Nick Faldo's Guide to Amen Corner

In late April 1958, legendary golf writer Herbert Warren Wind was looking for a catchy phrase to describe the three holes at Augusta National Golf Club – 11, 12 and 13 – that provided the most drama and excitement during the Masters of that year. Baseball had “Hot Corner”, while American Football had “Coffin Corner” – what could the golfing equivalent be? His answer: Amen Corner. Fast forward to 2012 and these three holes are still just as thrilling as they were 50 years ago. Three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo guides us around arguably the most famous acreage of terrain in the game.

 

Azalea

No. 13
510 yards
Par-5

AzaleaYou have to hit a hook off the tee here to make sure you get round the corner, otherwise you can be in the pine straw like Phil Mickelson was in 2010 – not that that seemed to make any difference to him! But generally, if you are too far right you can have a hanging lie with the ball above your feet, which makes the second shot – if you’re going for the green in two – that much harder to figure out. You cannot hit it left and into the Rhododendrons, which you tend to do with that kind of lie, but fanning it right means the water. I played a practice round with Angel Cabrera a year before he won [in 2009] and he managed to cut the corner by hitting it over the mammoth trees with his drive, but that is not a shot you expect to see being attempted by those in contention on the final day – it is too risky, especially with the creek meandering up the left side. Long is no good either because the green, which is divided by ridge, feeds everything towards Rae’s Creek. That being said, the 13th is a good birdie opportunity – one that could be all so important come the end of play on Sunday.

 

Historical Stroke Average: 4.80
Historical Rank: 17

"If you are too far right off the tee you can have a hanging lie, which makes the second shot – if you're going for the green in two – that much harder to figure out."

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