‘It’s tricky’: Treacherous Masters hole ejects contenders on Day 1

Augusta National is full of intricacies and diabolical shots that must be played to perfection if you plan to rise up the leaderboard and contend for a green jacket.

On Tuesday, Viktor Hovland perfectly described the challenge the iconic course presents, noting that if your “technique” is off in any aspect, you will not have a fun walk. There are countless shots — from the approach into 11 green to the tee shot on 12 — that determine who survives and who crumbles at Augusta National.

But during Thursday’s first round of the 2025 Masters, one treacherous shot claimed several victims: the second into the 550-yard par-5 15th.

With the pin tucked in the front right, players going for the green in two were faced with a difficult task of trying to hold the rebuilt, firm green with a mid- or long iron, knowing that if the ball bounced over the green, they would be left with a difficult downhill chip that could race past the hole and into the water.

“I had a full 4-iron in there today, and I pulled it a little bit, landed middle of the green, and it bounced a good — it was probably a good 10 steps over the green almost,” Viktor Hovland, who shot one under, said. “It’s just really difficult. I hit a really nice pitch shot, and I made sure to aim it really far left, away from the pin, because you can easily hit a nice pitch on that green, and it just rolls in the water, which I’m sure a lot of guys did today.

“You don’t have to be far off to make a double or hit it in the water or whatnot.”

Hovland played a nice chip and was able to make birdie.

Others were not so lucky.

Patrick Cantlay arrived at the 15th at one-under par. He hit his second shot into the green; it took a massive hop and caromed 42 yards away from the pin. Cantlay’s pitch from over the back of the green bounced twice on the fringe and then rolled past the hole, off the green and into the water. Cantlay reloaded and found the watery grave again. He walked off with a triple bogey and finished two over.

A few groups later, Rory McIlroy arrived at the 15th on cruise control. He was four under and had just blistered a drive down the middle of the fairway. McIlroy’s second landed pin high but bounded over the green, and his chip took two big bounces and quickly rolled past the cup and into the water.

It’s a debale McIlroy foresaw days before. He knew what was lurking on No. 15 at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy foresaw his Thursday debacle at the 2025 Masters on Tuesday — at least he knew what was lurking on No. 15 at Augusta National.

“I think everyone saw the ladies playing here on Saturday that those greens always are a little bit firmer, especially 15, for example, watching the balls shoot through that green,” McIlroy said during his pre-tournament press conference.

He made double and finished the day at even par.

“It’s tricky,” Ludvig Aberg, who shot four under, said of the 15th. “The green is new, so it gets a little bit firmer than some of the other ones. I was fortunate to get my drive pretty far down there so I could hit an iron in there. But obviously, you’re playing with fire when you’re messing with that front, especially with a short pin. That chip from long isn’t easy, either. We said this week that if we’re in between numbers and you don’t love it, then you should always lay up and take the wedge. It might seem boring, but a 5 isn’t a terrible score on that hole. But it’s a good golf hole.”

Tyrrell Hatton, who has a history of disliking the 15th, known as “Firethorn,” might not agree with the “good golf hole” assessment from Aberg.

“The wedge shot is so hard. I think over the years as well that green has got firmer and firmer. I really wish they hadn’t lengthened it,” Hatton said. “… Jordan [Spieth], I think he hit 5-iron in today, which OK, he’s hitting an iron, but he’s landed it short of the pin on the green and if it goes two yards further it’s off the back. He’s hit an amazing shot, but it’s just holding the green to the front pin. When you move that pin over on the left, it’s going to be near impossible to hold the green because if we don’t have any rain, it’s going to keep getting firmer.”

With limited rain in the forecast, it’s a green that likely will only continue to firm up as the week goes on.

By the time Sunday rolls around, how the contenders decide to attack “Firethorn” could very well end up deciding who slips on the jacket when all is said and done.