Any Masters contender who has safely navigated the brutal three-hole stretch of Nos. 10, 11 and 12 at Augusta National must be licking his chops, because the easiest stretch of the famed Alister MacKenzie golf course begins on No. 13 tee.
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. When those par 5s at Nos. 13 and 15 are combined with the mid-difficulty par-4 14th, the historical scoring average of this three-hole stretch is 0.25 strokes under par each round.
That is all in comparison to the three-hole stretch of Nos. 10-12, which plays a combined 0.88 over par on average historically.
Check out this three-hole stretch, with details provided by Masters.com.
No. 13: Azalea
No. 13 green at Augusta National (David Cannon/Getty Images)
The specifics: Par 5, 510 yards
Historical scoring average: 4.79 (17th hardest in relation to par)
Easiest it has played: 4.47 in 2019
Hardest it has played: 5.04 in 1976
2019 scoring average: 4.47
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 running through the fairway into pine straw and trees to the right – only the longest players dare tackle a drive directly down the left side that must carry tall pines and the stream, but it has been done. 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. 14: Chinese Fir
No. 14 green at Augusta National, as seen from behind (AP/Rob Carr)
The specifics: Par 4, 440 yards
Historical scoring average: 4.18 (eighth hardest in relation to par)
Easiest it has played: 3.94 in 2011
Hardest it has played: 4.41 in 1949
2019 scoring average: 4.08
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. 15: Firethorn
No. 15 green at Augusta National, as seen from the gallery to the left of the green (Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports)
The specifics: Par 5, 530 yards
Historical scoring average: 4.78 (18th hardest in relation to par)
Easiest it has played: 4.51 in 1991
Hardest it has played: 5.01 in 1998
2019 scoring average: 4.54
How it plays: This downhill par 5 invites long drives down the right side of the fairway, leaving most modern 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 some 160 yards short of the green block an approach from that side of the fairway. It’s not uncommon for players who have laid up on their second shots to overspin their third shots into the green, with the ball racing back off the green, down a shaved bank and into the water. 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.
