Augusta National course preview: These stats define one of golf's most prestigious courses
The 2024 Masters is nearly upon us. We are officially less than a week away from one of golf's most prestigious tournaments on one of golf's most celebrated courses. Augusta National Golf Club has hosted The Masters every year since 1934. The course has witnessed many magical moments, historic victories, and heartbreaking defeats in that time. And although the course has changed drastically in the years since, it has never failed to dazzle spectators, serving as the apple of many a fan's eye come springtime.
However, the course isn't just a beauty to behold, it's also an incredibly difficult course. Of course, any club as historic as Augusta National is bound to have a few insane stories to go with it. That said, Augusta has some of the craziest tales and statistics of all.
Here are some must-know facts about the course heading into the 2024 Masters Tournament.
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What is Augusta's slope rating?
A slope rating is a score given to a course to determine its difficulty. The higher the rating, the more difficult the course. Augusta National does not have an official slope rating, but panelists have labeled it anywhere between 135 and 144. For context, the hardest courses have a slope rating of 155.
How many yards is Augusta National?
Augusta National is a grand total of 7,545 yards. The longest individual hole though is the second, measuring out at 575 yards. The shortest hole is the 12th, measuring at a measly 155 yards.
What is the course's most difficult hole?
The 11th hole is widely-considered the most difficult at Augusta. A 505-yard, Par 4, the 11th hole saw players average 4.31 strokes between 1942 and 2016.
How many hole-in-ones have been hit in Masters history?
There have been 34 hole-in-ones in Masters history. The first came in 1934 from Ross Somerville, who smoked an ace from 145 yards out on the 16th hole. Shockingly, Somerville was an amateur at the time he made that hole-in-one. The most recent hole-in-one came in 2022 from Stewart Cink on the same hole, using an 8-iron to hit the cup 166 yards away.
Who has the most Masters wins in history?
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for most green jackets won with six. Woods is sitting at five currently, and the only other golfer with at least four is Arnold Palmer.
How to watch The Masters 2024:
TV: ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports Network
Stream: Paramount+, Fubo, ESPN+
Coverage for The Masters will begin at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 11.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Augusta National golf course: From slope to the most difficult hole
