In the 65 years since the Masters Tournament was first televised, golf fans have seen every inch of Augusta National’s beauty in high-def close-up. What you’ve never seen is the course — hole by hole, tee box by tee box — through the eyes of 18 living Masters champions, from Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Dustin Johnson, Ben Crenshaw and beyond. Until now. Eighteen holes, 18 winners, 18 ways of seeing Augusta National anew.
Hole No. 5: Par-4 / 495 yards (Magnolia)
By Gary Player (1961, 1974, 1978 Masters champion)
What you see off the tee: “A very wide fairway. To my eye, it almost looked football-field wide, though the fairway bunkers on the left are nowhere you want to be.”
What you don’t know until you’ve played it: “The difficulty of the green. There’s a little nose in front of it that rejects balls to the left and right. You absolutely have to get it to the top shelf.”
Where you will make the biggest mistake: “Fairway bunker off the tee is a big mistake, as it’s such a difficult shot, with such a steep face that you can’t see where you’re hitting. Also, if you leave your approach short right or left, you’ve got to be Houdini to escape with a par.”
Who played it best: “In 1995, Jack Nicklaus eagled it twice during the tournament. Jack’s game was beautifully suited to the hole because he could hit his irons so high. But still, to hole out twice in one week is simply incredible.”
Why it’s unforgettable to me: “I wasn’t like Jack. I couldn’t hit the ball way up in the air. So I’d take a 3- or 4-iron and try to hit a hard runner up there. That’s what I remember — how I had to take my own path to that green.”
Did you know… The 5th is modeled on St. Andrews’ Road Hole.
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