Dating back to at least 2020 and really even to 2019 since that was the year of Tiger Woods’ most recent and arguably most famous Masters victory, every Masters has been unique. 2020 was the fall Masters during the Covid-19 pandemic. 2021 was just 5 months later and also played in front of little to no patrons. 2022 marked the return of the roars from the gallery, and also the return of Tiger following the leg injuries he sustained in a car wreck the previous year. That brings us to 2022, which will be the first Masters with the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf dynamic.
One thing, however, is constant. One thing remains the same. The Masters is always played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. It’s the only one of the 4 majors that is never on the move.
That being said, the course itself doesn’t necessarily remain the exact same every year. The higher-ups at Augusta National frequently tinker with the layout. This season the tweaks have come on the famous par-5 13th. Let’s break down the course, including the 1 change for 2023.
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Augusta National course guide
If you have ever attended the Masters, you have surely been struck by the undulations throughout the golf course — especially on the greens. A total of 16 greens are either two-tiered or at least violently sloping in one direction. Literally the only two that are flat (and even then “flat” is simply a relative term compared to the precipitous nature of the other 16) are 11 and 12. Of course, 11 and 12 are already terribly tough propositions even without befuddling greens.
Anyway, the bottom line is that iron play at Augusta National has to be incredibly precise in order to get balls close to the hole…and to close to the hole. Anything even a few feet off could roll in any number of awful directions depending on pin placements. For example, on 3 and 9 anything short will roll many yards back into the fairway. On 15 anything short often rolls into Rae's Creek. The story is similar on 13, although if you land it on the green there it should hold. On 10 anything left of the green is down the slope and dead.
Amen Corner (11, 12, and 13) is the most famous stretch in golf. Sure, it's aesthetically pleasing to the patrons. Much more important, however, is the fact that it is a nightmare for the players. Although 13 is a birdie and even eagle opportunity, it also has bogey — or worse — potential if they decide to go for the green in two and dump it in the creek. Holes 11 and 12 are beyond scary; players will happily take par and get out of there. Especially on 12, much-needed pars are often few and far between on Sundays. In 2019, for example, basically everyone in contention other than eventual champion Woods were wet. Jordan Spieth went in the water (yes, twice on a ) during his 2016 collapse.
Like the par-5 13th, the par-5 15th can also produce anything from a 3 (or a 2 in the case of Gene Sarazen in 1935) to a double-digit number. In 2019, third-round leader Francesco Molinari opened the door for Woods on Sunday by carding a double-bogey 7 on 15 (he also doubled 12).
Tiger Woods has won the Masters.
His 81st PGA TOUR win.
His 15th major title.
His 5th green jacket.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/xC8165hypE— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 14, 2019
For the diehard fans who want to know about hole, see the layout for all 18 below:
Hole by hole
1'Tea Olive
445 yards, par 4
2022 rank: 6th hardest (4.278)
2'Pink Dogwood
575 yards, par 5
2022 rank: T16th (4.689)