10th hole a challenge for Masters field

Herbert Warren Wind almost had it right.

In 1958, the legendary golf writer gave the three-hole stretch from Nos. 11-13 at Augusta National Golf Club the moniker “Amen Corner.” Yet, the prayers really begin at the first hole of the second nine.

The 495-yard, par-4 10th – historically the most difficult hole on the course – has been the fifth-hardest hole during the Masters Tournament this year, yielding just 15 birdies. Players are averaging 4.238 strokes on the downhill hole.

“It’s difficult,” said Steve Stricker, who’s 1-over on the hole this week. “You’re hitting downhill with the ball above your feet on a hook lie, and really the shot calls for a cut in there. The bunker’s on the right. The green slopes right to left. If you get anything hooking in there, it kind of runs away from you.”

The 10th hole has provided several dramatic moments throughout Masters history. Ben Crenshaw rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt there in the final round in 1984 en route to his first green jacket. Scott Hoch missed a two-foot par putt in a sudden-death playoff in 1989 that would’ve given him the Masters title.

In 2003, Len Mattiace hooked his approach to the left of the 10th green in a sudden-death playoff against Mike Weir, who only needed bogey on the hole for the green jacket.

Last year, the 10th hole played a deciding role again. Rory McIlroy led by one when he hooked his tee shot, which hit a tree and darted left between two cabins. He finished with triple bogey en route to 80.

This week, players have been affected by wet conditions at No. 10. The soft fairway has led to a loss of distance. Worse, mud balls have become a major issue.

“No. 10’s probably one of my favorite holes out here. The only disappointing thing, all the rain we got this week, the fairway’s wet,” said Martin Laird, who’s even par on 10. “Today was perfect. I ripped a perfect 3-wood down there at the bottom. I had a big chunk of mud on my ball. You’re guessing from there. Personally, it’s one of my favorites, if not my favorite hole on the golf course. I think it’s a great hole.”

“It’s always a hard hole,” said Scott Verplank, who’s made two pars and a bogey there. “You’ve got to get your drive down there, then you’ve got a downhill lie with mud on it, back into the green uphill. It’s a difficult shot. It’s always been a tough hole, and I think it’ll continue to be one.”

Nathan Dominitz contributed to this article.