Augusta & changing leaderboards

[Ally Mcintosh]

I’m not sure Tom Doak was the first to say this but when he did, it was the first time I had ever thought of it:


Augusta is primarily such an exciting course for a tournament because it has runs of birdie holes followed by runs of bogey holes. Take a typical Sunday where 10, 11, 12 are hard followed by 13, 15, 16 that offer birdies. Similar can be said on the front nine. Therefore the leaderboard is constantly changing. Specifically those in the chasing pack are  scoring up ahead whilst the leaders at 10 and 11 are staying stationary or falling back... Makes for excitement.


What other tournament courses are (or could be) set up in such a fashion? I think it’s a huge plus for a regular tour venue.

[Tommy Williamsen]

TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course[/font]
2,3,4-birdie holes[/font]
5,6,7,8-hard pars[/font]
9, 11, 12-birdie holes[/font]
14,15-hard pars[/font]
16,17-birdie holes[/font]

[Pat Burke]

Bay Hill (back in the day at least)
Came at you in waves
For me
1,2,3.  Tough start to a round. Even par was a very good result


4,5,6. (4 was a par five. Not sure now) I felt like I needed to get a couple birdies in this stretch


7,8,9. Another tough stretch. I played conservatively and pars were great


12,13. Were holes you had to get good birdie opportunities


16 (par five) had to hit fairway. Hitting fairway was for me a very likely birdie


17-18. Hang on to your ass




It was an interesting place to me
I mixed up conservative and aggressive plans throughout the course more at Bay Hill
Than anywhere else I played tournaments at


I know it has changed a lot since I played though, so not sure it has that same ebb and flow

[Kalen Braley]

Pebble Beach


1-7 - Mostly gettable holes (with 5 being the exception)
8-14 - I will steal Pat's quote "Hang on to your ass" and then some.  (Perhaps 11 and 13 aren't too bad thou)
15-16 - Gettable again
17 - Grab your ass again
18 - Be a hero!

[Pete_Pittock]

Pebble Beach. Lots of birdie holes, but get out of position and bogey is in the mix. 18th is a 3 shot swing hole.

[Pat Burke]

Pebble Beach


1-7 - Mostly gettable holes (with 6 being the exception)
8-14 - I will steal Pat's quote "Hang on to your ass" and then some.  (Perhaps 11 and 13 aren't too bad thou)
15-16 - Gettable again
17 - Grab your ass again
18 - Be a hero!

Pebble is a good example too!


Better be ready early in tournament rounds there.

[Tom_Doak]

Pebble Beach


1-7 - Mostly gettable holes (with 5 being the exception)
8-14 - I will steal Pat's quote "Hang on to your ass" and then some.  (Perhaps 11 and 13 aren't too bad thou)
15-16 - Gettable again
17 - Grab your ass again
18 - Be a hero!

I don't feel like Pebble Beach has the same effect as Augusta, at all.  At Pebble everyone knows someone will go out with a bunch of birdies early, but it's tough to hang on.  And by the time the leaders get to #3 or 4, the hot starters have hit the rough patch and they are coming back to the field.


The key at Augusta is that the ebb and flow makes an inexperienced leader press on 10-11-12, when he ought to be playing safely for his pars and trusting he will make two or three birdies in the last six.