What Are The Hardest Holes At Augusta National?
Which ones the hardest holes at Augusta National? We delve into the stats to find out
Augusta National, venue for The Masters, is regarded as a very tricky course - and it's why a rookie hasn't slipped on the Green Jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
It's critical to know the intricacies and danger of each hole on the layout, and avoid big numbers on the most demanding holes as well as the water that lurks on many, too.
So, which holes are the hardest at Augusta National? And which are the easiest?
The toughest hole in Masters history is the 11th hole, and the 10th is the second-toughest in what is a very demanding opening to the back nine. In fact, the 12th is the fourth-hardest, meaning that the three of the four most difficult holes take place within a four-hole stretch to start the closing half.
The 520 yard par 4 11th, which doglegs right and plays to a green guarded by water left, has played an average of 0.303 over par through the years, with the 10th just behind at +0.299.
The iconic 12th, which plays over Rae's Creek with its green hidden from the wind that swirls above the pine trees, has an average score of 3.270.
The third-most difficult hole is also a par 3, coming at the 4th hole. The 240 yard downhiller has a big green but it's a sloping one that's guarded by two huge bunkers left and short, right. It has played at 4.284 through the years at The Masters.
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The easiest holes at Augusta are the four par 5s, which is where players need to make their score if they're to have success at The Masters. The 13th, Azalea, is statistically the easiest, followed by the 2nd, the 15th and the 8th.
While the 4th is the toughest par 3, and the 12th is almost as difficult for the world's best, the easiest short hole is the 6th. The 180-yarder, named Juniper, has a very demanding green but does play much shorter due to it being downhill. It has a score of +0.137 throughout Masters history, ranking it as the 13th-toughest hole.
The easiest par 4, statistically, is the 3rd hole - which is the shortest par 4 on the course and the only par 4 under 400 yards at Augusta National. It has an average score of 4.076 through the years.
Augusta National hardest holes:
(Ranked in order of toughest to easiest, +/- indicates score to par over Masters history)
- 1st. 11th hole, par 4: +0.303
- 2nd. 10th hole, par 4: +0.299
- 3rd. 4th hole, par 3: +0.284
- 4th. 12th hole par 3: +0.270
- 5th. 5th hole, par 4: +0.266
- 6th. 1st hole, par 4: +0.238
- 7th. 18th hole, par 4: +0.230
- 8th. 14th hole, par 4: +0.165
- 9th. 17th hole, par 4: +0.161
- 10th. 7th hole, par 4: +0.157
- 11th. 16th hole, par 3: +0.139
- 12th. 9th hole, par 4: +0.138
- 13th. 6th hole, par 3: +0.137
- 14th. 3rd hole, par 4: +0.076
- 15th. 8th hole, par 5: -0.181
- 16th. 15th hole, par 5: -0.224
- 17th. 2nd hole, par 5: -0.225
- 18th. 13th hole, par 5: -0.225
Which are the easiest holes at Augusta National?
Historically, in terms of score-to-par, the four par 5s at Augusta National have proved the easiest to score well on. The four longest holes are also the only holes on which the average score is below par.
The 13th hole, which finishes the Amen Corner stretch, has historically been the best scoring hole, with an average score of 4.775 (-0.225) through the years.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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