As a three-time major champion during his Hall of Fame career, Nick Price knows a thing or two about playing on golf’s grandest stage. Although the South African legend never earned a green jacket for himself, he does own the course record at Augusta National (63), accomplishing the feat in 1986.
During that same tournament, Price finished fifth at the Masters, one of the four times he placed in the top 10 at the prestigious tournament.
While Price hasn’t competed in a Masters since 2005, he still knows his way around Augusta National. So for those golfers teeing it up at Augusta for the first time at this year’s Masters Tournament, the 66-year-old said there’s one key element one must possess to handle the electric atmosphere.
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Speaking with GOLF’s Claire Rogers, Price said Augusta rookies must understand some key elements.
First and foremost, it’s important to know that nobody is going to overpower the long and difficult course.
“Augusta is a very precise golf course. In that, I mean that you can’t overpower Augusta,” he says. “Patience is so important there, and getting your irons underneath the hole, so that you have uphill putts and that you’re not on the defense with your putter all the time.”
Next, Price said that accuracy off the tee is paramount. By landing the ball in the right spots of the fairway, players can position themselves for approach shots that leave them with birdie opportunities.
“The position comes off the tee; putting it in the right part of the fairway so you can attack a pin that’s maybe on the righthand side, so you try to keep it on the lefthand side of the fairway.”
Finally, Price added that, once on the green, the most successful golfers at Augusta stay aggressive by playing for uphill putts.
“The guys that play Augusta the best leave themselves lots of uphill putts for their birdie putts.”