Opinion & Analysis

Augusta National: Where players must play safe, and where they can take chances

Published

1 month ago

Apr 8, 2026

The 90th Masters is right here at our fingertips. It’s great to see the players at Augusta National getting in their practice rounds, skipping the ball across the pond on 16, and preparing for another historic week.

Strategy and sticking to your game plan are number one at Augusta. When the ball ends up in the wrong position, sometimes making bogey is the best possible outcome. On certain holes, if you play them correctly, the worst you can do is make a birdie. It all takes thought and countless executions.

Augusta National is a unique test, with holes that allow scoring and others that demand caution. Any hole during The Masters can bring heartbreak or joy. Some of golf’s best drama unfolds here.

It got me thinking, how would I attack this course? The statistics breakdown what holes are the most difficult, but it is important to note how the player keeps the momentum rolling throughout the round. This is my take on three holes I would play safely and three I would play aggressively at Augusta National during the Masters.

What To Play Safe

Hole 1 – Tea Olive

Starting the round on the first hole, you will commonly see a challenge, but also a welcoming handshake to greet you to your round. Augusta National features something a little different. 445 yards right out of the gate and a stern challenge. Ranked 6th in difficulty overall on the course with a scoring average of 4.236, this is a great opening hole with a fair challenge. Making par here is a great score to start your day.

The drive is slightly downhill, with a bunker starting around 270 yards out. Where the bunker begins is also where the fairway starts to narrow. The bunker ends on the right about 315 yards from the tee.

It will be interesting to see if players can carry it past that mark this week. Key factors are adrenaline, wind, and tee time. Heavier morning air poses a true challenge, but given today’s talent, someone may carry the trap. Players will challenge the bunker and leave themselves a mid- to short-iron into the green.

The approach to the green demands attention. The green has enough room, but being pin high is crucial. Its front features a large false front. These are the keys to a solid opening shot.

Don’t risk letting your ball trickle down the false front, leaving a tough wedge shot and risking bogey. Playing it safe here is wise.

Hole 5 – Magnolia

The fifth hole is 495 yards and a complete test from tee to green. With a scoring average of 4.267, it ranks as Augusta’s fifth toughest.

This is another example where hitting a great drive near the right-center of the fairway helps you avoid the deep bunkers on the left. Those bunkers can quickly bring bogey or worse into play. The primary reason? These bunkers are very deep, so advancing the ball toward the green from them often requires a smart layup, even on a par 4.

Don’t focus on trouble — focus on your target. The second shot is to a green that looks smaller than it is, with crucial tiers.

Long left is trouble, but the back bunker offers some relief if you add spin. The old advice — “two putt and move on” — applies here.

Where this hole is on the front nine, it is important to keep the momentum going or kick things off with a good par after a potential slower start. As you move into the par-3 sixth hole and the par-5 eighth hole, making par on the fifth hole is like making par or a bit better beyond what the stat sheet shows.

Hole 11 – White Dogwood

Historically, the most difficult hole at Augusta, the 11th hole doesn’t relent from the moment the ball is teed up until it finds the bottom of the cup. At 520 yards, the beginning of Amen Corner starts with an elevated drive as the hole goes slightly downhill to the right, favoring a left-to-right ball flight as the fairway slopes left.

Picking your target, committing, and finding the fairway are essential. As you make your way down to Rae’s Creek, a pond sits left of the green. The challenge with the second shot is that you often have a draw lie, but trouble left with a long to mid-iron in hand. When players are 175 to 200 yards out on the left side of the fairway, they have a 77% chance of making par. Players with 200 to 225 yards into the green see their chance of making bogey rise from 18% to 25%.

Many shots end up right of the green to avoid the pond left. Mounds on the right can funnel the ball onto the green when approaching from the left side of the fairway.

But, in a great twist of design, these mounds can also propel the ball into the water. The margin is razor-thin.

The green slopes mainly toward the pond, so be mindful of the putt. It takes focused shots just to reach the green, and reading putts breaks toward the pond is critical. Par is an achievement before moving to 12.

All three of these holes, I’m sure, a competitor would sign off on making par on each one of them every round of the tournament. The 1st, 5th, and 11th are challenging, fair, and points in the round where par is a good score as you keep building your round at Augusta.

