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. 8: Par-5 / 570 yards (Yellow Jasmine)
By Zach Johnson (2007 Masters champion)
What you see off the tee: “The tee shot is somewhat narrow, at least the landing zone is. You have to avoid the right bunker off the tee.”
What you don’t know until you’ve played it: “The extreme slope of the fairway. The second shot plays nearly 10 to 15 yards uphill and is blind to the green.”
Where you will gain the greatest advantage: “My strategy is to keep the hole in front of me, meaning be aggressive when warranted but eliminate a 6 or higher. Stay below the hole, use the slopes to my advantage, lay up to ideal distances, trust my wedges.”
Who played it best: “Definitely Tiger and probably Bubba Watson, though I birdied it three out of four rounds in 2007.”
Why it’s unforgettable to me: “We had a north wind every day in 2007, so getting home in two wasn’t in the cards for me. Laying up on the proper side of the fairway was everything. Of course, it was the Masters, so crazy things happen. On Sunday I hit my lob wedge to a front pin with too much spin and it spun off the green. I then chipped in for a 4!”
Did you know… There has been only one double eagle posted on the 8th. Bruce Devlin did it in 1967, in round one. (He finished T-10.)
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