Augusta, GA. Fear is not something world class golf professionals readily admit.
As annual host for the Masters, Augusta National Golf Club is blessed with an array of stunning holes. Much of the attention shifts generally to the inward nine—by virtue of television exposure and various historical impacts from countless past tournaments. And often rightful reverence is given to Amen Corner—holes 11 thru 13 — but there’s more to Augusta National than this splendid trio.
Long before the players get to the much celebrated back nine—it is the opening hole where the nerves ratchet up a crescendo of emotions. Getting off to a good start doesn’t guarantee a fine score but it certainly helps set the tone for the day ahead.
Just like ordinary golfers who have nagging doubts when approaching the 1st hole for any round of golf, the impact for the world’s finest players sky-rockets many times over given the setting of Augusta National and the opportunity to secure a green jacket and with it a permanent place in the annals of the game.
Each hole at Augusta is named for a flower and the 1st is called Tea Olive. It’s anything but a cup of tea.
Originally conceived by architect Alister Mackenzie and founder—and golf legend—Bob Jones, the now 1st was slotted originally as the 10th hole for the first event in 1934.
That changed in 1935—a stroke of good fortune as today’s back nine resonates with epic swings of strokes given the pesky nature of water on no less than five holes on the inward half, and the multitude of decisions players are confronted in making.
The switch in hole order meant a major change in player approach.
Instead of coming to the hole with muscles stretched after playing 9 holes—the “new” 1st presented a series of different challenges. Unlike the “original” 1st—which plunges downhill over 100-feet—the “new” 1st plays uphill and often into a prevailing west wind.
The drive zone originally was much wider but has since been pinched in with trees narrowing the available landing area. In early years of the event players could miss to the far left and still have a view for an approach from that position. That’s not the case now.
Originally a 400-yard par-4—the hole starts from a high point adjacent to the renowned plantation clubhouse before moving downhill then rising again in the tee shot landing area.
Interestingly, a small creek ran across the bottom of the hole in 1934 but was removed by the early 1950s. In 1935, the hole featured a left fairway bunker that was also later removed.
A lone greenside bunker guarding the left side was added in 1951. A solitary bunker guards the right side of the fairway as the hole turns ever so gently to the right. Players could attempt to drive over the fairway bunker—a tee shot then of 250-260 yards was needed or players could opt to aim further left to avoid it.
Given advancements in club and ball technology and attempting to keep golf club usages relevant after Tiger Woods established a new 72-hole scoring record of 270 when winning his first Masters in 1997, then Masters Chairman Hootie Johnson engaged the services of heralded course architect Tom Fazio to make revisions to the entire course.
In 2002, tees were moved back 20 yards with an additional 25 yards added in 2006 along with the aforementioned changes to the fairway bunker. What started originally as 400 yards has morphed into a more muscular 445-yard opener.
The late Clifford Roberts, the long-time major domo who ran the club in a no-nonsense manner was asked about changes to the course. Those carried out over the years that added more to the original collaboration of Founder Jones and architect Mackenzie. His reply was terse and direct—“We don’t change Augusta National—we seek to improve it.”
Now to carry over the right fairway bunker it takes a tee shot of no less than 317 yards as the bunker was reshaped and extended 15 yards closer to the green a few years back. Complicating matters, there’s also a deeper lip to contend with if the ball ends up too close to the front edge of the bunker.
The closer one lands the tee shot to the fairway bunker, the easier the angle and shortened distance for the approach shot it becomes. In early years missing left off the tee was not much of an issue with just a few Georgia pines to avoid. That has since changed as more trees were added and the gaps between them significantly narrowed.
The putting surface at the opening hole is also quite confounding. Slightly elevated from the fairway with drop-offs to the right and rear areas. How tough is the hole?
Historically, the 1st is the 6th most difficult hole on the layout with a 4.27 scoring average.
|
Each hole at Augusta National is named for specific plant Behind The Name –“Tea Olive” Scientific name: Osmanthus fragrans, native to southern Asia, is an evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the Olive Family. Its intermittent displays of small white flowers from December to March are delightfully fragrant. The Tea Olive attains a height of 16 to 20 feet. |
The penchant for players to previously use a 3-wood club, instead of driver, off the tee is no longer an option for many. Players opting to lay short of the fairway bunker face an approach shot nearly 200 yards in length. Consequently, marshalling the mental and physical skills for hitting the driver at the outset is no small task.
Other notable clubs may have more demanding starting holes—the 1st at Winged Foot / West in New York comes quickly to mind. Ditto the 1st at Oakmont in Pennsylvania which hosts this year’s U.S. Open. However, the starter at Augusta National can either propel a fast start or doom players in attempting to overcome a sour taste at the outset.
Charlz Schwartzel, the 2011 winner, chipped in for birdie during the final round in the 2011 Masters and used that start by holing his second shot from the fairway for eagle at the 3rd. Seve Ballesteros—a five-time major winner—had likely the strongest start when winning his second Masters in 1983, birdieing the 1st, eagling the par-5 2nd and birdieing the always demanding par-3 4th. “The first four holes were the best I ever played in my life,” said the late Spaniard.
Then there’s the flipside. In 2016, four-time major winner Ernie Els had a three-foot putt for par and shockingly took six putts to hole out with a record high-score of 9.
In all the Masters appearances Tiger Woods has played the opening hole has proven to be quite vexing for the five-time winner with only four birdies made in his entire career.
Tea Olive is often low on the radar screen for many golf fans since many watching the telecast will miss out given its early role. But the 1st is certainly high on the radar list for the players. The butterflies in starting any golf round are always on edge—but even more so at Augusta. The players are keenly aware any positive march for a possible green jacket starts immediately at the outset.
Suffice to say – Augusta National’s opening hole is hardly anyone’s preferred cup of tea.
