How Many Birdies Are There at the Masters?

Elsewhere on this site you can read about which players have scored the most birdies at the Masters and if the golfer who cards the most birdies in a tournament is also the most likely to win the green jacket. Here we’re taking a more specific look at the individual holes that are played at Augusta National to see if there’s any consistency in how many birdies are achieved at them on a tournament-by-tournament basis. If a player wants to win the green jacket then going round the course level par isn’t going to cut it, instead needing a more spectacular round or two.

Birdies, eagles and, to a much lesser extent, albatrosses are what will see players crowned the Masters champion each year. As a bettor, what can you look out from a player’s performance each year to give you a sense of who might end up with the green jacket come Masters Sunday? If, for example, a hole doesn’t have many people scoring birdies but one player has got a birdie on that hole on Day 1 and Day 2, does that mean that they’ve got to grips with the Masters course better than others? Birdies at the Masters can tell you a wealth of information, which is why we’re taking a closer look here.

Looking at the Data from 2023

The good news about the Masters is that there is a heap of information out there that we can have a look at to help us puzzle through the likelihood of players getting a birdie on any given hole. Here is a look at what happened during each round in 2023:

Birdies Scored at Each Hole at the 2023 Masters

You can see, then, that some holes are obviously much harder to get birdies on than others. With 123 birdies managed across the four days of competition, the 15th was the ‘easiest’ hole on which to get a birdie in 2023. Conversely, just 13 birdies were managed across the four days of the Masters on the fifth, which made it the most difficult hole on which to improve your card. There were 878 birdies scored in 2023 and, interestingly, there were the same number managed on the front nine as there were on the back nine, with 439 scored on each.

How Many Tournament Birdies Are Scored on Average?

Knowing how things were in the 2023 Masters is one thing, of course, but what does it look like if we take a peak at how the birdies were scored in previous years? Is it the same holes that are hard to get birdies on every year, or does it change depending on how the Augusta National course has been set up each time? Here is a look at the information across the tournaments played in 2019, 2022 and 2023:

Masters Birdies Scored by Year

Hole	2023	2022	2019	Average
1	22	17	33	24.0
2	120	128	125	124.3
3	47	48	69	54.7
4	17	10	20	15.7
5	13	13	13	13.0
6	33	29	48	36.7
7	33	44	41	39.3
8	113	94	122	109.7
9	41	48	41	43.3
10	21	33	28	27.3
11	15	10	21	15.3
12	49	37	52	46.0
13	108	91	158	119.0
14	25	46	47	39.3
15	123	74	148	115.0
16	51	56	63	56.7
17	19	24	39	27.3
18	28	25	31	28.0
Total	878	827	1099	934.7

The table above shows that the number of birdies scored at each hole at Augusta during three tournaments, the Masters in 2019, 2022 and 2023. This highlights that holes 2, 8, 13, and 15 are where the highest number of birdies are consistently recorded.

The two holes which shows the highest variance across these three tournaments are the 13th and 15th. The 13th has had a high of 158 birdies in 2019 and low of 91 in 2022. The 15th has a high of 148 in 2019 and a low of 74 birdies in 2022, which is less than half. This indicates that these two holes have the biggest variability in difficulty, most likely due to the pin position and/or weather conditions.

The fewest birdies have been consistently been scored on the 4th, 5th and 11th holes. Interestingly, at the 5th, 13 birdies were scored in each of the three tournaments that we have looked at.

The chart below shows the average tournament birdies for each hole across the Masters in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

You can see that some holes are clearly more likely to see a birdie scored on them than others. On average, for example, 119 birdies are likely to be scored across the four days of the Masters Tournament on hole 13, so if you fancy having a bet on someone getting one than that is the hole to be looking at. On the other hand, the average of 13 birdies scored across the four days of golf on the fifth is comfortably the lowest, with the next closest being the 11th. If a player managers a birdie on that hole on more than one occasions over the course of the weekend’s golf then they’re likely to playing well enough to have a chance of winning.

