Augusta National was hit hard by Hurricane Helene in September, losing a number of trees, including several surrounding the 16th green.
While Rory McIlroy expects the course to play the same as it always does this week at the 2025 Masters, the four-time major winner, who has made a few practice visits to Augusta National in recent weeks, believes that the tree loss could impact two tee shots.
“There are a couple tee shots that are maybe a little less visually intimidating,” McIlroy said Tuesday at Augusta National. “Thinking like a tee shot like 10 with a little bit of that tree loss on the left side. Your target there is that sort of TV or that camera tower down there at the bottom of the hill. You used to not be able to see that, and now you can see that pretty clearly. Visually, it looks like you don’t have to turn the ball as much as you used to. There’s a little bit more room on the right side of three if you want to hit driver up there. There’s a couple overhanging trees that aren’t there anymore.”
McIlroy has previously noted that the loss of trees around the 16th green, which had to be redone due to a fallen tree, caught his eye.
“The loss of a few trees is definitely noticeable,” McIlroy said. “But in terms of like they’ve had to redo that green, but it’s exactly the same as what it was. The hole will play — apart from maybe a few less shadows on the green late in the day because of a couple of trees that were lost — but apart from that, it’s pretty much the same.”
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Jon Rahm hadn’t played the course as of Tuesday morning, but he has heard whispers of the visual difference on certain holes, specifically No. 10.
“Somebody did tell me you can hit a high cut over the cabins on 10. I don’t believe it,” Rahm said, laughing. “I don’t see there’s a chance where so many trees fell where that’s a possibility. And after I said this, I’m pretty sure there might be a tree right there next to the tee tomorrow morning. The one thing I have heard from members is if you’ve been there before, you can tell there’s a difference. When you’re looking down the property, you can see a little bit further down. It doesn’t necessarily play significantly different, but visually there is a change.”
McIlroy will tee off Thursday afternoon at 1:12 ET alongside Ludvig Aberg and Akshay Bhatia. Rahm will follow two groups later with Wyndham Clark and Tommy Fleetwood.
While the loss of trees might allow players to see some things that were previously blocked out, the course will play the same as it always does: tough and exacting.
McIlroy wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You’re going to face shots and putts on this golf course that you don’t necessarily face every other week of the year,” McIlroy said. “So that’s where I think the most — that’s where the most thought and the most time has to be spent and just making sure that you’re comfortable on that part of the game.
“I’ve always loved this course. People ask me, If you could only play one golf course for the rest of your life, what would it be? And I think walking around this place every day would be pretty cool.”