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Toughest holes at Augusta National? The 2026 Masters field weighs in
TL;DR
In 2026, golfers at the Masters Tournament shared their insights on the toughest holes at Augusta National Golf Club. The feedback highlights specific challenges faced by players during the prestigious event.
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Ben Griffin walks on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Brian Harman tees off on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Travis Kelce walks the course near the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Haotong Li tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Kristoffer Reitan tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Max Homa chips onto the third green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Cameron Young tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jason Day tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jake Knapp tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Xander Schauffele tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick lines up his putt on the 7th green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Wyndham Clark tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Tyrrell Hatton tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
1 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Ben Griffin walks on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
1 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Ben Griffin walks on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
2 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Brian Harman tees off on the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
3 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Travis Kelce walks the course near the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
4 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Haotong Li tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
5 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Kristoffer Reitan tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
6 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Max Homa chips onto the third green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
7 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Cameron Young tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
8 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jason Day tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
9 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Jake Knapp tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
10 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Xander Schauffele tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
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See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick lines up his putt on the 7th green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
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See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Wyndham Clark tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
13 / 13
See the best photos from Masters Saturday Moving Day, Round 3 at Augusta National
Apr 11, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Tyrrell Hatton tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
The challenges that Augusta National presents to players at the Masters are well documented.
While part of that is due to the everchanging conditions that can effect how the course plays, the biggest reason is simply because some holes stump players more than others.
We asked over a dozen players during the first two rounds of the 2026 Masters which holes on the course are the most difficult and requires them to dial it in a bit more mentally than others. Each player gave at least one hole that fits that description. Some players, such as 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, listed every hole, meaning that each hole will have at minimum one vote.
These are the hardest holes at the Masters, according to the players
No. 1 (Tea Olive): 6 Votes
No. 2 (Pink Dogwood): 4 Votes
No. 3 (Flowering Peach): 5 Votes
No. 4 (Flowering Crab Apple): 5 Votes
No. 5 (Magnolia): 5 Votes
No. 6 (Juniper): 4 Votes
No. 7 (Pampas): 8 Votes
No. 8 (Yellow Jasmine): 5 Votes
No. 9 (Carolina Cherry): 5 Votes
No. 10 (Camellia): 6 Votes
No. 11 (White Dogwood): 6 Votes
No. 12 (Golden Bell): 8 Votes
No. 13 (Azalea): 6 Votes
No. 14 (Chinese Fir): 4 Votes
No. 15 (Firethorn): 6 Votes
No. 16 (Redbud): 5 Votes
No. 17 (Nandina): 7 Votes
No. 18 (Holly): 5 Votes
Golden Bell and Pampas tied for the most difficult hole in Augusta
Hole No.12 has long been considered one of the toughest holes in all of golf, not just at Augusta National. The short par-3 has routinely destroyed players' chances of contending for a green jacket. Unsurprisingly, it was one of the most voted holes in our survey.
Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Sam Burns plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
It shared the honor for the toughest hole with No. 7. Pampas was voted the most difficult hole of the first nine. There were 56 bogeys and 6 double bogeys hit through the first two rounds on that hole.
Nandina comes in solo second
Maybe it's the two bunkers guarding the putting green. Maybe it's the attrition that sets in towards the latter stages of an already brutal course. Whatever that case is, hole No.17 finished as the second toughest hole at Augusta National.
Players like Max Homa and Haotong Li cited the tee shot off No.17 as what makes it so difficult compared to other holes. Kurt Kitayama lamented the relative straightness of how the hole is designed and how unforgiving it can be if you find yourself out of position off the fairway.
A five-way tie for third toughest hole
Hole Nos. 1, 10, 11, 13 and 15 were all tied for the third most difficult hole. In that group are three par 4s and two par 5s. Jackson Herrington, an amateur out of Tennessee, was keenly aware of all the eyes on him on the tee shot off No.1, which contributed to that being one of his choices for the hardest hole.
Apr 6, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Brooks Koepka hits onto the 15th green during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images
The second or third shot on No. 15 was specifically mentioned by a number of players. Ryan Fox said it's one of those shots that can make you "look silly" if you are on your A-game. Herrington also mentioned No. 11 because of the touch needed to keep the ball in the middle of the green rather than overshooting it.
Notable quotes for other holes
Apr 8, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Ethan Fang skips the ball on the water at the 16th hole during a practice round for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith-Imagn Images
Xander Schauffele on No. 16:
"16 is 165 yards. You know, you're trying to guess the wind and hit it into three by three or ― yeah, call it a three by three sort of area that's firm. So if you kind of miss it you have a 50 or 60 foot putt coming up and over. Again, Augusta National presents those challenges that we enjoy taking on."
Ryan Fox on No. 6:
"6, with the breeze swirling down there, you've really gotta commit to your shot. Especially if the breeze is swirling a little bit, you can be made to look silly around here really quickly. There are some places you really don't want to miss it around the greens, and you've really gotta pick your yardage, pick your club, commit to it and kind of hope you get it right."
Tommy Fleetwood on No. 3:
"Third hole is another great example. What, 15 yards short the green (in the first round). Couldn't get anywhere near really without being ― you know, if I was playing with friends like I might have taken that shot on a different way. I'm like it's the third hole of the Masters; 20 feet would be a good shot from a 20 yard shot. End up holing the putt so it's a bonus, but it's just always ebbs and flows where you really got to manage it."
Max Homa on No. 8:
"For me it's eight, and I made eagle (in the first round), and I can't wait to go talk trash to my friend Steven because he usually dogs on me for hitting that left tree. He ducked me out there. I couldn't find him, so I am going to go get in his ear. That one has killed me for whatever reason."
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 2026 Masters field weighs in on toughest holes at Augusta National
Q&A
What are the toughest holes at Augusta National according to the 2026 Masters players?
Players identified several holes as particularly challenging, emphasizing the unique difficulties presented by Augusta National's layout.
Who participated in the discussion about the toughest holes at the 2026 Masters?
Various professional golfers competing in the 2026 Masters Tournament contributed their opinions on the toughest holes.
How does Augusta National's layout affect player performance during the Masters?
The layout of Augusta National, with its elevation changes and strategic hazards, significantly impacts player performance and scoring.
What insights did players provide about the challenges of the 2026 Masters Tournament?
Players shared specific challenges they faced, including tricky greens and demanding tee shots that tested their skills throughout the tournament.