Looking at each Hole

It is important to note that the Masters Tournament sees Augusta National set up differently each year, especially in terms of things like the pin placement. That being said, we can take a look at things like the par for each hole to get a sense of what will face the players when they line up on the tee and look to hit their first shot. The setup of the course will also be similar from year to year. A hole that has a dog-leg left to right one year is unlikely to be played from right to left the year after, for example. With that in mind, then, here is a quick look at each hole alongside the average number of birdies scored across the three years we’ve looked at:

Hole 1

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Tea Olive	4	24.0

The first hole at Augusta National is designed to test even the most confident of players. Boasting a dog-left from left to right, only the most accurate of hitters are going to be getting the driver out here. Even if you hit a great shot into the middle of the fairway that misses the large bunker midway up, the second shot into the green isn’t the easiest thanks to the fact that it is elevated and protected by another bunker. There is no shame in par on the opening hole of your round.

Hole 2

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Pink Dogwood	5	124.3

Whilst the opening hole is a challenging one, things are a bit more forgiving on the second and the golfers hoping to wear the green jacket at the end of weekend will attack it aggressively. The dog-leg runs right to left and down a hill, meaning that the big hitters will be looking to get on the green in two. There is a fairway bunker on the right and a copse of trees punishing inaccurate tee shots. The green is guarded by bunkers, but birdies are more than possible here.

Hole 3

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Flowering Peach	4	54.7

The shortest par four at Augusta, the third encourages players to lay-up to the right on account of the four bunkers on the left of the fairway. There is danger to be found if you miss the green with your second, which is why this isn’t a hole that sees countless birdies being carded. The pin position for this hole is what makes it particularly tricky to play, so if someone emerges with a birdie to their name then they’ll be in good form for the day.

Hole 4

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Flowering Crab	3	15.7

The first par three of the course isn’t one that can be attacked with gay abandon. It is the longest of the par threes at Augusta National, with the green being an annoyingly small target to aim for. There is a big slope back-to-front that can see even decent shots end up going for a walk, whilst the nature of the hole means that it is something of a wind tunnel at times. There is a reason there was an average of 15.7 birdies scored here across the three years we’ve looked at.

Hole 5

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Magnolia	4	13.0

There were 13 birdies scored in total on the fifth hole in 2023, 13 birdies in total scored in 2022 and 13 birdies scored in total in 2019, so it is entirely fair to paint this as one of the toughest holes that Augusta National has to offer. The tee shot is uphill, with a dog-leg left causing trouble. There are also two fairway bunkers that players tend to head towards like a magnet. The green boasts a false front, meaning that anyone playing an iron shot into it needs to be extremely accurate. Even if you hit the green, a right-to-left slope will then cause you issues.

Hole 6

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Juniper	3	36.7

On most courses, a par three offers a little bit of respite and a chance to go for a birdie. Not so the sixth at Augusta National, which sees both the tee and the green elevated higher than the rest of the hole. The green is tiered, which is where the major danger lies, especially if the flag is on the righthand side of the green that is around five feet higher than the rest. There is also a bunker at the front looking to swallow up your ball if you leave it short.

Hole 7

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Pampas	4	39.3

Pampas is a narrow hole that requires a decent, straight drive for anyone looking to try to make birdie. There are five bunkers at the front of the green, so if you go for it with your second then there’s a decent chance you’ll end up in the sand. Wild shots will be punished, so do you go big with the driver in the hope of giving yourself a nice chip, or choose a more accurate club like a three wood in the knowledge that you’ll have to be spot-on with your iron? Birdies are hard to come by.

Hole 8

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Yellow Jasmine	5	109.7

For the big-hitters on the PGA Tour nowadays, par fives don’t offer the same level of test that they do to normal golfers. That might help to explain why there were 109.7 birdies scored on it on average across the three years that we’ve looked at. It drifts left to right then back to the left, with players who can avoid the bunkers on the right offering themselves a decent chance of a birdie. The second shot is essentially played blind, which makes up for the lack of green-side bunkers.

