BUBBA’S GUIDE TO AUGUSTA’S OTHER CORNER

Amen Corner might be the most famous three-hole stretch in golf, but there’s another section on the property – home to holes 4, 5 and 6 – which Bubba Watson says is the “toughest front-nine stretch” he’s ever played. Statistically, Amen Corner’s cousin is actually far tougher and played to a combined 0.9 strokes over par last year, compared to 0.13 over par for holes 11, 12 and 13. The 5th ranked as the hardest hole, just ahead of the 11th, and gave up just seven birdies.

It also yielded 14 double bogeys or worse!

4 YDS 240

PAR 3

A tough par-3 which roughly, over the four days, plays around 220 yards – some days they can stretch it out even further - into a sloping green. Also, the weather is a big factor especially if it’s cold and into the wind, that makes it so much harder. If you’re under par after the first three holes, there’s no way you want to lose that momentum so this hole sticks in my head right away. Every year I think about this one and the potential trouble it could cause.

5 YDS 495

PAR 4

The 5th hole plays tricks on your mind. They’ve changed the tee box set-up but the green is still the same so it’s very difficult and now if you lay up short of the bunker, you’re looking at anywhere from a 7-iron to a 4-iron into it – and that green isn’t built for a 4-iron. So now you’ve got back-to-back holes where if you can make pars, you’ll feel relieved and like you’ve achieved something.

6 YDS 180

PAR 3

The upper-right pin placement on No.6 is one of the toughest approach shots we have to hit all year. It’s better to miss the green just to the right or just long than it is to miss it short left where you have to putt up that big slope. Whereas if the pin is back left, it’s better to come up short and putt to it rather than get pin high. If you make a birdie on 6 because you’ve hit it close, it’s probably lucky.