How They Play At the Augusta National: Holes Five-Seven

With the 73rd Annual Master Championship up and underway it seemed like a good time to see how each hole was playing in the early going, and how some of the early leaders were getting on.

I'm going to be looking at holes five through seven, three that on paper look like good birdie opportunities, but in reality are proving a whole different ball game.


Fifth-Magnolia-Par Four

As the sun streamed over Magnolia, players found that they could shed no light in the early rounds on how to deal with one of most challenging holes on the course.

In one of the most underrated holes in golf, let alone the Augusta National, the angle has been slightly extended adding extra risk and yardage to the hole.

This 455 yard Par four has been adapted a few times over the years at the Masters with the hole extended in 2007.

The front right bunkers now have to be cleared by a 300+ drive, a distance that might see some players dive to the left to avoid the flat sand.

The green has been significantly raised, and with deeper bunkers on either side contributing to one of the more difficult holes on the course.

Problems that were fully confronted by run-away leader Chad Campbell, who birded the fifth after succeeding on the previous four holes, one of eight birdies we saw in the early stages.

The supposedly difficult green didn’t find out too many players in the opening stages, with just fourteen bogeys coming the first half of the day.

Englishman Ian Poulter was another who was successful on one of the toughest greens on the course, one that was expected to slope away from the left-hand side pin.

Poulter’s improving short game was clear to see here as he collected one of the rare birdies at this hold.

Of those that struggled at the hole look no further than Michael Campbell, whose round of 80 included a boggy on the fifth, as the pleasurable conditions were no assistance to the New Zealand player.


Sixth-Juniper-Par Three

The second shortest hole on the course is sure to tempt many into a birdie chance, but after round one it may teach some players to play for an all so important par.

The Par three has already produced some casualties on the first round at Augusta, but a stream of pars have seen the success rate level out as the afternoon continued.

The sloping green can give players a tough two-put on some occasions, something we saw plenty of in the early going.

It seems that the relative ease of the hole has succumbed a few players into dropping shots, with one of those being Irishman Padraig Harrington, who made a four in the middle of fighting his way up the leader-board.

Harrington has been one of a number of players to adapt his game to suit the shorter playing style of the American courses, something Sergio Garcia has also had to develop.

The Spaniard recovered from a four at the 5th to recover to make a three to eventually put his challenge back on track.

The European’s inconsistent putting has always been there downfall at this Major, and on this difficult sixth with speed almost built in to this green, their collective putting will have to improve.

It’s obvious we will see more birdies on this hole as the weekend continues, as the players learn that the green is higher than it appears.



Seventh- Pampas-Par Four

Almost the end of the back nine before Amen corner, and we see another hole extended by the organisers, to develop this course.

Big hitting drivers such as Garcia and Woods used to bring the ball within the green and make an easy three, but now with a longer pin, and a narrower fairway, playing for a four is now more sensible.

Hitting the ball on the right of the fairway from the tee is more preferable, but even with that shot completed hitting the green in regulation from there is still pretty tough.

Just as with the sixth we’ve seen just seven birdies today so far, and again with the tempted par five, playing to keep in the championship as been the name of the game as we’ve seen more par’s scored on this hole than many of the par fours.

Chad Campbell had to take a step back on this hole, as his successive birdies ended on the sixth, and he had to par the seventh after playing up from his second shot.

One of the players with success however was Angel Cabrera, who was tempted to go for the green with his second shot, and his gamble paid off with a superb three.

Sandy Lyle completed his second successive birdie with a three, to bring him to level par, with the high green proving profitable for those willing to test.

This hole will stop plenty in there stride, and shouldn’t be underestimated, I would go as far to say it’s what the players consider to be one of the toughest on the course, and birdies will be in a minority this week.

I’d say if we see more than 40 this week then the players have done well, and an aggregate score over the weekend of par will really have you in the top-20 players.