Masters Mayhem: No. 15 Claims Victims as Course Bakes Hard

Augusta National Golf Club proved exceptionally challenging during the Masters' first round on April 10, 2026. The course, characterized by firm and fast conditions, particularly troubled players on hole No. 15, a par-five usually considered a scoring opportunity. Many golfers found the greens "like concrete," leading to unpredictable ball behavior and difficulty in controlling spin.

Robert MacIntyre experienced a particularly difficult time on the 15th, hitting his second shot into the water and then overspinning his subsequent pitch back into the water. His frustration led him to react by giving the middle finger to the green. Fred Couples and Patrick Reed also faced severe difficulties on the same hole, with Couples hitting two balls into the water and Reed's approach bouncing off the green and into the water by the 16th hole.