Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA
Course Par Value: 72
Course Yardage: 7,445

Augusta National is home to The Masters, the first golfing major of the year. The course has been lengthened and many of the greens re-contoured in recent years, but it is still relatively easy compared to those used for the US Open. Its great defence, however, is its lightning-fast, undulating greens, which provide a severe test of putting and nerve.
There is minimal rough, so the long hitters aren’t penalised for errant tee shots, while players who hit the ball high can achieve softer landings on the greens – players with low ball flights don’t do fare well at Augusta. The par-3’s and par-4’s are all tough, so the real birdie and eagle opportunities are provided by the four par-5’s.

For the Masters, the top 44 players and ties, plus anyone within ten shots of the lead, make the 36-hole cut. As well as a handsome trophy and a fat cheque, the winner is presented with a green jacket by the previous year’s winner. Winning the Masters gives a golfer several privileges, including an invite to play in the other three majors (U.S. Open, The Open Championship, USPGA Championship) for the next five years, and a lifetime invitation to the Masters.

Golf Bettingpro Notes: Beware of the round 1 leader! It’s been over twenty years since they’ve gone on to wear the green jacket. However, the winner is much easier to spot after three rounds, nearly always going out in the last group on Sunday.