After several years of rumors that the par-5 13th hole would be stretched like a rubber band to prevent players from blasting driver over the trees on the left and turning the par-5 into driver-wedge, Augusta National finally built a new back tee that will measure 545 yards in April, adding 35 yards to the iconic hole at the Masters Tournament.
The 13th ranks as one of the great risk-reward holes in golf. Going for it should be a “momentous decision,” in the words of Bobby Jones, who assisted Alister MacKenzie in its design. It originally measured 480 yards when the Masters debuted in 1934 and played to 510 yards for the 2022 Masters. But that distance is shorter than many par-4s in major championship golf these days.
In recent years, powerful players such as Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy have been able to blast balls over the trees that protect the dogleg-left hole, sometimes hitting it far enough around the corner to leave a short iron or even a wedge for the second shot to the green. The 13th played as the third-easiest hole on the course at the 2022 Masters, only more difficult than the two front-nine par-5s.
In 2017, Augusta National purchased a swath of land from Augusta Country Club, land that was actually part of a hole on the neighboring course. Augusta Country Club was forced to reroute its layout to accommodate the land sale. In his 2022 news conference, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley said there was no timetable to use the land for a new tee but also hinted that changes to 13 could be coming.
“There’s a great quote from Bobby Jones dealing specifically with the 13th hole, which has been lengthened over time, and he said that the decision to go for the green in two should be a momentous one,” Ridley said. “And I would have to say that our observations of these great players hitting middle and even short irons into that hole is not a momentary decision.”
He added: “From our perspective, we will always do what’s necessary to maintain the integrity of our golf course.”
We asked more than two dozen pros – including past Masters champions, major winners, former World No. 1s and a World Golf Hall of Famer – if you were in charge, would you have changed the 13th hole?
Keegan Bradley
Probably not.
Sam Burns
Sam Burns looks on the 13th hole during the first round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
I don’t like it [after being lengthened]. It’s such an iconic hole. It’s probably good to have that tee in case it plays downwind, but not sure they will use it that much.
Stewart Cink
Stewart Cink during the third round of the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Yes, I don’t know if I would have changed it as drastically as they did but it was about time.
I’m not the longest hitter, but I did hit a 9-iron in there in 2021. So, something had to be done.
Corey Conners
It’s a timeless hole and I liked it the way it was.
Harris English
Harris English tees off on the eighth hole during a practice round ahead of the 2016 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
I would have. That hole was built to be a driver and a 220-235 yard shot. It wasn’t meant for guys to be hitting wedge. So, I can do it. Starting this year, we’re going to be hitting a 4-iron off a sloping lie or going to have to lay up again. We’re going to be playing the hole the way it was meant to be played.
Tony Finau
Tony Finau plays from the fairway on the 13th hole during the third round of the 2021 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
Well, I wouldn’t have if I was in charge but I will say I’ve played it since they changed it and I actually think the changes are a lot better than I thought they would be.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Probably not. I liked it as it is but it will be fine moving it back too.
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood plays his second shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the 2020 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
I think the club took an amazing risk-reward hole and turned it into a three-shotter for the majority of the field.
Jim Furyk
I’ll give you the smart-ass answer. I wouldn’t have changed it because I’m not sure I can get to the corner anymore.
Max Homo
Max Homa on the eighth tee during the first round of the 2020 Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s hard to go to Augusta and ever want to change anything.
I think I like what they did. I don’t think I would have thought to have done that.
Billy Horschel
Billy Horschel talks with his caddy on the No. 13 green during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports)
No. I’ve said it for a long time, I think 13 is the best par 5 in the world.
The lines that a lot of those guys were taking was a risk-reward. I’m a little sad to see that hole can change. I don’t think as many people will go for it.
Viktor Hovland
Viktor Hovland plays a shot on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2021 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
No. The changes might be great, but I thought it was pretty good before because they took the branches down on the left side and I didn’t think it was possible to go over the trees on the left unless you really rope hooked it and if you did that you deserve the reward.
