[Masters] This Year’s November "How to Conquer Augusta National in Autumn?"

Unique Autumn Foliage Instead of Spring Flowers, Expert Says "Lower Temperatures and Headwinds Favor Long Hitters," Key Battleground is 'Amen Corner'

The final 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods is practicing his round.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Augusta National has changed."

The 'Masters Tournament,' known as the 'Battle of the Masters,' will be held this year in November due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The fiercely contested Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA (par 72, 7,475 yards) presents an unfamiliar scene with autumn foliage instead of the blooming spring flowers like azaleas and rhododendrons. Players are busy adapting to the different climate and course characteristics compared to April. Experts predict that "cold weather and headwinds will favor long hitters."

▲ Autumn Augusta: "What has changed?" = For amateur golfers, it is a representative 'bucket list' course they want to play at least once before they die. The 'Golf Saint' Bobby Jones purchased 450,000 pyeong (approximately 1.49 million square meters) of Indian farmland in 1930 and designed the course with architect Alister MacKenzie. The course is meticulously maintained, closing for six months each year, existing solely for the Masters. It boasts carpet-like fairways without a single divot.

The grass is Bermuda grass. When temperatures drop, it turns yellowish-brown, but the golf course seeded perennial ryegrass last month to create a similar atmosphere. The Bermuda and ryegrass mix introduces another variable in course strategy. Since ryegrass requires a lot of water, the fairways are moist, making it harder for short hitters to attack the greens. The cold northwesterly wind adds to the challenge, making distance control urgent.

Unlike other majors such as the US Open or The Open, the Masters traditionally features short rough and no pot bunkers. The problem is the 'glass-like greens.' A putt rolling downhill within 1 meter seems to stop just before the hole but then rolls out. This is why players rely on long drives to use the shortest irons possible for their next shots and position the ball on uphill lies. All 18 holes operate a sub-air system to keep the green surfaces consistently dry.

The decisive 12th hole at Augusta National has turned red with autumn leaves instead of spring flowers this year.

▲ Amen Corner: "What will happen this year?" = The critical stretch is holes 11 to 13, known as 'Amen Corner.' On the 11th hole (par 4), tee shot accuracy avoiding the lake on the left side of the fairway is crucial. The 12th hole (par 3) requires a precise 'needle-like iron shot' landing in the narrow space between the creek in front of the green and the bunker behind. Locals call it the 'Indian Curse,' saying "strange things often happen" after discovering an American Indian burial ground in 1931.

In fact, Jordan Spieth (USA) lost a near-certain victory on the final day in 2016 due to a 'quadruple bogey disaster.' Both his tee shot and third shot from the drop zone landed in the creek, and his fifth shot ended up in the bunker behind the green, resulting in a '6-on 1-putt.' Bubba Watson (USA) struggled on the last day in 2013, hitting the ball into the creek three times, finishing with a '9-on 1-putt' 10, while Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) self-destructed with a '4-putt' double bogey in the final round of 2011 despite leading by four strokes.

It is interesting that Tiger Woods (USA) benefited from the 12th hole during his victory last year. Francesco Molinari (Italy), who was leading by two strokes, hit his tee shot into the lip of the bunker, which rolled into the water, resulting in a double bogey. The 13th hole (par 3), exiting Amen Corner, is also challenging. Although a '2-on' is possible, caution is necessary as Sergio Garcia (Spain) recorded an 8-over-par 13, an 'octuple bogey,' on the first day in 2018.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.