Augusta - Hole-by-hole description of Augusta National Golf Club course, where the 70th Masters begins on Thursday:
1: Par four, 455 yards: Tee moved back this year 20 yards, bringing a hill in the landing area more into play, and pine trees on left side were moved closer to a fairway on a slight dogleg right now pinched by rough.
A fairway bunker has been extended and tee shots must be 327 yards to clear. The green is deceptive, putting breaking more than players often perceive.
2: Par five, 575 yards: Dogleg left, rarely reachable in two now. Second shots often from sidehill lie and large, deep bunkers guard the front of the sloped green. A fairway bunker was deepened three feet.
3: Par four, 350 yards: Classic short par-4. Four bunkers guard left fairway. Green slopes from right to left, with a thin neck on the left side protected by a bunker.
4: Par three, 240 yards: Tee moved back 35 yards this year. Long par-3 often made more difficult by deceptive wind. Two greenside bunkers, front right and along the left side, protect a green that slopes to the front.
5: Par four, 455 yards: Uphill dogleg left with sloping green. A tee shot left allows a shorter second shot and brings two fairway bunkers and harsh rough into play. Green slopes down to the front with a bunker in back.
6: Par three, 180 yards: Elevated tee to double-tiered green. Pin position is critical because of the elevation difference.
7: Par four, 450 yards: Tee moved back 40 yards this year, forcing driver or 3-wood off the tee. Tight fairway lined by trees. Elevated small green slopes from back to front, guarded by three bunkers in front and two in back. Green changes made to create tricky back right pin placement.
8: Par five, 570 yards: A reshaped fairway bunker on the right is a 305-yard carry on this uphill hole. Mounds and trees make for trouble left of green. Drive and layup as 2002 lengthening took decision making out of equation.
9: Par four, 460 yards: Dogleg left with pines guarding the fairway. Multi-tiered green slopes back to front, with bunkers on the front left that can be taken out of play by tee shots to right.
10: Par four, 495 yards: Longest par-four in major golf plays downhill with a nasty fairway bunker. Draw shot is key. Green slopes right to left, with bunker guarding the right front. Balls hit short, left or long will roll down the slopes.
11: Par four, 505 yards: Tee moved back 15 yards this year and a tree line brought into the fairway on the right side eliminates a once-popular shortcut at the opening hole of the fabled trio called Amen Corner.
A pond guards the green to the left and a bunker is placed right-centre. An accurate tee shot much more vital. The once wide-open fairway, with a more level landing area, also squeezed on both sides by rough.
12: Par three, 155 yards: Shortest par-3 on the course. Swirling winds make club selection tricky, while Rae's Creek in front and three greenside bunkers make it essential to land on the putting surface.
13: Par five, 510 yards: Accurate tee shot to center of fairway allows a player to go for the green in two on this dogleg, but it's more of a gamble now with tees moved back in 2003. Tributary to Rae's Creek flows in front of green, with four bunkers behind the four-shelved putting surface.
14: Par four, 440 yards: The only hole on course without a bunker. Green slopes sharply left to right. Few landing areas where ball will not roll away.
15: Par five, 530 yards: Tees moved back 30 yards this year. Shot into green must clear the pond in front of the green and avoid bunker on the right. Site of Gene Sarazen's double-eagle in 1935.
16: Par three, 170 yards: Played entirely over water to green sloping significantly from right to left and secured by three bunkers.
17: Par four, 440 yards: Tees moved back 15 yards this year. Trees protect both sides of fairway, including the Eisenhower Tree left center of the fairway some 195 yards from the tee. Instead of clearing a hill, many will hit second shot off upslope. New trees tighten landing area past 300 yards.
18: Par four, 465 yards: Bunkers were enlarged and shifted so most cannot reach them. Trees left of the fairway bunkers test golfers. Uphill dogleg protected off the tee by two bunkers at the left elbow. Green guarded by two bunkers.
