The Sarazen Bridge At Augusta National
There are several buildings and structures at The Masters which will get mentioned during the tournament and one of the most famous is the Sarazen Bridge, but what and where is it? Well the bridge crosses the pond in front of the 15th green at Augusta National Golf Club and commemorates the ‘shot that was heard around the world’.
When the Masters first started it was regarded as a 'smaller' tournament. But this all changed in 1935 thanks to Gene Sarazen. On the par-5 15th he holed out in two and in the process the tournament got a huge boost in coverage and attracted global attention.
In the final round that year, Sarazen had started three shots behind leader leader, Craig Wood. However, playing the 15th, which at the time was a 485-yard par-5, the American hit a 235-yard 4-wood that would help him to tie with Wood after 72 holes. A 36-hole play-off was subsequently held on the Monday, which Sarazen won by five-strokes; the American shot even par, whilst his fellow countryman managed to shoot five-over.
The bridge was dedicated in 1955 , a day short of the 20th anniversary of Sarazen's albatross, when a plaque was unveiled. Unlike both the Hogan Bridge and the Nelson Bridge this plaque is actually fixed onto the bridge itself as you can see on the image at the top of this post.
The dedication on it reads: "Erected to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the famous "double eagle" scored by Gene Sarazen on this hole, April 7, 1935, which gained him a tie for first place with Craig Wood and in the play-off won the second Masters Tournament. Dedicated April 6, 1955."
It was the first bridge at Augusta to be dedicated to a player. In subsequent years, Augusta National has also dedicated bridges to Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. Like the other two bridges, the Sarazen is also constructed of stone however it is not arched and for that reason it is not considered necessary to cover it in artificial turf in order to give the players’ studs traction.
Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer are two more player's to have commemorative plaque's at Augusta National. Nicklaus' is affixed to a drinking fountain between 16 and 17, and it was dedicated on April 7, 1998. Palmer's is also on a drinking fountain behind the 16th tee and was dedicated on April 4, 1995.
Other Augusta National Structures
- What Is The Butler Cabin At Augusta National?
- The Hogan Bridge At Augusta National
- The Nelson Bridge At Augusta National
Stay up to date with all the Masters news by checking out the Golf Monthly website.