Trevor Immelman
I agree with adding some length as long as 70 percent still go for it in two.
Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson on the 13th hole during the first round of the 2011 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images for Golfweek)
I haven’t seen it yet so hard to give a great opinion.
Every change they’ve done has maintained the tradition of Augusta National and so I’m going to go out on a limb, it’s not a very difficult limb, and just say it’s still like that.
Kevin Kisner
Kevin Kisner hits his approach to No. 13 during the second round of the 2022 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Course. (Photo: Andrew Davis Tucker-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
You know, what?
I was totally against it until I played it, and I don’t think it’s going to be that bad. If we catch it straight into the wind, I’m not sure you can get it around the corner but it’s a par 5, you can lay up.
The bombers can probably get home with a 5- or 6-iron.
Matt Kuchar
Yes, you needed to go back where you couldn’t go over the trees. It’s one thing to go around the trees, but it was not how that hole was intended to be played.
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa hits to the No. 13 green during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Network)
Any great course that you like, you never want to change it, right? But I see why.
Guys are getting longer, guys are getting better at working the ball. I think it will be a good change in the long run.
Gary Player
Gary Player looks over the course with his caddy during the 1985 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Augusta National/Getty Images)
Change is the price of survival, and we must honor the strategy Augusta National puts together. I was never the longest hitter so to see the tee moved so far back is a bit daunting.
But then I remember that the equipment and balls today are so advanced, the extra length will make a difference, but maybe not by much. However, I am against making golf courses longer. The leaders have got to cut the ball back for professional tournament play.
This will save hundreds of millions of dollars which we can put into junior golf for the benefit of the game overall.
Jon Rahm
I don’t know if I can tell you.
You don’t want to see people pull it left and have less than 150 yards to the green, but I think that was also part of the beauty of the golf course, right. Taking the risk off the tee and having a 9-iron left is the reward.
So I guess maybe not; I wouldn’t have changed it.
Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele walks the fairway on No. 13 during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Probably not.
With that tree growing taller on the left, you had to hit a pretty special drive. I remember I hit a few really good drives and had an 8-iron in, a 9-iron one time, and I went through the tree one time, which was lucky. If you don’t most of the time you’re out there in the pine straw.
The hole creates a lot of drama and I think it’s a pivotal point in the tournament as the start of a critical stretch. So, I would’ve left it alone.
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler gestures after hitting his approach shot from the No. 13 fairway during the second round of the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Course. (Photo: Andrew Davis Tucker-Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY Sports)
I usually hit a big hooking 3-wood off that tee and now I hit driver on a little bit of a different angle. So it’s definitely changed the hole significantly, whereas if you hit a really good drive before, you could kind of get around the corner, or I could kind of get around the corner and have maybe a mid iron in, and now you’re kind too hitting into that slope in the fairway and you may be ripping a 3-iron at that green.
So you could see more guys laying up to that hole, especially depending upon pin position. But we’ll see how it plays during the tournament.
Adam Scott
No. I’d try not to change the place too much.
Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth hits his second shot off the pine straw on the 13th hole during the second round of the 2021 Masters. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
I think it’s going to be a better hole.
If anything, I would have moved it further towards the 12th green so there was some more risk-reward. What I hear is there is no way to get it around the corner now.
That’s fine with me. It makes the second shot the same for everyone.
Kevin Streelman
I think they could’ve just scooted the tee over a touch to bring the initial tree into play where you couldn’t cut it as far left and you had to hook it. That probably would’ve been a lot cheaper.
Justin Thomas
Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas putt on the No. 13 greens during a practice round ahead of the 2022 Masters. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
I think it’s going to be a better hole.
A lot of good shots went through into the pine straw and you’d have to chip out. Now if you hang it out you might be short and can think about going for it with a 5-wood.
The trees hang so much. You had to have a perfect wind or be one of those five guys who hit it 25 yards past everyone else.
Will Zalatoris
I’ve played that hole terribly in my two years. I need to play it better.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek