Masters survey: What tee would you move up at Augusta National?

Rare is the golfer who doesn’t light up when talking about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters. The spiritual setting that warms the heart, the singular tournament that stirs the senses. The explosion of colors, the anticipation of a Sunday charge. A 12th hole that basks in beauty while serving as a devilish conquest, a green jacket that triggers dreams and lives on forever.

The gathering every April among the Georgia pines is matchless, from Augusta National Women’s Amateur to the Drive, Chip and Putt competition. While we won’t be seeing any of these events in the coming days due to the coronavirus pandemic, we think you’ll still be interested in reading about Masters traditions, the iconic holes at Augusta National and your favorite golfers who would have been in the field this month.

Golfweek surveyed 39 golfers, including 14 winners of the green jacket and 24 major champions in all, to get their views on certain features of Augusta National and the Masters. From putting to eating to predicting to offering their architectural viewpoints, we’ll roll out their takes on a variety of topics in the next 10 days.

What tee would you move up?

“All of them. OK, seriously, Four, five, 10 and 11. Never play the back tee on four; that’s the worst of them.” – Kevin Kisner

“No. 11. Into the wind it’s a joke. Sometimes you can’t even see the green after your drive. And No. 4, I hit wood there a lot of times. No. 5, that new tee is not fun. You want me to keep going?” – Kevin Na

“The new tee at No. 5. They just moved it back, I’d push it back up again. It just makes the hole so hard.” – 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson

“I would move the tees up on 2 and 8. They got moved back too far and I feel like they are only reachable part of the time now. And the par-5s are what make Augusta exciting.” – Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson

“Four. When the tee is way back there, it’s very hard to stop a long club on that green. It’s right on the edge of being almost unhittable under good conditions. The hole would play better 20 yards shorter.” – 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott

“I wouldn’t mind moving seven up, just to make it a fun birdie hole again.” – 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth

“No. 4. From way back, it’s challenging for me because being a drawer of the ball, the ball will hit the green hard and go. It’s just too far back way back there.” – 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed

“I haven’t seen the new tee at No. 5 but I’ve heard about it. That’s enough for me, so I’d move that up.” – 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk

“I wouldn’t mess with any of them. I like the golf course how it is. But you could move 11 a little bit up when it’s into the wind.” – 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson

“One. That hole is so long. You’re trying to avoid that fairway bunker. And it just seems that bunker gets farther away from us each year.” – 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland

“I would move all of them forward.” – 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell

“The fourth tee. It’s the hardest par-3 to a front pin in America.” – Brandt Snedeker

“The fifth hole. That hole has become so hard.” – 2011 PGA champion Keegan Bradley

“Probably four. I think the new tee on five was a strong change. But I’d go with four. It’s quite tricky from way back there, with a green that isn’t very big. And if the green is firm and it’s playing downwind, it’s very difficult to pick the right club.” – 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia

“I’d probably sneak one up a little bit. That bunker is dangerous.” – 2015 PGA champion Jason Day

“No. 11. Too hard of a green for a hole that long.” – 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson

“I love when they move the tee up on 15 to the middle portion of the tee box. That hole’s second shot is so underrated. If you can get the guys to hit 6-irons in there, that creates such a great atmosphere.” – 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel

“There are a lot of them I’d move up. But if I could move just one, I’d go to No. 7. That green is built for a wedge.” – Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson

“That’s an interesting question. Let’s go to No. 5. I don’t like that tee.” – 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose

“Before they moved the tee back on No. 5, I would have said No. 7. But now it’s No. 5, so I’d move than one up.” – Patrick Cantlay

“None of them. There’s a pretty good feel right now. You have a lot of tough par-4s with a lot of meat to them and you have some great short par-4 holes.” – 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman

No. 7. It’s gotten a little too long for that green. And No. 4. It would still be a great hole with a 7-iron, from about 170, 180, but not from 240.” – Bill Haas

“No. 11. You’d know what I mean if you were standing on that tee. I’d like a wedge into that green.” – Patton Kizzire