The home of the Masters has undergone annual changes of all kinds. This unscientific ranking takes into account the impact on the course and on tournaments.
10. Rae’s Creek tributary fronting the 13th green is allowed to fill with more running water in the late 1980s, only to be undone following criticism from the likes of Ben Crenshaw. (1995)
9. The Eisenhower Pine is removed from the 17th fairway following ice storm damage and has not been replaced. (2014)
8. Extreme mounding surrounding the 8th green is leveled by Clifford Roberts to improve spectator viewing, only to be restored by Byron Nelson and Joe Finger 23 years later in 1979. (1956)
7. Having been radically altered in 2003, the 5th hole is changed again with a new tee that extends the hole to 495 yards and repositions fairway bunkers after Old Berckmans Road is rerouted. (2019)
6. Hootie Johnson-driven changes are made in response to tee shots of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, with length added at the 1st, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, and 18th holes. (2002)
5. The 7th is narrowed and lengthened just four years after a 2002 extension, going from 360 to 450 yards and becoming one of the toughest holes. (2006)
4. A new 13th tee is constructed after buying land from Augusta Country Club, extending the hole to 545 yards. (2023)
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3. Working with Bobby Jones, architect Perry Maxwell moves the 7th and 10th greens to new locations well back from their original spots. (1938)
2. A new 16th green is constructed by Robert Trent Jones opposite the original. One year later, a fronting stream is converted to a pond. (1946)
1. The nines are reversed, putting the (eventual) “Amen Corner” on the back and forever changing golf history. (1935)
Which changes at Augusta National do you think have made the biggest impact?