Where To Be Aggressive

Hole 3 – Flowering Peach

Playing Augusta aggressively is a very fine line, making it a great venue for managing risk. There are times to make your move. The third hole often sparks debate—do you go for it from the tee, or scale back and play to your favorite number for the approach?

This hole has traditionally ranked 14th in difficulty with a scoring average of 4.071. Given that conditions are likely to be firm, I think this week is a good time to give the driver a go on the third hole. A well-hit driver can leave most players with 50 yards or less to the green. The landing area for a touch wedge does decrease, but the proximity to the green is the difference.

Players have said this week that the fairways are very lush, so the ball sits up more than in years past. This can make wedge shots spin even more.

Most birdies are seen here, with the hole location in the back center portion of the green, where players are left with an uphill putt. Of course, we have seen theatrics with the traditional Sunday hole location on the left side of the green as the green slopes in that direction.

Hole 8 – Yellow Jasmine

The par-5 eighth is a good spot to go on offense. A left-side drive is safe, but challenging the right and the bunker can open a clearer shot to the green.

At 570 yards, this hole requires two good shots. It ranks 15th at The Masters, averaging 4.813. The right fairway bunker can be cleared at about 300 yards.

The second shot goes uphill with a partially blind approach. Favoring the right side of the green leaves more room between the ball and the hole location. There are mounds on the left that can help the ball roll onto the green if your second shot favors that side.

I believe it’s worth challenging the bunker off the tee by aiming down the middle and favoring the right side. Second shot up the hill, playing a draw works well if the ball stays fairly straight, you have a pitch from the safe side, right of the green. If the shot is executed, you are putting for an eagle.

Hole 13 – Azalea

One of the most popular holes in golf is the 13th at Augusta National. Risk reward, favoring the bold with proper execution. This 545-yard par 5 ranks 17th in difficulty in Masters history, averaging 4.775 strokes. A drive to the left earns a flatter lie and a shorter second shot, but brings the creek into play. Players often hit sweeping draws here. If the ball goes straight, they can recover with a second shot and play a third over the creek onto the green from 50 to 80 yards. Taking the safer right side off the tee leaves a longer approach and a more significant right-to-left lie. It is ultimately a crucial decision point in the round.

Approach shots land into the green, which slopes from back-left to front-right, so it depends on which direction your ball is coming from, which it can filter towards the hole or the other direction.

At 545 yards, this second shot is more than likely a green light. Full commitment is needed with the creek surrounding the green and four bunkers behind the green. We have seen the shots over the years with heroic efforts and results. Being the 13th hole, it would take a true disaster to completely forego a climb up the leaderboard with more opportunities after the 13th.

This is a great discussion of how holes create scenarios that force players to play either safely or aggressively in the round at the Masters. Each decision is equally tied to the others in course management decisions. I will be keeping an eye on how these holes play this week in the tournament. In a perfect world, I think out of these six holes, if they can be played in two under par each day, the player will be in the mix for a Green Jacket. Of course, they will have to perform all around, but these are anchor points in playing championship golf at Augusta.

Club Junkie

A putter that I love and hate – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

5 days ago

May 8, 2026

Brian Knudson

In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.

We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.

To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.

Opinion & Analysis

From 14 handicap to pro: 4 things I’d tell golfers at 50

Published

6 days ago

May 7, 2026

Jaacob Bowden, PGA

This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?

As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.

I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.

Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.

I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.

It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.

So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.

1. Think About What You Want

Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.

Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.

For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.

You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.

The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.

But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.

None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.

2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work

One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.

You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.

You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.

I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.

Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.

I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.

3. Get Custom Fit

If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.

If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.

Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.

It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.

Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.

I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.

So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.

Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.

Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.

I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.

4. Distance and Strategy Matter

There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.

I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.

Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: Grass Clippings Open was a fun time, serious test

Published

1 week ago

May 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

The 2026 Grass League Grass Clippings Open is officially in the books! With championship-level conditions, outstanding play, and plenty of lessons both on and off the course, this event kicked off the Grass League season in style. The winning team of Austin Quick and Tyler Weworski set a new scoring record at 23 under par, marking a spectacular start to the year. Several franchise-drafted teams also finished in the top 10. I partnered with Blake Snyder, and we finished at 11 under par—good for a tie for 33rd place in this highly competitive league. I can still picture the putts that lipped out and the tee shots I wish I could take back. As the saying goes: that’s golf. Here are some of my key takeaways from the first Grass League event of 2026.

