US Masters: Augusta hole-by-hole guide

Published on Saturday 10 April 2010 22:34

Augusta hole-by-hole guide...

1ST – TEA OLIVE

Par 4

445 yds

The opening hole has been proving something of a baptism of fire for the field so far this week. The fairway bunker on the right and trees on the left have made this one of the most difficult tee shots the players will face. Sandy Lyle opened with a double-bogey on Friday, setting the tone for a miserable afternoon for the 1988 champion. South African Retief Goosen fared little better yesterday when he carded a disastrous triple-bogey seven.

2ND – PINK DOGWOOD

Par 5

575 yds

Regarded as the easiest hole on the course it is also the longest. Big hitters can reach the green in two but need to do so carefully as it is guarded by two bunkers in front. Three eagles have been carded here so far but it's not been plain sailing for all. Briton Chris Wood had a nightmare here on Thursday, carding a triple-bogey eight having birdied the treacherous first.

3RD – FLOWERING PEACH

Par 4

350 yds

Seen by many as one of the best par 4s in the game, the hole had not been changed for 28 years. Most players opt for position off the tee using a long iron or a fairway wood. Memories of last year's Open at Turnberry were evoked on Thursday when veteran Tom Watson again rolled back the years to head up the early leaderboard with two birdies in his first three holes.

4TH – FLOWERING CRAB APPLE

Par 3

240 yds

One of the most difficult and unforgiving holes. Tiger Woods may be on the prowl again but he came up a cropper her on Friday which turned out to be his only bogey of the day. He pulled his tee-shot to the left of the greenside bunker and had to chip over it reach the green. He missed the resulting ten-foot put to save par.

5TH – MAGNOLIA

Par 4

455 yds

A hole inspired by the "Road Hole" on the Old Course in St Andrews, the presence of deep bunkers along the fair way makes accuracy off the tee-shot an absolute necessity here. Ex-Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam didn't have a good start to the tournament and his double-bogey six here on Thursday a low point in a depressing opening round of 81.

6TH – JUNIPER

Par 3

180 yds

One of the classic holes on the Augusta course, it has not been changed since 1975. Despite what appears to be a large target area it can be very difficult to get close to the hole, making pin positions crucial. 2006 US Open Geoff Ogilvy had a torrid time here on Thursday, carding his third consecutive bogey and going on to bogey the 9th.

7TH – PAMPAS

Par 4

450 yds

Drivers are the preferred weapon of choice for the tee-off while five bunkers around the putting-green makes this hole a potential banana skin for competitors. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell had bad start to the tournament after double-bogeying the 4th and it didn't get any easier for him when he got to the 7th. Another double-bogey here had him struggling to find form.

8TH – YELLOW JASMINE

Par 5

570 yds

American Jerry Kelly is enjoying this hole, he's birdie it for the past three days consecutively. A large fairway bunker makes this par-5 difficult to reach in two and a blind uphill shot awaits those who are tempted to go for it. The enlarged fairway bunker will punish wayward drives but there is plenty potential for birdies, which is the least the players would expect.

9TH – CAROLINA CHERRY

Par 4

460 yds

On a hole where birdies are hard to come across Italian youngster Matteo Manassero, 16, managed to come up with one yesterday. The youngest player ever to compete at the Masters is showing no at his first major and negotiated the severely sloping green, that often makes par a challenge, to perfection. Accuracy off the tee here is essential to success here.

10TH – CAMILLIA

Par 4

495 yds

Historically this is the toughest hole on the Augusta course with the long par-4 requiring two solid shots. Moving the green turned a relatively easy hole into nightmare for players to negotiate. Louis Oosthuizen, winner of Wednesday's nine-hole event slipped up here on Thursday with a double-bogey on his way to a round of 75.

11TH – WHITE DOGWOOD

Par 4

505 yds

Robert Allenby provided one of the shots of the tournament so far here, recovering brilliantly from hitting his ball into the water to chip in. The start of the Amen Corner the hole is seen as one of the most difficult because of its added length. Longer shots approaching the green make the geenside pond a major factor.

12TH – GOLDEN BELL

Par 3

155 yds

Sandy Lyle had one worst days of his career on Friday and nothing typified this more than the triple-bogey seven he registered here. The shortest hole on the course, swirling winds make it very difficult to play. A short approach will find Rae's Creek or the bunker in front of the green whereas a long one could find one of the two

13TH – AZALEA

Par 5

510 yds

Tiger Woods sunk monster 20-foot put here on Friday to put himself firmly amongst the favourites to take the coveted green jacket. It is said that those who dare to take risks on this reap all the rewards it has to offer. It may be deemed an easier hole but many Masters challengers have seen their hopes evaporate here.

14TH – CHINESE FIR

Par 4

440 yds

Lee Westwood has put himself firmly in contention to wear the green jacket but he'll have to fare better here over the weekend than he did on Friday when he shot a double-bogey six. The only hole on the course without a bunker, it still provides plenty challenges. A sloping fairway and undulating green provides them.

15TH – FIRETHORN

Par 5

530 yds

Pual Casey failed to make the cut this weekend and his tripe-bogey eight at this hole on Thursday made a big contribution to that. Changes over the past decade have made reaching the green in two a challenge. A pond guards the green in front, but those who lay up face a hard shot from a downhill lie. One of the most popular holes on the course, it serves up its fair share of birdies and the odd eagle from time to time.

16TH – REDBUD

Par 3

170 yds

American Anthony Kim provided a tee-shot master class when he provided a near perfect shot on his way to carding a birdie on Friday. The hole requires anything from a short to medium-iron shot. The green is the holes main defense and being below the hole is a must. The back bunker and pond pose problems but getting the tee shot on the same level with the hole is key.

17TH – NANDINA

Par 4

440 yds

It was the first of two closing bogeys for Bernhard Langer on Thursday. Players must negotiate Ikes Tree off the tee. For most players it's a short-iron second shot into a hard green. Ike's Tree is not a problem for big hitters, but others still struggle to hit it far enough to have a good look at the green. Players need to hit as short a club as possible on their approach to this tricky green.

18TH – HOLLY

Par 4

465 yds

Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood may be at the right end of the leaderboard but they bith carded bogeys here on Friday. The extension of the tee in 2002 made the closing hole a 465 yard challenge, not very accommodating for those looking to finish with champagne golf but challenging nevertheless. Trees to the left of the bunkers prevent a bailout on that side, and the elevated green is guarded by bunkers.