15th Hole (Firethorn) Is Augusta National's Easiest
- Par: Par 5
- Length: 550 yards
- Name: Firethorn
The hole is easily reachable in two (unless the wind isn't cooperating) and many birdies and eagles are recorded here. But disasters sometimes happen, too, thanks to the pond fronting the green.
The 15th hole's namesake, Firethorn (scientific name: pyracantha coccinea) is a flowering, berry-producing tree native to Europe, and a member of the rose family. During tournament time the firethorns on the hole are usually in bloom with small, white flowers.
Here is an animated flyover of No. 15, created for Golfweek magazine:
Scoring Stats on Augusta National Hole 15
The all-time Masters tournament scoring average on No. 15 is 4.77 strokes, which ranks Firethorn as the second-easiest hole on the golf course.The hole didn't play easy in 1998, however, when Firethorn played over par at 5.10 strokes. That is the highest stroke average for a single Masters Tournament on this hole. The lowest stroke average on the hole during any Masters is 4.50 in 1991.
All-Time Best and Worst Scores on Augusta's 15th Hole
Highest score ever on No. 15: The worst score ever made on Firethorn is an 8-over-par 13 (a octuple bogey), recorded by Sergio Garcia in 2018. Garcia was the defending champ that year. His title defense was not successful. Garcia played a 6-iron into the green on his second shot, but the ball spun back into the pond that fronts the green. After going to the drop area, Garcia hit four more balls into the water.Lowest score ever on No. 15: The best score ever made on the hole is a 3-under-par score of 2 — a double eagle. It's happened only once (there have been only four double eagles in Masters history), and it is one of the most famous shots in golf history. At the 1935 Masters, Gene Sarazen holed out his approach on the 15th (the "Shot Heard 'Round the World") in the final round and went on to win the tournament in a playoff.
Best tournament score ever on No. 15: What about cumulative score on No. 15 during a single Masters? The record for four-round score is 6-under-par 14, and nine golfers share the that record:
- Gene Sarazen, 1935 (4,4,4,2)
- John A. Fought III, 1980 (4,4,3,3)
- Ben Crenshaw, 1991 (4,4,3,3)
- Fuzzy Zoeller, 1991 (3,3,4,4)
- Toshi Izawa, 2001 (4,4,3,3)
- Sergio Garcia, 2004 (3,4,4,3)
- Tiger Woods, 2010 (3,4,4,3)
- Ernie Els, 2013 (3,3,4,4)
- Brooks Koepka, 2020 (3,4,3,4)
