on Sunday), meaning many players simply hit to the centre of the green on all four days.
The difficulty: The green is so shallow - barely six yards from front to back in places, that hitting the green is very difficult even with little more than a wedge in hand. Flowerbeds and trees greet those who overhit their shots - usually those players who pull their approach as they get anxious over the water at the front, which will gobble up anything underhit or caught against the wind. Horrible.
Historically: 2nd hardest

Remember when? Fred Couples' shot magically stayed dry in 1992. Don't fear if you don't remember this famous Masters moment, as it will be replayed at least five times over the course of the week. Coming into the hole with a slender lead, Couples needing a precise shot on the hole. Instead he missed on his contact, turning away in anger as he expected the ball to end up in the creek. That it looked like doing - following many others all week - before the ball inexplicably stuck to the bank mere feet from the water. Couples made par rather than a certain bogey, and he went on to win by two shots.

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13th: 'Azalea'

Par five
515 yds

The hole: Not a long par five, but an engaging one that can give up an eagle to one player and a double-bogey to another. The tee-shot demands a right-to-left tee shot around a tree-lined corner, while the green is protected by Rae's Creek and two bunkers back and left. Most players will find themselves in range of the green in two, but a slide-slope will make them think twice about going for it all.
The route: A big tee-shot is required, drawn around the corner - not so much that it finds the creek on the left of the fairway, but not so weak that it carries through to the trees and pine-straw that begins where the fairway ends. From there, a high approach over Rae's Creek into the heart of the green is required, although some will opt to chip and putt for their birdie.
The difficulty: The tee-shot demands precision, the second shot demands a pure strike and any subsequent shots demand a steady hand and precise read of the green. A birdie or better is on offer to those who cope with all those demands.
Historically: 17th hardest

Remember when? With the greatest of respects to Arnold Palmer's tournament-winning eagle in 1958, Phil Mickelson's approach in 2010 will resonate with the latest generation of sports fans for many years to come. Having made the cardinal mistake of pulling his tee-shot straight into the tress past the fairway, the left-hander unbelievably pulled out his six iron and hit a majestic shot off the pinestraw that slipped through the trees and arced away to the green, before coming to rest five feet from the cup. The resulting birdie helped Mickelson finally shake off Lee Westwood's dignified stand.

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14th: 'Chinese Fir'

Par four
440 yds

The hole: One of the more amenable holes on the course, and the only one without a single bunker at any point en-route to the hole.
The route: A decent drive - to a fairway that likes to kick shots to the right - will leave a mid-to-long iron into a green that has been called the hardest on the course.
The difficulty: The green. Sloped severely and with several swales and tiers, both putting and pitching can be devilishly difficult from the wrong spots. Not tricked up with other hazards, this hole demands planning and execution to ensure you hit the green at the right spot and give yourself as easy as possible a two-putt.
Historically: 8th hardest

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15th: 'Fire Thorn'

Par five
530 yds

The hole: A slightly left-to-right par five, this is the easiest hole on the golf course - but also one of the scariest. A booming drive is a prerequisite once again, with players then faced with a long-iron or fairway wood over a lake that protects another shallow, raised green.
The route: Big drive, big heart - in that order. Players who whiff with their drive will often lay up, pitching into the green for their birdie from the downslope that runs towards the water. If the fairway is found, then a high shot into the green is required of players - some of whom may bail out right where a solitary bunker offers the lesser of a number of evils, with water front and - if the ball bounds away beyond the pin and through the trees - back.
The difficulty: Not the same as most of the other holes on the course, some players will view it is something of a breather after the preceeding few holes and before the final flurry. It's all in the second shot for the adventurous player - with short leading to a watery grave and long sending the ball into a troubling spot, getting the club selection spot on is vital.
Historically: 18th hardest

Remember when? Considering it happened in 1935, there are probably few golf fans still alive who would vividly recall what has come to be known as 'the shot heard around the world'. In the second iteration of the Masters, Gene Sarazen - who would go on to invent the modern sand wedge, fact fans - needed a spark to get his challenge going over the final few holes. And that he did, as he struck a beautiful four-wood over the lake and into the cup for a scarcely-believable albatross. Unsurprisingly, considering that, he went on to win the event.

