AUGUSTA (Ga.) Augusta National has increased the par-5 13th green by 25 yards since last year’s Masters. This was done to restore the integrity and force competitors to make a “momentous decision,” which aligns with the original intention of Bobby Jones, the club’s founder.
Some people feel that the combination of the extra distance and the steep right-to-left slope at the fairway landing area is enough to make the decision.
It is not surprising that short hitters such as Brian Harman or Kevin Kisner view the 535-yard 13th fairway as a traditional three-shotter. They’ll try to stick it close with the wedge, unless conditions change dramatically between now and Thursday.
They won’t be the only ones taking a shot at Rae’s Creek’s tributary.
Dustin Johnson, 2020 champion and one of the most powerful golfers, said Monday that he will likely join them in conservatively playing the hole. Johnson’s left-to right ball flight off the fairway tee isn’t suitable for a hole that bends in the opposite direction.
Johnson stated, “Yeah. Most likely I’ll lay up all four days, unless the wind blows and you get one down there,” Johnson said, “Yes, it certainly made the hole more difficult. It helps guys who can turn the driver around. I’m not good at it, but the driver can make it work. You can still make a 4. There are many ways to accomplish this.
Before hitting the No. 13 green in practice before the 2023 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Network)
The final leg of Amen Corner has always seen subpar scores. It has produced 124 eagles over the last 10 Masters. In the nine years since its inception, it has been the easiest hole on the course five times in the past nine years. The span’s difficulty rating was never higher than 16.
In 1992, Jeff Maggert hit a 3-iron at 222 from the albatross. Phil Mickelson hit an amazing 6-iron in 2010, from an uneven lie in the pine straws in the right pines, on his way to a third green jacket.
Pros were known to have been launching bombs over the tall pines on the fairway in recent years, leaving little for the second shot.
The new tee box makes it easier to hit the tee, but the second shot of mid-to-long iron off a sidehill lie can be quite scary even for the most experienced pro.
Billy Horschel stated, “It’s exactly how I expected it to be for me.” “The pin was in front today so I believe I had 215 front pins, but I had the ball just above my feet with a 3-iron. I won’t go for it if I don’t have a 5-iron or less on that green.
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The results of the 13th round will not be known until all four rounds have been completed. It is likely that several Masters are needed to get an accurate reading. The yardage players are able to reach will depend on wind direction and turf firmness.
Kisner stated that you need to hit a perfect drive in order to have a chance to win. You can’t go for it if you get out to the right. The more hitters are in the trees, the better.”
It’s not like the 13th green suddenly seems impossible to reach. Min Woo Lee, a young Australian powerhouse, blasted his natural draw around the corner on Monday’s practice round. He needed only a 7 iron for his second shot.
He said, “You can make the hole a lot simpler but you have to bring in the left trees if your goal is to draw.” It’s still possible to birdie the hole, even if you miss the fairway or have a short putt. As long as you put your ball in the right spot, you can chip it up to the green.
Scott Stallings and Harman see more players setting up for their second shot than any Masters. Maybe the conditions will change. You can expect to see more contemplation on the 13th fairway, as players will be forced to make pivotal decisions, which is exactly what Jones and Alister MacKenzie intended.
“Where the ball ends is in the middle” Stallings stated that 230 was in the middle today and that he would have put it up if he had given him the same lie on Thursday. It was a lot more difficult to make a decision with an 8-iron than with a 4-iron. It just feels a lot better.”
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