Shocking Masters pin change could play pivotal role in Rory McIlroy-Bryson DeChambeau duel

The Masters is known for its tradition, and Augusta National rarely strays from its tried-and-true formula, especially when it comes to the Sunday pin locations.

However, one notable pin location will be different this year when Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau duel in the final round of the 2025 Masters with a green jacket and much more on the line.

The famous funnel pin in the back left at the par-3 16th — the scene of Tiger Woods’ famous chip in 2005 and numerous aces — has been replaced with a different pin location on the top shelf in the back right, just a few paces from the back bunkers.

Augusta National altered the Sunday pin on 16 this year to honor the 50th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ 1975 Masters win. Nicklaus won the fifth of his six green jackets in 1975 and poured in a 40-foot birdie putt from the lower shelf to the back right location to hold off Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf in a Sunday clash for the ages.

The change in the pin at No. 16 could play a pivotal factor in the McIlroy-DeChambeau battle on Sunday at Augusta National.

The 16th hole is generally viewed as the last great birdie chance on Sunday at the Masters, but with the ability to throw balls into the center of the green and let the ridge take them down toward the hole. Instead, that ridge will repel balls away from the intended target, turning 16 from a good birdie chance into a hang-on-for-par test.

With 16’s flip, it will be interesting to see if that forces McIlroy or DeChambeau to get even more aggressive on the two par-5s — 13 and 15 — knowing those are likely their last best chances at a birdie. The change to the Jack Nicklaus pin also amplifies the tension surrounding the tee shot on 16. Instead of looking at 16 as a hole where chasers can make up a shot or the leader can put the hammer down, the par-3 now is a hole that has tournament-altering potential due to a trick pin in the back right.

McIlroy has played tremendous golf since his two double bogeys late in Round 1. He posted a six-under 66 on Friday and quickly took the outright lead on Saturday when he opened his third round with a record six consecutive threes. DeChambeau, meanwhile, struggled with his irons in Round 3 but chipped and putted his face off to stay within two of McIlroy heading into a Sunday at the Masters that will forever be etched into tournament lore.