Since no one knows the course better than him, we asked the three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo to take us on a tour Augusta Nationalit’s the defining shot. Read on for our insider’s guide to Augusta National’s toughest shots.
1. Tee shot at no. 4
What to watch for: “The fourth has become a serious hole since I won my first Masters in 1989. We’d hit the 3- or 4-iron back then. Today it’s 240 yards; some guys have to hit a 5-wood. In a strong wind, it can play 252 yards—and it’s nearly 240 yards in front if you have to keep your foot in front! The front bunker—you’ll never get it up and down because the green color is so great.
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I remember: “I did a two there in ’89 on a Sunday, which is pretty impressive. The crowd – ugh, sorry – the ‘patrons’ were moving around a lot, which was distracting, and before I could set up I just yelled, ‘Stay!’ (Laughs) That took some pressure off, and I was up and holding a curling toss!”
2. Tee shot at No. 6
What to watch for: Cheers! When they put the pin back to the right, like Thursday and Sunday, watch out! You must land your ball in a 3 yard by 3 yard circle up on that rack. If it is short by a foot, it goes off the green. Go left and have a long layup. But beware of the wind. The wind hits you as hard as your partner hits so hard. and he’s eight feet away and you end up 100 yards short. It is a laugh of the gods.
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Stephen Denton
I remember: “Against Greg (Norman) on Sunday in ’96, I made birdie, which was great for my confidence. I hit an iron 6-6 feet behind the hole and I made the putt and I think it sent a message to Greg that said, ‘I’m in control of what I’m doing.’ That’s part of the psychology of Augusta — let the other guy know you’re on your game.”
3. Access to no. 7
What to watch for: “No. 7 has changed dramatically. It was a 2-iron and a wedge for me in my prime. But they’ve lengthened it (by 40 yards for last year’s tournament) and it’s usually in the wind, so you have to push your drive, hoping to play a 5-iron or 6-iron to the green, which is as small as the green. Be sympathetic with your approach. Ask players to aim for the right side of field – pin hunting when cut left is for the bravest souls.
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I remember: “The first time I saw No. 7, I thought, ‘Wow! They’ve put the pin three feet in front!” I’d never seen that before, and you’ve got two massive bunkers in front of the green. Then I thought, ‘OK, just leave it long,’ but you never want to stay long at Augusta. I’ve always tried to get within 15 feet of the hole here because you’re surrounded by bunkers on a lightning-fast green. Wow!”
4. Access to no. 9
What to watch for: “Being short at Augusta means if you’re a foot short, you roll 40 yards off the green. Back in my day, that tee shot would catch the top of the slope and go 40, 50 yards, making that approach easier. But they added that rough first cut, so if your ball hangs there, you’re going to have fun on that 3.”
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I remember: “In ’96 Greg went for that front left pin while I played safe on the other side. He came up short, rolled and made 5. He was just short and suffered the consequences. This is Augusta – the courses ask one question: ‘How are you going to approach the pin?’ If you give the wrong answer, I drown you.”
5. Approach with no. 17
What to watch for: “This pin is bad. It’s on the edge of a cliff! You have to land your shot in an area the size of a manhole cover. Above the green is death! We sound like we’re kidding on TV, but you literally have a margin of error of about five feet from your target. Miss that little target and you’d better make a great short game.”
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remember: “In ’89 I left myself a 35-footer along the green and over that ridge. I hit the putt too hard and, luckily, it disappeared into the cup. Otherwise, it could have rolled off the green, and there’s a two-shot swing. (Scott) Hoch hit his approach over the green, bogeyed, and I won in a playoff.”
