Amen Corner Celebrates "Anniversary"
Rich Mueller
April 03, 2008
It happens every spring.
Masters Golf and Amen Corner.
The game's most famous trio of holes stands at the ready with the hopes and dreams of PGA players riding on their ability to make it through a challenging stretch on the back nine at Augusta National Golf Club.
2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the coining of the 'Amen Corner' phrase to describe the 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Augusta. Writing in a still young Sports Illustrated magazine in April of 1958, Herbert Warren Wind used the term to describe Palmer's controversial and yet miraculous move to put himself in position to win his first major championship. The phrase came from an old jazz recording "Shouting at Amen Corner", which described a streetcorner in New York during the turn of the last century where preachers often congregated.
Masters golf and Amen Corner have gone together since Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones, even if the term wasn't coined until that tournament in the '50s when America fell in love with Arnold Palmer and golf gained legions of new fans.
Heavy rain had soaked the course on Saturday evening and when Sunday's final round came, a local rule was adopted allowing a player whose ball became embedded to lift and drop it to a level surface without incurring a penalty stroke.
When Palmer hit his ball over the 12th green during Sunday's play, the did indeed stick in the steep bank behind it. The official manning the hole wasn't sure the rule applied, however, and Palmer agreed that the ball should be played as it lay. Palmer, however, was allowed to play a second ball which he dropped safely. Palmer made a five with the original ball and a three with the second ball.
Tournament officials were then left to determine if the local rule was to be applied and if so, which score should be recorded as Palmer's official total for the hole. Palmer played the 13th without knowing the outcome and sank an 18-foot putt for an eagle 3. Finally, at #15, Palmer was told his drop at 12 was the proper play and that his score on the hole would indeed be a 3. He went on to win the tournament, defeating Ken Venturi, who debated the decision as the players continued their pro careers in the coming years.
Amen Corner includes the par 4 11th hole called "White Dogwood". Downhill and guarded by water, it's a challenging welcome. #12 is a par 3 named "Golden Bell". Measuring 155 yards, it features a creek in front of the small green with bunkers providing danger. Jack Nicklaus once described #12 as "the most dangerous par 3 in the game". #13, "Azalea", is a 510-yard par 5 that can be reached fairly easily in two by today's players. It's a dogleg left.
Tiger Woods has played #13 well over the years, much better in fact, that he has #11 or #12. His career total for the three holes is well under par and Woods said in 2005 "if you can play that stretch there under par every day for four straight days, you're looking pretty good for the week."
The three hole confluence has been the subject of numerous framed golf collectible pieces over time. Like virtually all of Augusta National, it is pristine in its beauty--a challenge to players and a joy to experience for spectators. An excellent resource for Masters tickets, PGA Tour memorabilia and other golf collectibles--old and new-- by visiting
Masters Golf and Amen Corner.
The game's most famous trio of holes stands at the ready with the hopes and dreams of PGA players riding on their ability to make it through a challenging stretch on the back nine at Augusta National Golf Club.
2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the coining of the 'Amen Corner' phrase to describe the 11th, 12th and 13th holes at Augusta. Writing in a still young Sports Illustrated magazine in April of 1958, Herbert Warren Wind used the term to describe Palmer's controversial and yet miraculous move to put himself in position to win his first major championship. The phrase came from an old jazz recording "Shouting at Amen Corner", which described a streetcorner in New York during the turn of the last century where preachers often congregated.
Masters golf and Amen Corner have gone together since Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones, even if the term wasn't coined until that tournament in the '50s when America fell in love with Arnold Palmer and golf gained legions of new fans.
Heavy rain had soaked the course on Saturday evening and when Sunday's final round came, a local rule was adopted allowing a player whose ball became embedded to lift and drop it to a level surface without incurring a penalty stroke.
When Palmer hit his ball over the 12th green during Sunday's play, the did indeed stick in the steep bank behind it. The official manning the hole wasn't sure the rule applied, however, and Palmer agreed that the ball should be played as it lay. Palmer, however, was allowed to play a second ball which he dropped safely. Palmer made a five with the original ball and a three with the second ball.
Tournament officials were then left to determine if the local rule was to be applied and if so, which score should be recorded as Palmer's official total for the hole. Palmer played the 13th without knowing the outcome and sank an 18-foot putt for an eagle 3. Finally, at #15, Palmer was told his drop at 12 was the proper play and that his score on the hole would indeed be a 3. He went on to win the tournament, defeating Ken Venturi, who debated the decision as the players continued their pro careers in the coming years.
Amen Corner includes the par 4 11th hole called "White Dogwood". Downhill and guarded by water, it's a challenging welcome. #12 is a par 3 named "Golden Bell". Measuring 155 yards, it features a creek in front of the small green with bunkers providing danger. Jack Nicklaus once described #12 as "the most dangerous par 3 in the game". #13, "Azalea", is a 510-yard par 5 that can be reached fairly easily in two by today's players. It's a dogleg left.
Tiger Woods has played #13 well over the years, much better in fact, that he has #11 or #12. His career total for the three holes is well under par and Woods said in 2005 "if you can play that stretch there under par every day for four straight days, you're looking pretty good for the week."
The three hole confluence has been the subject of numerous framed golf collectible pieces over time. Like virtually all of Augusta National, it is pristine in its beauty--a challenge to players and a joy to experience for spectators. An excellent resource for Masters tickets, PGA Tour memorabilia and other golf collectibles--old and new-- by visiting
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