The toughest and easiest three-hole stretches at Augusta
Augusta National Golf Club presents several great scoring opportunities on the back nine, but Masters contenders must survive the first three holes after the turn to reach those birdies. h Combined, Nos. 10, 11 and 12 make for the most difficult three-hole stretch on the famed Alister MacKenzie course. Historically, these three holes play a combined average of 0.88 over par — that means the best golfers in the world average the loss of nearly a full stroke to par over these three holes each round. h But, anyone who has safely navigated the brutal three-hole stretch of Nos. 10, 11 and 12 must be licking his chops, because the easiest stretch of the course begins on No. 13 tee. h The three-hole stretch of Nos. 13, 14 and 15 is the easiest at the course, presenting two birdie or even eagle opportunities on par 5s that consistently play under par.
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No. 10: Camellia
The specifics: Par 4, 495 yards Historical scoring average: 4.31 (hardest on the course in relation to par) How it plays: With a drop of 116 feet from the tee to the lowest point in the fairway, the 10th plays away from the clubhouse and past the cabins to the left. Players who hit the fairway have an uneven, downhill stance, typically with a mid-iron if the course is playing soft. The green slopes dramatically from right to left and is guarded on the right by a bunker.
No. 13: Azalea
The specifics: Par 5, 510 yards Historical scoring average: 4.79 (17th hardest in relation to par)
How it plays: The key to this dogleg left isn’t length alone, but the ability to shape a tee shot that curves into the fairway and avoids the creek and trees on the left or pine straw and trees to the right. From more typical spots in the fairway, modern players are faced with a long to mid-iron over a tributary of Rae’s Creek to a severely undulating green. When the pin is in the front, players can use a ridge in the green to funnel balls back to the hole with distance to spare over the creek. One of the great risk-reward holes in golf.
No. 11: White Dogwood
The specifics: Par 4, 505 yards Historical scoring average: 4.29 (second hardest in relation to par) How it plays: Pine trees were added to the right side of the fairway in 2004, eliminating the traditional bailout area that provided a better angle into the green guarded front-left by a pond and back-right by a bunker. Like No. 10, this hole plays downhill, this time 62 feet from tee to green, but downhill doesn’t mean it’s any easier because players face another long approach from an uneven lie even if they manage to hit the fairway.
No. 14: Chinese Fir
The specifics: Par 4, 440 yards Historical scoring average: 4.18 (eighth hardest in relation to par)
How it plays: This relatively straight hole plays some 30 feet uphill, and the toughest challenge is the green. It has a false front that repels weak iron shots and a ridge through the middle that funnels balls either left or right. Land an approach on the proper side of the ridge, and the ball likely will track toward the hole. But land a ball on the wrong side of the ridge in relation to any hole location, and the ball will sweep away from the flagstick, leaving the player a tough two-putt back up and over the ridge.
No. 12: Golden Bell
The specifics: Par 3, 155 yards Historical scoring average: 3.28 (fourth hardest on the course in relation to par)
How it plays: The end of this difficult three-hole stretch has a simple rule for Masters competitors: Don’t go short right. What’s not so simple: Frequently swirling winds often confuse players who believe they can control a short iron to a pin on the right side of the green above Rae’s Creek. Tiger Woods was propelled to his dramatic victory in 2019 after playing safely to the larger part of the green well left of the hole.
No. 15: Firethorn
The specifics: Par 5, 530 yards Historical scoring average: 4.78 (18th hardest in relation to par)
How it plays: This downhill par 5 invites long drives down the right side of the fairway, leaving most players a long to mid-iron across a pond that fronts the green. A tee shot to the left can force a player to lay up because pine trees short of the green block an approach from that side of the fairway. Many players hit their second shots over the back of the green, leaving a difficult pitch to a green that runs toward the front and the pond. Like No. 13, this is one of the best risk-reward par 5s in golf.