Augusta National Golf Club presents several great scoring opportunities on the back nine, but Masters contenders must survive the first three holes after the turn to reach those birdies.
Combined, Nos. 10, 11 and 12 make for the most difficult three-hole stretch on the famed Alister MacKenzie course. Historically, these three holes play a combined average of 0.88 over par – that means the best golfers in the world average the loss of nearly a full stroke to par over these three holes each round. In the 2019 Masters, there were 33 double bogeys or worse on this stretch.
In comparison, the easiest three-hole stretch on the course plays a combined average of 0.25 strokes under par.
Check out these three challenges, with details provided by Masters.com.
No. 10: Camellia
No. 10 at Augusta National (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
The specifics: Par 4, 495 yards
Historical scoring average: 4.31 (hardest on the course in relation to par)
Easiest it has played: 4.121 (1995)
Hardest it has played: 4.691 (1956)
2019 scoring average: 4.247 (28 birdies, 186 pars, 79 bogeys, 11 double bogeys or worse)
How it plays: With a drop of 116 feet from the tee to the lowest point in the fairway, the 10th plays away from the clubhouse and past the cabins to the left. Players who hit the fairway have an uneven, downhill stance, typically with a mid-iron if the course is playing soft. The green slopes dramatically from right to left and is guarded on the right by a bunker.
No. 11: White Dogwood
No. 11 at Augusta National (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
The specifics: Par 4, 505 yards
Historical scoring average: 4.29 (second hardest in relation to par)
Easiest it has played: 4.061 (1995)
Hardest it has played: 4.644 (1956)
2019 scoring average: 4.247 (21 birdies, 197 pars, 78 bogeys, eight double bogeys or worse)
How it plays: Pine trees were added to the right side of the fairway in 2004, eliminating the traditional bailout area that provided a better angle into the green guarded front-left by a pond and back-right by a bunker. Like No. 10, this hole plays downhill, this time 62 feet from tee to green, but downhill doesn’t mean it’s any easier because players face another long approach from an uneven lie even if they manage to hit the fairway.
No. 12: Golden Bell
No. 12 at Augusta National (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The specifics: Par 3, 155 yards
Historical scoring average: 3.28 (fourth hardest on the course in relation to par)
Easiest it’s ever played: 3.030 in 2002
Hardest it’s ever played: 3.556 in 1966
2019 scoring average: 3.0526 (52 birdies, 200 pars, 38 bogeys, 14 double bogeys or worse)
How it plays: The end of this difficult three-hole stretch has a simple rule for Masters competitors: Don’t go short right. What’s not so simple: Frequently swirling winds often confuse players who believe they can control a short iron to a pin on the right side of the green above Rae’s Creek. Tiger Woods was propelled to his dramatic victory in 2019 after playing safely to the larger part of the green well left of the hole while four of his competitors – Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter, Francesco Molinari and Tony Finau – all challenged the right-side flagstick and splashed into the creek.
