For those that wander, No. 5 tee box is a hidden gem

Mitch Newton has found his new hiding spot.

For 19 years, the Atlanta resident sat a chair behind No. 11 tee box, in what he coined, “The quietest place on the course.” That changed this week when Newton got a glimpse of the newly lengthened fifth hole at Augusta National.

Photos: Sunday Patrons at the Masters

“I never thought I’d say this, but I’ve found my new hiding spot,” Newton said. “Behind No. 11 is quiet but this takes it to another level. There’s absolutely nobody back here.”

Newton sat behind No. 5 tee box, and was one of very few patrons to take in the action there Sunday. When Rory McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Gary Woodland finished No. 4, a mere nine spectators joined them on the brief walk to No. 5 tee. Two groups earlier, with Kyle Stanley, Viktor Hovland and Charley Hoffman, only Newton and security guard, Rodney Anderson, were witnesses.

“I'm not worried about the gallery, I'm worried more about the hardest hole on the golf course,” Hoffman said. “Yeah, a lot of people don't come through that way because the Berckmans (Place) entrance is more by the green and no one's really going backwards there. If you're following groups there's not many people, but it's a heck of a hole and a place not a lot of people are hanging out.”

Aaron Wise, who was making his first Masters appearance, compared the feeling on No. 5 tee box to being on No. 12 green and the 13th tee, where patrons aren’t allowed.

“That's kind of the cool part about Augusta. As close as they can get some other times, they can't get anywhere near you on certain parts of the course and it's a pretty cool experience being out here.”

Similar to Wise, Newton compared his patron experience on No. 5 to what the players must feel on the remote parts of Amen Corner.

“I feel like I’m behind No. 13 tee box right now,” he said. “I really do. I mean, just look around — no one else is here. This is the prettiest tee box at Augusta National and it’s me and the players.”