Firethorn, the 530-yard, par-5 15th hole at Augusta National has seen its share of drama in Masters history. In fact, the shot that put The Masters on the map — the famous albatross nicknamed “the shot heard ‘round the world” — was pulled off by Gene Sarazen on No. 15 in 1935. At the time, Grantland Rice, America’s first great sports writer and a founding member of Augusta National, called Sarazen’s 4-wood shot “…the most thrilling single golf shot ever played.”
But for every “2”, “3” and “4” recorded at Firethorn over the years, there have been far more “6s”, “7s” and “others”. If you aren’t able to reach the green with your second shot, your lay-up will leave you with a downhill wedge shot off a tight lie which must carry Raes Creek and hold a narrow, false-fronted green. It’s one of the scariest shots at Augusta.
The keys to this shot are solid contact (to ensure that you clear the water) and sufficient spin (in order to hold the slick green) and in this latest Titleist Tip, staff member Cameron McCormick shares his approach for taking the fear factor out and hitting these shots close.