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Slippery slopes
The challenge of the 14th green
Posted: Sunday April 01, 2001 12:26 AM
Updated: Tuesday March 26, 2002 6:07 PM
The Augusta Chronicle
It is easy to overlook the 14th hole at Augusta National Golf Club because of its position between a pair of water-guarded par-5s.
The 405-yard hole is relatively benign. It is the only hole at Augusta National that does not have a bunker, and there is no water hazard.
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| Vijay Singh |
| "It's one of the most awkward putting surfaces I've ever seen in golf. You can be not so far away from a great shot, and give yourself a 90-foot putt. If you come up just a hair short, you're going to be way off the green."
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| • Hear Vijay Singh describe playing the 14th hole at Augusta
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The green is the par-4 hole's only defense. But, oh, what a defense.
Widely regarded as the toughest green at Augusta
National, the 14th has derailed many a Masters contender. The slope of the green, combined with the lightning-quick bentgrass putting surface, makes the 14th particularly challenging.
PUTTING THE GREENS
THE APPROACH
The key to putting at Augusta National is to give yourself a chance. A well-played approach shot to a specific area on the green allows the ball to take the contour toward the hole. Put the ball on the wrong side of the green, and getting down in two putts is a difficult task.
THE READ
Reading the greens is a tricky proposition as huge breaks are part of putting at Augusta. Golfers say any putt on the 14th, for example, that is over 10 feet has several feet of break. The surrounding terrain and grain (direction the grass grows) are two things golfers rely on to read the putts.
THE PAST
Learn from the past. History repeats itself, particularly at Augusta National, where traditional pin placements often are used. Each green has at least four optimal pin locations that challenge the golfer. Several factors go into choosing each day's pin placement, including the firmness of the greens and expected playing conditions. Golfers who have played in several Masters use their knowledge of past pin locations - and how the ball reacts - to their advantage.
A Playing to a pin at back left of the green
A1. Clear the hump at the front of the green.
A2. Land the ball in the middle of the green, allowing the ball to release toward the hole.
A3. Going long is not a problem. Mounds behind the green offer protection.
"If the pin is all the way on the top left, you have to hit a very precise shot to get it to stay there." -Vijay Singh
B Playing to a pin on right side of the green
B1. Carry the ridge on the front right side of the green.
B2. Use the ridge that runs through the middle of the green to filter the ball toward the hole.
B3. Be careful to not go over the back right side of the green. The dropoff on the right side is steep.
There are pin placements if you hit it to the right side, you don't have to hit a great shot to get it close." -Vijay Singh
C Friend or foe?
Players say precision is the key to playing any of the holes at Augusta National, but particularly on the 14th hole. The slopes can be a golfer's friend or enemy.
C1. If a golfer's approach is short of the large mound on the right front, the ball rolls off the front of the green.
C2. An approach played at the middle of the green toward a pin located on the right side often will take the contour and feed close to the hole. Thirteen players have eagled the 14th hole in Masters history, making it the most often eagled par-4 at Augusta National.
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