Amen Corner at Augusta: Identifying the Famous Holes

Amen Corner at Augusta National consists of three consecutive holes: No. 11 (White Dogwood, par 4), No. 12 (Golden Bell, par 3), and No. 13 (Azalea, par 5). This stretch, anchored by Rae’s Creek and shifting winds, is where the Masters is typically won or lost. Knowing exactly which holes make up Amen Corner lets you spot the moment the leaderboard flips on Sunday—and understand why a single bad swing can undo a week of great golf.

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The Three Holes of Amen Corner

Each hole demands a different shot and carries a distinct risk. Here’s how to identify them, what to watch for, and the specific history that gives each its reputation.

No. 11 – White Dogwood (Par 4, 505 Yards)

This long dogleg-right plays as the hardest hole on the course most Masters weeks. The tee shot must avoid the fairway bunker on the right and the trees on the left. The approach to a green guarded by a pond on the left forces a precise iron.

• Key feature: The pond catches any pulled approach. In 2021, Hideki Matsuyama’s bogey here kept the pressure on him during the final round—he chunked his second shot into the water, then saved bogey with a nervy 6-foot putt. That one stroke prevented him from building a comfortable cushion.
• Notable moment: Larry Mize’s legendary chip-in from 140 feet for birdie in the 1987 playoff against Greg Norman happened from the left side of the 11th green. Mize’s ball landed on the fringe, rolled across the slope, and trickled into the cup. It remains one of the most dramatic shots in Masters history.
• Practical tip for viewers: The 11th green is the only one on the course where you’ll see players aiming at the right half of the green to avoid the water. If a player’s ball lands left of the pin, expect a tense par save. Watch the caddie’s hand signals as the player walks up—they often point to a safe landing spot well right of the flag.
• Score distribution (typical Masters): The field scoring average on No. 11 hovers around 4.2–4.3. Only about 10% of players make birdie, while nearly 25% make bogey or worse. This hole punishes any mistake severely.
• How to identify on TV: The hole runs from a heavily treed tee box to a green that sits about 10 feet lower than the fairway. The pond is visible behind and left of the green. CBS cuts to this hole frequently on Sunday because it’s a prime spot for leaderboard shifts.

No. 12 – Golden Bell (Par 3, 155 Yards)

The most iconic par 3 in golf. The green is only about 38 feet deep, with Rae’s Creek front and a bunker behind. Wind swirls unpredictably in this natural bowl, making club selection a guessing game even for the pros. The green is shaped like a shallow dish; the front half slopes toward the water, and the back half slopes away.

• Key feature: The shallow green and swirling wind mean the difference between a birdie and a double bogey is often one club. In 2012, Bubba Watson’s tee shot went well right into the pine straw, but he saved par with an improbable wedge from the 10th fairway to later win in a playoff. More importantly, Watson’s shot illustrated a survival strategy: if you can’t hit the green, aim for the safest bailout area (right or long, but never short).
• Notable moment: In 1996, Greg Norman’s Masters lead evaporated when his 5-iron came up short and rolled back into the creek on No. 12. He made double bogey, and his five-shot lead vanished. That single swing is often cited as the moment the tournament turned. Nick Faldo, playing behind him, parred the hole and went on to win.
• Verification step during broadcast: Watch the caddie and player confer at the back of the tee box; they often toss grass to check the wind direction multiple times. A tee shot that lands short and spins back into the creek is the most common failure mode—about 1 in 5 rounds on Sunday sees a ball end up in Rae’s Creek.
• Score distribution (typical Masters): The field scoring average is about 3.2–3.3. Birdies are rare (roughly 8% of players), but double bogeys happen in about 15% of rounds. The hole is notorious for producing a spike in the leaderboard every year.
• How to identify on TV: The green is tucked under the tall pines, and you’ll see the flagstick framed against a wall of green foliage. The creek is directly in front and wraps around the left side. The tee box is elevated; players look down into a natural amphitheater.

No. 13 – Azalea (Par 5, 510 Yards)

The classic risk-reward closing hole of Amen Corner. A dogleg left with Rae’s Creek running down the left side and across the front of the green. Big hitters can cut the corner, but a pulled drive ends up in the creek. The hole has produced more eagles than any other at Augusta National, but it has also dashed many dreams.

