The 5 Holes That Will Define The 2025 Masters

The Masters will be won and lost on the back nine.

Here are the key holes to watch:

12th, 155 Yards, Par 3

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Perhaps the most famous par three in the world. There’s Rae's Creek in front, the azaleas and bunkers behind a wide but very narrow green.The problem is the swirling wind. This was where Jordan Spieth came to grief when apparently strolling towards his second Green Jacket. He put his tee shot in the water, fluffed his next into the drink and walked off with a ruinous seven. Francesco Molinari suffered a similar fate when in a winning position in 2019 - the year that Tiger Woods finally claimed his 15th major.

13th, 555 Yards, Par 5

A tributary of Rae's Creek winds down the left side, with trees and pine straw up the right. In 2010 Phil Mickelson hit a glorious six iron from the straw through a narrow opening in the trees during the final round. His caddie, Jim "Bones" MacKay, tried to talk him out of it but Mickelson hit the shot to three feet and went on to win the Masters. A creek guards the front and the putting surface is treacherous - when the pin is all the way back, the players have a hard time getting the ball onto the top shelf. If they go long, they face an impossible chip. When the pin is in the front, it brings the creek into play. A true risk-reward hole.

15th, 550 Yards, Par 5

During his title defence, Sergio Garcia made a 13 here. A drive that avoids the trees up the left side has the player standing at the top of the hill. The long, narrow green is fronted by water, making it hard to stop the second shot if the player goes at it in two. But if a player lays up the wedge into the green is just as difficult. Spin it too much and it runs back toward the front of the green, down the shaved bank and back into the water. And now, you're faced with the same shot again.

16th, 170 Yards, Par 3

The most notable pin is back-left, where shots hit right of the flag will catch the slope and funnel down toward the hole. The trickiest pin is the front-right location on top of the hill. That same ridge that helps the players when the pin is back right throws balls away from the hole instead of near it.

18th, 465 Yards, Par 4

It may look relatively flat on TV but the final hole goes sharply uphill. The tee shot is one of the most challenging on the entire course, with trees on the right and sand on the left of a hole that doglegs right. There is also a tree at 200 yards that has caught several drives. And then there is the well-bunkered two-tier green. If the flag is on the bottom tier you most certainly do not want your second shot to finish on the upper tier if you have two putts to win. But get your approach correct and it will run back down to the hole.

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