Augusta's 12th hole - Golden Bell: the toughest 155 yards in golf

Augusta's 12th hole is a mere 8-iron for most pros and less for Bubba. Yet nearly as many balls will miss the target as find it during Masters week…

The Golden Bell is only 155 yards long, a mere 8-iron for today’s pros, so what can all the fuss possibly be about? Only uninitiated newcomers or those who haven’t sat glued to the TV coverage over the years could ever ask such a question, for everyone knows that Augusta's 12th hole is the most mysterious and perplexing 155 yards in golf.

The 12^th hole has claimed as many losers as winners over the years, so here’s a little look-back at those who have famously fallen foul, and those who have come out on top…

Loser: 2013 – Bubba Watson, defending champion

Despite winning two of the last three Masters, Bubba is a cumulative eight-over par on the 12^th in 24 competitive attempts, although admittedly seven of those dropped shots are down to the 10 he made in 2013’s final round. How did he make 10? Well, he holed a 15-footer to avoid an 11! Analyse Bubba’s 10 in depth, though, and it pretty much sums up everything that can go wrong on The Golden Bell: tee-shot into Rae’s Creek; third shot from the fairway into Rae’s Creek; fifth shot from the fairway into the back bunker; sixth shot from the bunker back into Rae’s Creek; eighth shot from the back bunker played out almost sideways to avoid a potential repeat; ninth shot chipped 15 feet past the hole; 15-footer holed for 10.

Loser: 1980 – Tom Weiskopf

Five in the water en route to a 13, the highest individual hole score relative to par in Masters history. Freely admits that wind was not a factor.

Winner: 1992 – Fred Couples

Miracles do happen! Couples came up short, but rather than roll into the water, his ball stuck on the bank from where he got up and down. Went on to win.

Loser: 1993 – Dan Forsman

One off the lead with seven to play, Forsman found water off the tee and again with a wedge from the fairway. Made seven and eventually finished 7^th.

Winner: 1990 – Nick Faldo

Plugged in the back bunker, Faldo played what he would later describe as his career bunker shot, before holing a 15-footer to save par. Won in a play-off.

Loser: 1996 – Greg Norman

After missing a short one on 11 allowing Faldo to catch him, Norman finally lost his six-shot lead after rolling back into the water on 12 for a double.

Winner: 2003 – Scott Verplank

The American got one over on the 12^th in a way no-one has done before or since by birdieing it all four days on the way to a career-best T8th.

Loser: 2011 – Rory McIlroy

With Rory’s final-round implosion in full swing he looked to have steadied the ship with a solid iron to the heart of the green. Four putts later, he was history.

Loser: 2012 - Peter Hanson

The Swede led going into Sunday, but was struggling even before hitting such a stone-cold shank on 12 that it didn’t even threaten the water. Finished 3^rd.

Loser: 2013 – Kevin Na

Tin Cup moment with Na persevering with an 8-iron for all three water-bound balls en route to a 10: "I hit a bad shot and wanted to try it again,” he said.

Loser: 2014 – Phil Mickelson

Lefty missed his first cut in 17 years thanks to a Friday treble here… with no water involved! Front bunker, back bunker, front bunker, two putts.