In 1980, the great Tom Weiskopf made a 13 there, hitting five balls into the creek and comically said “it was actually not the worst 13 you’ll ever see”. In 1952, Gene Sarazen was so disheartened by his eight that he walked off the course.
This was the same Sarazen who played undoubtedly the greatest shot in Masters history by holing out from 220 yards with a three-wood for an albatross to win the Green Jacket. Golden Bell plainly bamboozles the best golfing minds. “I used to get on that tee and my hands were shaking,” said Jack Nicklaus. “I know what had gone there before.”
And as much as the design and the elements, that folklore of past sporting tragedy is another factor, and maybe “the” factor. Justin Rose expanded on this for Telegraph Sport. “It’s not only that but where the hole is positioned on the scorecard,” he said. “The 10th is tough, the 11th is tough and then after the 12th, you have the birdie and eagle opportunities on the [par five] 13th and 15th. And then 16th and 17th can give up birdies. Even 18.
“So, depending where you are on that leaderboard there are chances to make big headway or lose big leads. And you are tempted to go for the 12th, because it is only a wedge if the wind is down. Yet you know the history. And you don’t want it to end there as it has for so many. So what do you do? Go for it? Or the halfway house and try to hole a long putt? It’s a key part of the Masters challenge.”
The player could always hole the tee-shot, of course, and put themselves into Masters immortality. And maybe a Green Jacket as well. Will this be the year?