Countdown: My 3rd Favorite Hole At Augusta National
Welcome
Countdown time! We’re tantalizingly close to the 2018 Masters so I’m doing a daily countdown of my favorite holes at Augusta National. Not a math guy but according to my calculations, we should wrap this thing up on Friday. Perfect timing.
18 holes. 18 days. Here’s my 3rd favorite.
2nd hole, 575 yards, par 5 — Pink Dogwood
Tee to green this thing hasn’t changed a whole lot since 1934. The fairway bunkering has been moved around, but it’s still a big driver, hope to catch the hill, then have one of the coolest second shots in golf as you rip a longer club into this T-shaped green.
Here’s what it looked like in 1934 (thanks Golf Digest).
And here’s what it looks like now (thanks satellites).
Here’s Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer cranking hoons on the tee. No big deal, kind of a huge deal.
Here’s today’s view from that tee.
This hole’s really about that second shot from 250-ish+ and how your ball reacts around the green. The view down towards the green has looked nearly identical for a long time.
Here it is in ’48.
In the 60s.
Here it is today.
It may surprise people that 2 is this high on my list, but I just love the entire vibe of this hole. Blasting one off the tee, hoping to avoid that bunker and catch a little speed slot. The view of the green backdropped by a huge Augusta valley. The diabolical T-shaped, multi-tiered putting surface where you can both use or be brutally punished by the slopes. It’s so open and straightforward, but tricky and clever.
Love the second, as does this guy.
My 3rd favorite hole at Augusta National = the 2nd hole.
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