The Draft

The event kicked off with a draft. Each Grass League franchise has a roster of 14 players, and the GC Open features the largest field of the season, with 12 of those 14 players competing. The two-man scramble format puts roster depth to the test. With 11 franchises, each drafted two teams on the Thursday before the first round. It all began with 100 two-man teams battling it out in a qualifier that ran from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday.

To be eligible for the draft, teams had to finish in the top 25 of the qualifier. This year, the Grass League eliminated the playoff for the top 25 due to time constraints—last year’s qualifier didn’t end until 1:30 a.m.! With no playoff and ties advancing, 44 teams qualified for the draft, but only 22 draft picks were available.

Watching teams make their picks was fascinating. In my view, it all comes down to relationships. This is a team game, so you want players who contribute both on the course and “in the clubhouse.” Being a great teammate is the top priority, and it’s a given that everyone brings serious golf skills to the table.

Three more Grass League events are on the calendar this year. There’s the Match Series, where franchises face off in two-man scramble match play. The twist? Once a team wins and advances, they can’t be used again for the rest of the series. The Summer Grind at Goat Hill Park takes place September 5–6, followed by the GL Championship on December 4–5. Roster depth is critical, and having a true team makes all the difference in the Grass League. Speaking for our LA Roses squad, we love to compete and stay connected all year, sharing updates on our games.

The Tournament

In traditional tournament golf, events are at least 54 holes, and patience is key—everyone says it’s a marathon, not a sprint. In the Grass League, that old adage doesn’t apply. This format is a full-on sprint. While patience still matters, there’s a constant sense of urgency. Top teams rarely make more than four pars in a row—it’s all about making birdies, and lots of them. But with all those scoring chances, precision is everything. A two-man scramble on a par 3 course may sound relaxed, but it’s a real grind. The greens are set up to major championship standards: balls can bounce up to three paces on landing, and green speeds reach 12 to 13 on the stimpmeter for flat putts. Downhill putts get downright scary. Combined with tight landing areas, every shot requires your full concentration.

As for my results with teammate Blake Snyder, we finished the event at 11 under par. It was frustrating—we started strong, going 5 under through the first 6 holes on day one, but then hit a cold streak where good tee shots didn’t turn into birdies. Lip outs, burned edges, a few misreads—you know the feeling. We picked up one more birdie, but then made the cardinal mistake in Grass League: a bogey on our final hole. I left the green fuming, but reminded myself we had another day to make up ground. In the final round, we shot 6 under to finish at 11 under for the championship. We struck the ball well, but just couldn’t get the putts to fall. With such a crowded leaderboard, it’s easy to slide to 33rd place. The winners finished at 23 under, second place at 17 under, and fifth at 16 under.

Our Los Angeles Roses franchise finished 7th overall. Charlie Reiter and Mason Gilinski shot 16 under, tying for 5th. Ryan Ruffles and Canon Claycomb tied for 15th at 14 under. Blake Snyder and I tied for 33rd at 11 under. Aaron Hicks and Marty Sanchez, along with Blake Bertand and Manny Manzone, tied for 52nd at 8 under par. Alex Zurat and Max Green finished tied for 58th at 7 under. In this league, the margins are razor-thin. Without the traditional tee ball, it’s all about immediate action from tee to green.

The Atmosphere

The event’s atmosphere is one-of-a-kind, letting you choose your own pace. As a golfer, seeing a par 3 course in true championship condition is a treat—Superintendent Scott Hebert and his team do a phenomenal job. Every score is hard-earned. Grass League events take the experience up a notch each time. Music plays into the night, tents surround the 15th green, and the 18th offers a true stadium finish. Food trucks and entertainment add to the fun. You can show up just to hang out and leave a golf fan, thanks to the energy and inclusivity woven into the tournament’s fabric.

As a player, it’s an honor to compete in this tournament. The Grass League welcomes a wide range of talent: up-and-coming pros and amateurs, former Tour players, current Tour players, and even athletes from other professional sports. This mix creates a championship atmosphere and, with the team format, endless opportunities for new champions and unforgettable moments.

With more qualifiers and amateur events on the schedule this spring and summer, I’ve got the Summer Grind at Goat Hill Park circled on my calendar. This last event has left my team and me hungrier than ever.