With the 89th edition of The Masters fast approaching, all the focus inside golfing circles is now directly centred around Augusta National.
Past winners like Scottie Scheffler, John Rahm and even Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia will fancy their chances of adding another green jacket to their wardrobe.
Mickelson has actually tipped fellow LIV golfer Sergio Garcia to enjoy more success at Augusta.
Whilst players like Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele will be bidding to win their first Masters crown around the famed Augusta National.
The average winning score from the last 10 US Masters championships has been 11.1 under par, excluding the year when Dustin Johnson won, when the event was held in November due to Covid.
The previous 10 championships before that produced an average winning score of 9.6 under par.
That in itself proves how much of a challenge the rolling hills of Augusta represent to the very best players in the world.
But how would an ‘average Joe’ get on around the famous track, if given the chance?
The two scores six handicap amateur golfer shot round Augusta National
Ryan Lavner – a senior writer for the Golf Channel – is one of a small group of very privileged people who have played Augusta National on numerous occasions.
Lavner is off a handicap off six, so he is clearly a very competent golfer.
He was speaking on the Golf Channel podcast with Rex and Lav about just how difficult Augusta can play for amateurs.
Lavner explained:
“From the members tees it’s 6400 yards. It’s pretty manageable. I think the difficulty of the golf course is that the approach shots are so difficult. It is so tight. Unless you are really on with your approach play you are going to struggle to impart enough spin on the golf ball. Just the ball flights that we have and the shot shapes we are coming into the greens with. It is not like we are coming in with high soaring fades, which can stop on the top shelf, we are coming in a little bit lower with less spin. You are dead on a lot of occasions.
“Both times I played I got off the golf course thinking I could have done so much better, which I think is the temptress that is Augusta National. That’s why it’s so much fun to play. You could only imagine on your best day that you could get it going and make birdies on the par fives. You could hit it close if you funnel it, if you are playing the slopes right and you’re exact with your approach play.
“I shot 88 and 89 from the member’s tees, I am a six handicap, and that almost felt like it was the worst I could play. Plenty of media members shoot in the 70’s from the members tees when they play the Monday after. On my best day I think I could shoot in the 70’s.“
It’s well known that Augusta National is one of the toughest golf courses in the world, especially when it comes to hitting approach shots into the undulating greens.
Even the best golfers on the planet struggle to tame what is one of the most famous golf courses on Earth.
Which pro golfer shot the worst score ever at Augusta in the Masters?
We’ve all seen numerous top players run up cricket scores around Augusta in the past.
Ernie Els made a nine on the first hole in 2016 after six-putting from just three feet!
Meanwhile, Brian Harman struggled around the back nine in 2024. He shot 47 over Augusta’s closing nine holes, and signed for nine-over par 81 in the end.
However, the worst score a professional has ever complied at Augusta National during Masters week was a 95 on the final day in 1956, for a total of 340 – a whopping 52 over par.
Charlie Kunkle holds that unenviable record.
It’s fair to say that it will never be beaten either, although there are plenty of amateur golfers who would give anything to get the chance to take that record off his hands!
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