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

Augusta's par-3 12th in the heart of Amen Corner has proved the undoing of many a player over the years

The 12th at Augusta has been known to do this to people!
(Image credit: Getty Images)

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 12th 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 12th 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.

He may have one twice, but Bubba is among those to rack up double figures on the 12th

He may have won twice, but Bubba is among those to rack up double figures on the 12th

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.

1992 wasn't the only time Fred Couples flirted with Rae's Creek - this was 6 years later

1992 wasn't the only time Fred Couples flirted with Rae's Creek - this was 6 years later

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 7th.

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.

Walking in this direction over Hogan's Bridge is never a good sign

Walking in this direction over Hogan's Bridge is never a good sign

Winner: 2003 – Scott Verplank

The American got one over on the 12th 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.

The looks says it all for Rory in 2011's fateful final round

The looks says it all for Rory in 2011's fateful final round

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 3rd.

This one from Peter Hanson in 2012's final round did even reach the water

This one from Peter Hanson in 2012's final round did even reach the water

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.

Kevin Na had a 'Tin Cup' moment on the 12th in 2013

Kevin Na had a 'Tin Cup' moment on the 12th in 2013

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.

 

 

Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf


Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Ping G425 Max 15˚ (set to flat +1), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 65 S shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3-PW: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Ping Fetch 2021 model, 33in shaft (set flat 2)

Ball: Varies but mostly now TaylorMade Tour Response