- Moderator
- #1
Hello friends,
We're hitting the second third of the golf course, where a hell of a lot of history has been made. Let's cut the fluff pieces and just get to it. Pin placements for reference, now let's pitter patter.
Hole 13: Azalea. 510yds professional, 455yds member
What more honestly needs to be said about this par 5? Rounds have been ruined and second 9 charges have started all on this hole. A very gettable par 5, so long as you can find the fairway. A right to left shot shape is the obvious play, but some of the higher launching, longer hitters have even opted to take it over the tree line and fade it back into play. The beauty of the shape of this hole is the willingness to take on the curve of the hole. The safer you play, the more above your feet the ball is going to be. The closer you get to the hazard running up the left side of the hole, the flatter the lie gets. But enough about that, the pictures are what everyone wants to see.
Folks, if you ever get to travel to Augusta National in person, this is just one of the prettiest views in all of golf. It's just serene.
Masters Moments:
The year was 2010. Phil Mickelson hit a shot that is just friggin absurd. Good two putt though....
Hole 14: Chinese Fir. 440 yds professional, 380 member.
It's hard to say a golf hole on this piece of property, but this one really gets a bit of a bad wrap. You just left one of the most exciting and beautiful 3 hole stretches in golf. Right after you, you have a very gettable par 5 and a par 3 that has produced more hole in one's and drama than any other one in major championship history. This poor hole just doesn't get any love. I get it. It's a gentle dogleg left, with a defenseless green to the naked eye. But this is Augusta National, where really no green is ever defenseless. Let's see if a closer look can help determine what defense there is on this green.
This green may be the most sloped green on property. You miss the ball 15 to the right of the pin in the current photo and hit it even 3ft too far, there is a strong chance you could have 50ft for par coming back up the slope.
Masters moments: Third round, 2010. Coming off eagle at the par 5 13th, Phil Mickelson had 141yds left in for his second shot. Pitching wedge in hand, he holed his wedge shot for the rare eagle eagle run anywhere, but especially at Augusta National.
Hole 15: Firethorn. 530yds professional, 475yds amateur
The second par 5 on this second 9 here at Augusta National. 530 yds, slightly uphill off the tee, to an approach shot that can be as much as 25ft or so down the hill to a green with water short, and technically long if you catch a really bad break. This may be the most exciting par 5 in major championship history. As much as 13 is gettable, it does favor a right to left ball flight more than a left to right or a straight ball. This hole however, just find the fairway however you can. Yes, right side is definitely a bit easier, but the short grass is imperative if you want a chance at getting there in two. Laying up is no bargain either, with a severely downhill lie for your third and a slope in front of the putting surface that will punish even the slightest of mishit shots. For as many 3's made here, there have been twice as many doubles and others on the scorecard. It is as straight forward as a risk reward par 5 can possibly be.
There's only one Masters moment that really can take the #1 spot here, given all the history that has taken place on this hole. Final round, 1986. 4 back of leader Seve Ballesteros, Jack stood in the middle of the 15th fairway 212yds from the hole, Jack said to his caddie and son Jackie, "How far do you think a 3 would go here Jackie?" and Jackie replied, "I think a 3 here would go a long way. Let's see it." Jack Nicklaus hit 4i to 12ft, and sunk the putt for eagle.
Yes, there have been many eagles at the 15th, but not from a man who was 46 years old, not well past his prime, and not one of the greatest of all time.
We're hitting the second third of the golf course, where a hell of a lot of history has been made. Let's cut the fluff pieces and just get to it. Pin placements for reference, now let's pitter patter.
Hole 13: Azalea. 510yds professional, 455yds member
What more honestly needs to be said about this par 5? Rounds have been ruined and second 9 charges have started all on this hole. A very gettable par 5, so long as you can find the fairway. A right to left shot shape is the obvious play, but some of the higher launching, longer hitters have even opted to take it over the tree line and fade it back into play. The beauty of the shape of this hole is the willingness to take on the curve of the hole. The safer you play, the more above your feet the ball is going to be. The closer you get to the hazard running up the left side of the hole, the flatter the lie gets. But enough about that, the pictures are what everyone wants to see.
Folks, if you ever get to travel to Augusta National in person, this is just one of the prettiest views in all of golf. It's just serene.
Masters Moments:
The year was 2010. Phil Mickelson hit a shot that is just friggin absurd. Good two putt though....
Hole 14: Chinese Fir. 440 yds professional, 380 member.
It's hard to say a golf hole on this piece of property, but this one really gets a bit of a bad wrap. You just left one of the most exciting and beautiful 3 hole stretches in golf. Right after you, you have a very gettable par 5 and a par 3 that has produced more hole in one's and drama than any other one in major championship history. This poor hole just doesn't get any love. I get it. It's a gentle dogleg left, with a defenseless green to the naked eye. But this is Augusta National, where really no green is ever defenseless. Let's see if a closer look can help determine what defense there is on this green.
This green may be the most sloped green on property. You miss the ball 15 to the right of the pin in the current photo and hit it even 3ft too far, there is a strong chance you could have 50ft for par coming back up the slope.
Masters moments: Third round, 2010. Coming off eagle at the par 5 13th, Phil Mickelson had 141yds left in for his second shot. Pitching wedge in hand, he holed his wedge shot for the rare eagle eagle run anywhere, but especially at Augusta National.
Hole 15: Firethorn. 530yds professional, 475yds amateur
The second par 5 on this second 9 here at Augusta National. 530 yds, slightly uphill off the tee, to an approach shot that can be as much as 25ft or so down the hill to a green with water short, and technically long if you catch a really bad break. This may be the most exciting par 5 in major championship history. As much as 13 is gettable, it does favor a right to left ball flight more than a left to right or a straight ball. This hole however, just find the fairway however you can. Yes, right side is definitely a bit easier, but the short grass is imperative if you want a chance at getting there in two. Laying up is no bargain either, with a severely downhill lie for your third and a slope in front of the putting surface that will punish even the slightest of mishit shots. For as many 3's made here, there have been twice as many doubles and others on the scorecard. It is as straight forward as a risk reward par 5 can possibly be.
There's only one Masters moment that really can take the #1 spot here, given all the history that has taken place on this hole. Final round, 1986. 4 back of leader Seve Ballesteros, Jack stood in the middle of the 15th fairway 212yds from the hole, Jack said to his caddie and son Jackie, "How far do you think a 3 would go here Jackie?" and Jackie replied, "I think a 3 here would go a long way. Let's see it." Jack Nicklaus hit 4i to 12ft, and sunk the putt for eagle.
Yes, there have been many eagles at the 15th, but not from a man who was 46 years old, not well past his prime, and not one of the greatest of all time.