• Key feature: The green slopes back to front; any approach that is long or left finds the creek. The hole historically ranks as one of the easiest scoring opportunities, but a double bogey is always a threat. In 2005, Tiger Woods hit a perfect 3-wood from 237 yards over the creek to 15 feet and two-putted for eagle during his Sunday charge. He birdied the hole three times during that final round.
• Notable moment: In 1997, Tiger Woods hit a 3-wood from 237 yards over the creek to 15 feet and two-putted for eagle during his record-breaking 18-under victory. That shot symbolized his dominance—he had the length and accuracy to attack a hole that many players lay up on.
• Limitation for viewers: The creek also runs along the left side of the fairway. A player who tries to cut the dogleg and hooks the drive is often looking at a penalty drop and a bogey—or worse. The trade-off between going for the green in two versus laying up is what makes the 13th so compelling. For most amateurs, the safe play is to hit a mid-iron short of the water and pitch on, but at the Masters, the top players often try to reach the green in two because an eagle can change the tournament.
• Score distribution (typical Masters): The field scoring average is about 4.6–4.7. Eagles occur in about 5% of rounds, birdies in about 35%. Double bogeys happen in about 8% of rounds. It’s the only par 5 on the course that yields a high eagle rate, but the risk of water makes it a legitimate scoring opportunity only for those who execute.
• How to identify on TV: The hole bends left around a line of azalea bushes (which bloom in late March/early April, giving the hole its name). The creek is visible on both the left side of the fairway and across the front of the green. The fairway slopes gently left toward the water, so drives that fade too much end up dry, but hooks are fatal.

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How the Name Came About

Sportswriter Herbert Warren Wind coined “Amen Corner” in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article. He borrowed the phrase from a jazz record titled Shouting in the Amen Corner and applied it specifically to the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes—the stretch where Masters champions often “pray their way through.” The name stuck because the combination of water, wind, and pressure forces players to rely on both skill and luck.

Misconception: Some fans mistakenly include the 10th hole in Amen Corner. The 10th is a long par 4 that leads into the stretch, but it is not part of the original definition. The three official holes are exclusively 11, 12, and 13. Another common error is to think No. 12 is the only hole with water—both 11 and 13 have Rae’s Creek as well, though it appears in different forms.

Why the name matters for identification: If you hear commentators say “Amen Corner begins now,” it means the player is standing on the 11th tee. The stretch ends after the 13th green. Knowing these boundaries lets you anticipate the most pivotal moments of the back nine.

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Why This Stretch Decides the Tournament

The strategic tension across the three holes is unmatched. Each hole tests a different skill, and the cumulative pressure can make or break a round.

• No. 11 punishes a bad approach with a bogey or worse. Par is a good score. A bogey here often forces a player to be aggressive on 13 to recover.
• No. 12 rewards a perfect swing but penalizes even a slight misjudgment. A bogey here is common, and double bogeys happen weekly. A birdie is a massive gain on the field.
• No. 13 offers a birdie or eagle opportunity—but the risk of a double bogey is real if a player tries and fails to reach the green in two. The decision to go for it or lay up is made in seconds and determines the outcome.

The sequence of par-bogey-birdie in fifteen minutes can flip the leaderboard completely. In 1996, Greg Norman’s Masters lead evaporated when he hit into the water on both 12 (5-iron came up short in the creek) and 13 (tried to cut the corner and found Rae’s Creek). He lost the tournament by five shots. In contrast, in 2015, Jordan Spieth played Amen Corner in 2-under over the weekend, including an eagle on 13 on Sunday, to win wire-to-wire.

Practical implication for the average fan: When you’re watching the final nine on Sunday, pay closest attention to the scoreboard change between holes 11 and 13. A player who goes bogey-bogey-par on Amen Corner will likely lose ground, while someone who walks through with three pars or a birdie is gaining significant ground on the field. This three-hole stretch is the fastest way to identify the eventual winner.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amen Corner really only three holes?

Yes. The original definition by Herbert Warren Wind includes holes 11, 12, and 13. Some casual fans add hole 10, but that is incorrect.

Why is it called Amen Corner?

Wind borrowed the phrase from a jazz record. He wrote that players must “pray their way through” this difficult stretch.

Which hole is the hardest in Amen Corner?

Statistically, No. 11 has the highest scoring average (around 4.2–4.3), but No. 12 is often cited as the most mentally demanding because of the swirling wind and shallow green.

How can I tell if a player is on Amen Corner when watching on TV?

CBS typically runs an “Amen Corner” graphic overlay when a player tees off on 11. Also, the course map shows the three holes clustered together near the southeast corner of the property, separated from the rest of the course by Rae’s Creek.

Do the azaleas on No. 13 always bloom during the Masters?

The azaleas usually peak in late March/early April, so they are often in full bloom during Masters week. However, weather can shift the bloom window. If the azaleas are not out, the hole is still named Azalea for the historic plantings.

By identifying the holes by name, number, and shape, you can follow the real action as it happens. The next time you watch the Masters, listen for the CBS announcers to cue the Amen Corner walk—and watch the leaderboard change in real time.