Golfers typically head out months in advance for scouting trips to prepare for majors like the U.S. Open or PGA Championship in the United States, but most tend to have a general idea of what to expect once April rolls around and the azaleas are in full bloom. That’s because Augusta National Golf Club is the only course in the world that hosts a major championship on an annual basis.
The 2023 Masters begins this week as it always does in early April, though there have been some course changes in recent years with the removal of some trees on the par-4 11th, lengthening of the par-5 15th in 2022, and most recently, lengthening of the par-5 13th ahead of the 2023 tournament. While most do take early looks at Augusta, the core concept of the golf course remains in tact.
You see it year over year with veterans seemingly finding form out of thin air. It’s not that they are playing better than the stars of today; it’s just that they have vast experience playing Augusta National, particularly more so than the younger generation. Freddie Couples and Tom Watson have made early week charges in their 50s. Bernhard Langer has beaten Bryson DeChambeau two of the last three years. Anywhere else on Earth, that probably doesn’t happen. Once a player finds the key ingredient at Augusta — it varies among them — the recipe is as good as his.
Not only does one’s course knowledge need to be expansive, so does their current skillset. While the ghosts of past Masters champions pop up on the leaderboard every now and then, only those truly comfortable with all facets of their game will have the staying power to see it through until Sunday evening. A player doesn’t just fall into winning the green jacket (just ask Dustin Johnson), he often trends towards it and peaks at the precise right time. (You can also ask D.J. about this.)
With all this in mind, let’s take a look back at the 10 most recent…
Source : cbssports
