This year’s Masters Tournament tees off on Thursday April 11th with the three favourites being Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Jon Rahm. Brooks Koepka has a point to prove after narrowly missing out last year and you can’t overlook the inform Joaquin Niemann. This year the LIV Golf membership will have a strong presence at the first Major of the season and could set the tone for how headlines develop in the drama that has become the battle for professional golf.
EASY
The par-5 13th hole is the all-time leader for the easiest hole at the Masters, averaging 4.775 strokes. The low year for the whole came in 2019, with an average of 4.474 whole the high year came in 1975 when it played at 5.042.
5th HOLE
The par-4 fifth hole was the hardest hole in 2023, playing at +0.32 to par. Champion Jon Rahm played the hole in one over par, mixing three pars with a bogey during his third round which was played during heavy and persistent rain on Saturday.
TOUGH FINISH
The par-4 18th was the second hardest hole last year, with 92 bogeys made by the field – the most on any hole across the week. Rahm made a birdie during the opening round as he played the hole in level par for the four rounds, with only two other players in the top ten and ties making a birdie over four days.
AZELEA
More than 30 varieties of azaleas can be found around the course and are the most identifiable plant patrons come across. The 13th hole, aptly named Azalea, contains more than a thousand of the shrubs.
ICONIC BACK NINE
Augusta National’s second nine includes some of the game’s most recognisable holes, including the trio known as Amen Corner (11-13). Those holes were not the backdrop for the conclusion of the inaugural Masters, however. The first Masters was played with the first hole as No. 10 and vice versa. The routing was reversed before the second Masters and has been used ever since.
MORE SPEED
One of the biggest changes in Augusta National’s history took place four decades ago, when the course’s famous putting surfaces were converted from Bermuda to bentgrass, allowing the tournament to achieve the green speeds that it is known for.
INCREASED YARDAGE
For 2024, the tee box at the par-5 second hole has extended back and to the left by about 10 yards, in an effort to bring the right fairway bunker more into play.
PHIL ON TOP
Phil Mickelson leads the way in career scoring average for players to have played 100+ rounds at Augusta National, averaging 71.3 over 114 rounds. Tiger Woods tops the leaderboard for players that have competed in 75-99 rounds on 71.1, while Rory McIlroy sits at the summit of 50-74 rounds with 71.5.
BIRDIE KING
Jordan Spieth carded the most birdies in a single tournament with 28 in 2015.
LAST MINUTE
Six golfers have won the tournament with a birdie on the 72nd hole – Art Wall (1959), Arnold Palmer (1960), Gary Player (1978), Sandy Lyle (1988), Mark O’Meara (1998) and Phil Mickelson (2004).
COMEBACK JACK
The biggest final day comeback came in 1956 when Jack Burke overcame an eight-stroked deficit to win the title. Amateur Ken Venturi, who held the 54-hole lead, shot a final round 80 while Burke carded 71 to beat his compatriot by one shot.
GARCIA’S GREEN MOMENT
Sergio Garcia took 19 attempts to win a Green Jacket, the most of any Masters champion. At the other end of the table, Horton Smith (1934), Gene Sarazen (1935) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979) won the tournament on debut.
REPETITION
On four occasions a single player has carded the exact same score over four rounds. Walter Hagen 76-76-76-76 (1939), Lew Worsham 74-74-74-74 (1954), Kenny Knox 75-75-75-75 (1987) and George Archer 75-75-75-75 (1989).
Lowest round:
63 – Nick Price (1986), Greg Norman (1996)
72-hole low score:
268 – Dustin Johnson (268)
Most wins:
Jack Nicklaus – 6
Defending champion:
Jon Rahm