Hole 9

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Carolina Cherry	4	43.3

The front nine draws to a close with a hole that asks players to hit the ball to the right from the tee in order to give themselves a straight shot to the green. The problems arise as you get closer to the green, with the slope on offer one of the most severe on the course. The placement of the pin will be the key thing to look out for here, with shots that are anything other than accurate liable to run back off the front.

Hole 10

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Camellia	4	27.3

If you want a dramatic look then the tenth at Augusta provides it. There is a drop of more than 100 foot from the tee to the green, with bunkers protecting it on the right. The green falls away at the front, so if you don’t get close to the flag then you’re going to see your ball dribble into the sand in a frustrating manner.

Hole 11

Name	Par	Average Birdies
White Dogwood	4	15.3

The second fewest birdies on average were scored on the 11th across the three years that we’ve looked at, which tells you that you need to figure out whether it plays into the strength of the golfer that you’re thinking of betting on. It is one of the course’s longest par fours, with players desperate not to miss left. The approach to the 11th green is the start of Amen Corner, thanks in no small part to a water hazard to the left and a drop-off to the right.

Hole 12

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Golden Bell	3	46.0

One of the shortest holes not only at Augusta National but in all of tournament golf, the swirling winds that are often present here makes club selection crucial. The combination of Rae’s Creek and a bunker to the left are guarding the green, whilst shots that got too long are liable to end up in the sand off the back. The centre of the green is where to aim, but the small size of the landing zone makes it a challenge.

Hole 13

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Azalea	5	119.0

There are few holes that offer the promises of a birdie or even an eagle whilst also threatening a bogey quite like the 13th at Augusta. The fairway runs from right-to-left, but the creek that runs alongside the lefthand side of the fairway makes shot accuracy crucial. Anyone finding the fairway will fancy their chances of making the green in two, which is terraced and has sand protecting it at the back.

Hole 14

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Chinese Fir	4	39.3

There are no bunkers on the 14th, which is the only hole on the course where that is true. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other issues to contend with, however, such as the fairway that slopes from left-to-right. There is a dog-leg left uphill, meaning many will be playing their second with the ball beneath their feet. The green is also one that runs left-to-right, whilst a ramp at the front causes all sorts of issues. No wonder there were only 39.3 birdies scored on average over our three chosen years.

Hole 15

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Firethorn	5	115.0

Only the 2nd and the 13th saw more birdies scored on average across the three years that we’ve looked at then the 115 that were holed on the 15th. It is definitely one that the leaders will be chasing at least a birdie on, thanks to the wide fairway being inviting to the big hitters. There is a pond just in front of the green, so accurate shots matter, but the big-hitters all tend to love playing the 15th.

Hole 16

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Redbud	3	56.7

In 2019, there were 63 birdies scored on the 16th, which compares favourably to the 29 bogeys. It is also a hole that has seen more holes-in-one than any other at Augusta National in the Masters, so don’t be surprised to see players going for the green and hoping for a birdie chance. Even if they miss, as Tiger Woods did in 2005, there is a still a chance of a birdie thanks to the slope of the green.

Hole 17

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Nandina	4	27.3

There is a narrow fairway in play on the penultimate hole of Augusta National, so big-hitters also need to be accurate if they want to be one of the few players that get a birdie here. It is the green that provides the most difficultly, thanks to the bunker in place to swallow up anything that goes short and another looking for anything that heads left. The green seems to slope in every direction, with anyone going off the back all but kissing goodbye to a birdie chance.

Hole 18

Name	Par	Average Birdies
Holly	4	28.0

There is an alley of trees guarding the 18th green that look impossible to navigate, but if a player can get their tee shot right then they’ll bypass it altogether. Tee shots that go left will be best, but don’t hit it too far or the sands traps will get you. The green is two-tiered, so get your shot wrong and you could be rolling the wrong way. Get it right, though, and you could be faced with a birdie putt to win the Masters.