Augusta National Golf Course - Hole 7

Augusta National Golf Club's hole 7, "Pampas," is a demanding par 4 with considerable alterations over the years, making it one of the toughest challenges on the course. As the 2025 Masters Tournament draws near, the hole continues to require strategy and accuracy from the world's best golfers.

Hole Details

Par: 4
Length: 450 yards
Name: Pampas

Pampas, or Cortaderia selloana, is a 10-foot native ornamental grass that is 10 feet in diameter. The name is consistent with the course tradition of assigning hole names based on plants or trees.

Historical Changes

Originally called "Cedar," the 7th hole has seen dramatic alterations since its initial opening. It was an early bunkerless 370-yard hole modelled after the 18th at St Andrews' Old Course. However, following Bryan Nelson's drive onto the green in 1937, the hole was drastically altered for the first time in 1938 when the green was relocated to the crest of a hill and modelled after the 8th at Pine Valley.

The hole construction went on decade after decade:

1956: Two backside greenside bunkers were built.

Mid-1990s: The green was lengthened, and the fairway was narrowed with plantings of trees.

2002: The back tee replaced with a new longer one stretched out the hole 40-45 yards.

2011: Tee was shifted a further 40 yards.

These changes have transformed "Pampas" from a relatively short par 4 into a challenging 450-yard test that is now the 10th-most difficult hole in the history of the Masters Tournament.

Current Layout and Challenges

Today, Augusta National's 7th hole is composed of five strategically positioned bunkers designed to test the skills of even the most capable golfers. Three of them guard the front of the green, while the remaining two sit at the back. Such placement of bunkers, combined with the distance of the hole and the elevated sloping green, requires accuracy in both the tee shot and approach.

The fairway is narrow, lined with trees on each side, making an accurate drive a requirement in order to take advantage of a favourable approach. Most players will play a 3-wood from the tee to leave them short and take a wedge or a short iron in for the second shot.

The green itself is the biggest challenge. Elevated above the fairway and surrounded by bunkers, it slopes very noticeably from back to front. Its steep slope requires controlling the ball on the greens, especially when the pin is in tricky locations.

Scoring and Notable Moments

The 7th hole has averaged a record 4.16 strokes, a difficult par 4. It has seen its fair share of wonderful performances and drama, though:

Lowest: 2 (posted 17 times by various players)

Highest: 8 (a quadruple bogey, posted twice)

In the 2001 Masters, the 7th had its lowest scoring average of 3.986 strokes. However, following the expansion in 2002, the hole has become significantly harder. Recent years have seen it often rank among the toughest holes during the tournament.

Strategy for the Masters Tournament

As golfers prepare for the upcoming Masters, their strategy on the 7th hole will be of utmost significance. The key to success is to drive to the fairway off the tee, setting them up for a more straightforward approach to the well-guarded green. Golfers will need to carefully choose whether to attack the pin or play it safe, depending on the pin position and conditions for the day.

The 7th hole at Augusta National, "Pampas," is a reminder of the course's evolution and the ongoing test it presents to the world's best golfers. As the Masters Tournament approaches, the hole will be certain to play a large role in shaping the direction of the tournament, demanding respect and precision from anyone who tees up to it.