The par-4 fifth hole at Augusta National Golf Club has always been one of the toughest on the course, and players will be faced with an even greater challenge this week.
The fifth hole, named “Magnolia,” has been lengthened considerably for the 2019 Masters, which means players may be forced to hit driver off the tee, or face a longer approach to green than in years past.
Via Masters.com:
“For the 2019 Masters, the tee has been pushed 40 yards back, so it now measures 495 yards, tied for the second-longest par 4 at Augusta National (No. 11 is 505 yards and No. 10 495 yards). The fairway bunkers were also moved a bit closer to the tee – a corresponding distance to the lengthening – and are now more in play with a shallower depth to allow players the opportunity to go for the green. Covering the bunkers on the uphill tee shot will require 313 yards, so likely the play will be to turn the ball right to left, with the coveted result being something that hugs the bunkers and settles toward the left side of the fairway.
The green was also reconstructed, allowing for new hole locations on the back-left portion.”
In 2018, Magnolia was the sixth-toughest hole on the course, with a stroke average of 4.164. Only 26 birdies were made at the fifth across the tournament, with 64 bogeys and four double bogeys.
Tiger Woods gave his breakdown of the hole on Tuesday.
Via ASAP Sports:
“5, it’s just long. The bunkers, they are still deep. You know, I think they are unplayable to get the ball to the green. You have to be very lucky and get a situation that you might be able to get to the front edge of the green, but you need to stay out of those bunkers. But it’s just really long.
The green, I know it’s been softened. That new pin up on the top left, they created years ago, for them to give an opportunity to put a pin there, but now it’s definitely going to ‑‑ they are definitely going to have a pin up there.
It will be interesting to see what they do with the course setup on that hole. It been raining here. It’s soft. The fairways aren’t going to give it up. If that’s the case, I don’t know if we’re going to play it 495 every day. I’m sure it will be moved up, very similar to what we see on 7, sometimes on 1. Sometimes the tee boxes are moved up on 1. Other times, if it’s warm, they put it back.There’s tremendous flexibility in how they create these tee boxes because they are so long. You can move around the golf course, you can play it probably play it 7,400 if they want to play it on the short side and north of 7,500 if they want to play it on the long side.
It will be interesting to see how they set it up, but I’m sure that they will do an incredible job like they always do and present us with an incredibly tough test, but one that is extremely fair.”
