AUGUSTA, Ga. — Dustin Johnson expects to lay up every day around Amen Corner at the 87th Masters.
“Today, I had 4-iron in there,” said two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson of his Tuesday practice round. “I hit a good one to the middle of the green. It all comes down to under pressure, if you can pull that shot off.”
Statistically speaking, the 13th hole at Augusta National Golf Club, also known as “Azalea,” has been the easiest. With a cumulative scoring average of 4.775, going for the famed par 5 in two had become heavy on reward and light on risk, as players often hit 3-wood off the tee and stood with a low-iron in their hands over their second shots.
Last summer, Augusta National moved the tee back 35 yards in an effort to restore the risk/reward element deemed critical to the hole’s original design.
The forecast, however, isn’t exactly cooperating. The extended outlook calls for 70 percent chance of rain on Friday with gusts up to 25 mph. On Saturday, temperatures drop 20 degrees to a high of 52 with a 90 percent chance of rain and more wind. Sunday’s forecast calls for a breezy morning with a 50 percent chance of rain.
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“I don’t think the scoring average won’t be too different,” said Max Homa, “but I think you’ll be seeing a lot more guys laying up this year simply because of the weather. I think maybe a year we’ll get great weather, you’ll have a lot more of that in between a 3- and 4-iron. Are you going to do it? Are you not? I think that’s going to be really entertaining.”
Rory McIlroy hit two tee shots on the 13th Monday and cranked the second one a bit farther up the left side. He had 5-iron left for his second shot. The ball was a good 18 inches to 2 feet in elevation above his feet.
“It’s a big decision,” said McIlroy, adding: “Since I’ve played here since 2009, there’s never really been a choice. If you hit a good tee shot, you go for the green. But now, there’s a decision to be made.”
Tiger Woods carries a career scoring average of 4.38 on No. 13. In 94 rounds, he’s made 56 birdies, four eagles and one double-bogey. He’s a cumulative 58 under on the iconic hole, which features approximately 1,600 azaleas from tee to green.
Woods referenced the changes made in 2002, when the 13th tee moved back 20 to 25 yards. What seemed astounding then, he said, has become “a moot point” over the past 20 years. Without changes to equipment, Woods sees the same thing happening in another 20 years to the now extended hole.
“It seems dramatic to us right now,” said Woods of the changes, “but if these guys keep getting longer, they keep getting taller and more athletic and keep hitting the ball further, that hole is going to play, I think, with a driver and a mid-iron.”
While the weather will likely keep golf fans from truly appreciating the impact of the changes, Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, noted that when he played the course two weeks prior, World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler hit 5-iron into the hole.
While more players may lay up this week and going forward in general, Ridley isn’t concerned about the drama dwindling.
“I certainly look forward on Sunday to having someone in competition with a 3- or 4-iron in their hand or even a hybrid hitting their shot into the 13th hole rather than an 8-iron,” he said. “I think on balance it’s going to prove to be the right decision.”
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