Could Fewer Trees at Augusta Shape the Masters Outcome? Players React

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Several top players in this year’s Masters Tournament field admitted that Augusta National Golf Club is noticeably different in the aftermath of damage the course suffered during Hurricane Helene last September.

“It almost felt like I was playing the back nine for the first time,” said Xander Schauffele, who is ranked No. 3 in the world and making his eighth start at the Masters.

In the lead-up to the first men’s golf major of the year, it became clear Augusta National had far fewer trees than it used to—which is catching players’ eyes as they conduct practice rounds. “It’s pretty crazy to sort of see how many—it’s sad, too, to see how many—trees have fallen,” Schauffele said.

Risk and Reward?

Schauffele speculated that any golfer who was “feeling extremely dangerous” could attempt to hit their tee shot through a new gap in the tall trees on No. 10, a dogleg left par 4. “I think it’s a little risky, but in the past, your ball would hit a tree there and fall 90 feet from the tee box.”

Rory McIlroy agreed that No. 10 is one of a couple of tee shots throughout the course “that are maybe a little less visually intimidating” because of the tree loss. “Your target there is that sort of TV or that camera tower down there at the bottom of the hill,” he said. “You used to not be able to see that, and now you can see that pretty clearly.”

Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, joked that with all the talk about No. 10, “there might be a tree right there next to the tee tomorrow morning,” alluding to Augusta National’s ability to quickly make major course modifications.

New Looks

One major difference many patrons on the course Tuesday were noticing was the removal of two of the three large trees that had long stood behind the 15th green. 

Trees that fell around holes 15 and 16 led to new greens being built on those holes (along with Nos. 1 and 8), McIlroy said. He also noted that those fresh surfaces are playing firmer than other greens.