Augusta now penalizes missed fairways

[Michael Morandi]

From The Athletic:


Missing the fairway at ANGC has become more penalizing since scoring records crumbled at the COVID-induced fall Masters of 2020. The last three years, the average penalty for a missed fairway is 0.42 strokes, an increase of about one-tenth of a stroke over the preceding five Masters. That may not seem like much on the surface but consider this: players hit the green in regulation after a missed fairway 34.6 percent of the time at the 2023 Masters, the second-lowest rate of any course on tour all last season (Los Angeles CC, 31.6).

[Matt Schoolfield]

From The Athletic:


Missing the fairway at ANGC has become more penalizing since scoring records crumbled at the COVID-induced fall Masters of 2020. The last three years, the average penalty for a missed fairway is 0.42 strokes, an increase of about one-tenth of a stroke over the preceding five Masters. That may not seem like much on the surface but consider this: players hit the green in regulation after a missed fairway 34.6 percent of the time at the 2023 Masters, the second-lowest rate of any course on tour all last season (Los Angeles CC, 31.6).

[Pete_Pittock]

From The Athletic:


Missing the fairway at ANGC has become more penalizing since scoring records crumbled at the COVID-induced fall Masters of 2020. The last three years, the average penalty for a missed fairway is 0.42 strokes, an increase of about one-tenth of a stroke over the preceding five Masters. That may not seem like much on the surface but consider this: players hit the green in regulation after a missed fairway 34.6 percent of the time at the 2023 Masters, the second-lowest rate of any course on tour all last season (Los Angeles CC, 31.6).

Upsized the quote from MM post

[Joel_Stewart]

I saw Notah Begay on TGC yesterday and he said from the fairway Augusta is one of the easiest courses to hit the green.  From the rough its one of the hardest.

[Jim_Coleman]

   It seems to me it’s more the trees than the rough. Or should I say second cut?

[Joe_Tucholski]

   It seems to me it’s more the trees than the rough. Or should I say second cut?

It's certainly not the density and length of the grass or inconsistent lies, as the rough is nicer than many fairways I've played.


The fairways are pretty generous so missing them often puts you in a bad position.


I played Torrey pines the week after the farmers and a ball that landed in the fairway but rolled into the rough was a potential lost ball and I could hardly hit more than a wedge out when I did find my ball.

[Kyle Harris]

When they stick the, ahem, second cut in the middle of the landing area I'll say this is a meaningful statistic as it pertains to the actual lie.

Other than that is not explained with simple geometry or being farther offline and farther from the target?

[jeffwarne]

When they stick the, ahem, second cut in the middle of the landing area I'll say this is a meaningful statistic as it pertains to the actual lie.

Other than that is not explained with simple geometry or being farther offline and farther from the target?

yes, but often now there is an unlimbed tree in the way further reducing recovery options.

[Tommy Williamsen]

In some ways, the "second cut" helps players. There were times yesterday when the long grass stopped the ball from running into really bad spots.