What Are The Hardest Holes At Augusta National?

What are the most difficult holes at Augusta National? We delve into the stats to find out

The 12th hole at Augusta National
The 12th hole at Augusta National is one of the toughest on the course
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Augusta National, venue for The Masters, is regarded as a very tricky course, and it's one of the reasons why a rookie hasn't won the Green Jacket since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

It may be arguably the world's most beautiful layout, but danger lurks on every hole at Augusta National, whether that's with the water, most famously at Rae's Creek, or its notoriously undulating greens, making it a challenge to avoid big numbers for even the most accomplished pros.

So, which holes are the hardest at Augusta National? And which are the easiest?

Overall, the back nine is more difficult than the front nine at Augusta National, with six of the top-10 hardest holes facing players after the turn.

The toughest hole in Masters history is the 11th, the first of the notorious three-hole stretch, Amen Corner. Immediately before that, the 10th is the second-toughest in what is a very demanding opening to the back nine.

The 10th, Camellia, is a long par 4 at 495 yards that plays downhill towards a green sloping right to left. It has played an average of +0.298 through the years, but if players come through that test unscathed, there's even more to consider on the 11th.

The 520-yard par 4 is a dogleg right leading players to a green guarded by water left. Between 1942 and 2024 at The Masters, it has played an average of 0.304 over par, making it the most difficult of the lot.

The 11th at Augusta National during The Masters

The 11th is the hardest hole at the course

(Image credit: Getty Images)

There's no let-up for players after that either, with the 12th the fourth toughest on the course. The hole in question is arguably the most famous par 3 in the world, Golden Bell, with wind swirling above the pine trees and Rae's Creek in front of a green guarded by three bunkers. It has an average score of 3.269.

On the front nine is the third-most difficult hole, the par-3 4th. The 240-yard downhiller has a big green but it slopes and is guarded by two huge bunkers left and short right. It has played at 3.283 at The Masters through the years.

The 4th at Augusta National

The 4th has huge green but is slopes and has two bunkers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Augusta National's four par 5s are the easiest, and it's on those that players really need to make their score if they're to have success at The Masters. The second is statistically the easiest, followed by the 13th, the 15th and the 8th.

While the 4th is the toughest par 3, and the 12th is almost as difficult for the world's best, the easiest short hole is the 6th. The 180-yarder, named Juniper, has a very demanding green but plays considerably shorter thanks to it being downhill. It has a score of +0.136 throughout Masters history, ranking it as the 12th-toughest hole.

The easiest par 4 is the 3rd hole, which is also the only par 4 under 400 yards at Augusta National, measuring 350 yards. It has an average score of 4.076.

Augusta National hardest holes:

(Ranked in order of toughest to easiest, +/- indicates score to par over Masters history)

  • 1st. 11th hole, par 4: +0.304
  • 2nd. 10th hole, par 4: +0.298
  • 3rd. 4th hole, par 3: +0.283
  • 4th. 12th hole par 3: +0.269
  • 5th. 5th hole, par 4: +0.266
  • 6th. 1st hole, par 4: +0.237
  • 7th. 18th hole, par 4: +0.232
  • 8th. 14th hole, par 4: +0.165
  • 9th. 17th hole, par 4: +0.163
  • 10th. 7th hole, par 4: +0.157
  • 11th. 16th hole, par 3: +0.138
  • 12th. 6th hole, par 4: +0.136
  • 13th. 9th hole, par 3: +0.136
  • 14th. 3rd hole, par 4: +0.073
  • 15th. 8th hole, par 5: -0.184
  • 16th. 15th hole, par 5: -0.221
  • 17th. 13th hole, par 5: -0.226
  • 18th. 2nd hole, par 5: -0.227

Which are the easiest holes at Augusta National?

Historically, in terms of score-to-par, the four par 5s at Augusta National have proved the easiest to score well on. The four longest holes are also the only holes on which the average score is below par.

The 2nd hole has historically been the best scoring hole, with an average score of 4.773 (-0.227) through the years.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV

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