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16th: 'Redbud'

Par three
170 yds

The hole: A straightforward par three that can feel radically different depending on placement of the pin. A lake protects the front and left of the green, with bunkers also placed left and long right (two) to protect a green that is generously sized but again significantly sloped.
The route: A mid-to-short iron into the middle of the green is the default play. When the pin is back right (as is often the case during the early rounds), putting up the hill can catch players by surprise with its slowness - with the reverse true coming the other way. But in the pin's traditional Sunday spot, perched above the water, it is another exciting final hole. The green can be used to feed the ball straight towards the cup, meaning a hole-in-one is never a pipe dream - but equally disaster is only ever a few feet away.
The difficulty: The green can be both friend and foe to the player, so playing the percentages and avoiding a lightning fast downhill putt wherever possible is key. Sometimes though - if you need a birdie on the 70th hole of the tournament to grab a share of the lead, for example - such caution is not always possible. Then the fun really begins.
Historically: 9th hardest

Remember when? In 2005, Tiger Woods came to the 16th locked in a tense encounter with the wily American Chris DiMarco. Firing his tee-shot long of the green - a foolish error, one compounded by the fact DiMarco left himself very near the hole - Woods needed to make sure he got up-and-down from his awkward spot, at the very least. The rest played out like the television advert it would become - Woods pitched the ball on the green about five yards left of the pin, and watched as it followed the contours of the green towards the cup. There it hung on the lip ... before dropping in on its very last revolution. One of the finest shots under pressure the game has seen, Woods went on to win another green jacket (albeit only after a playoff, following a far less stellar bogey-bogey conclusion to his round ... but we'll ignore that).

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17th: 'Nandina'

Par four
440 yds

The hole: Another straightforward par four, at least until the green is reached, the fairway is pinched by a tall tree on the left that will occupy player's initial thoughts. The approach shot is not from long range, but another difficult green is this time protected by two bunkers that spell trouble in capital letters.
The route: Big hitters can clear Ike's Tree, especially if they draw the ball around it, leaving a short iron into the heart of a green that doesn't reward over-ambition. For shorter hitters, a drive out to the right is a requirement - although that will make the approach from a less suitable angle.
The difficulty: Ike's Tree cuts into the fairway and obscures the view of the green for shorter hitters. The green is the younger brother of the 14th's - except with the added difficulty of two bunkers at the front to contend with
Historically: 10th hardest

Remember when? Jack Nicklaus became the subject of one of the most iconic images in golfing history as he holed a 15-footer on this green for birdie on the way to his unrivalled victory as a 46-year-old in 1986. The 17 was also the hole Roberto de Vicenzo infamously signed for a five rather than a four in 1968 - ruling him out of a playoff and leading him to declare "what a stupid I am".

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18th: 'Holly'

Par four
465 yds

The hole: A dogleg right par four that climbs all the way back to the clubhouse. The tee is boxed in by trees, forcing players to thread their ball with precision - especially as bunkers sit on the left of the fairway and pinestraw cuts in on the hole from the right. The green is above the player from the approach shot, with the front and right bunkers difficult to extricate from and run-off areas at the back and left leaving a recovery shot that few will relish.
The route: A fairway wood or driver is practically a requirement, with a hint of fade off the left-hand bunkers opening out the rest of the hole. From there, a mid-to-short iron into the tiered green will leave those who find the right level in position to make a run at birdie.
The difficulty: The final hole of the round (and, on Sunday, the tournament), players are fighting against mental and physical fatigue by the time they reach a hole that demands one last long trek uphill. Finding the fairway is vital but not easy, and getting up-and-down from off the green is horrendously difficult, meaning the approach shot holds added significance.
Historically: T-6th hardest

Remember when? The 18th hosts many memorable moments every year, but arguably the most famous for European fans is Sandy Lyle's apt escape to win the tournament in 1988. Arriving at the least needing a birdie to win, Lyle feared his chances of even making par and forcing a playoff had been scuppered as he drove into one of the fairway bunkers. But the lie was not as bad as the Scot presumed, and he was able to hit one of the greatest sand shots of all time - a seven-iron that landed 15 feet past the pin and trickled back down the hill to get even closer. Lyle holed the putt - taking the green jacket in exhilarating fashion.

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