Breaking Down the Masters, Hole-by-Hole: Numbers Two, Three, and Four

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

(Updated at 8:00 PM EDT on Sunday, Apr. 12)

Over the course of the Masters Tournament, we'll be providing an update on holes two, three and four at Augusta National. We'll be focusing on strategy, how changing conditions affect the playability of the holes and how the leading contenders are making there way through this crucial, if sometimes overlooked, stretch.

Check back often for updates throughout the weekend.

Augusta National has many famous holes, particularly those located on the back nine that have been burned into the minds of golf fans during 50 years of network television coverage.

The lesser known holes on Augusta's front side are just as magnificent and are just now becoming more recognizable to the golf masses due to expanded TV coverage over the past decade.

Three of those great but often overlooked holes are Nos. 2, 3, and 4—a long but reachable par-five, a classic shot par-four of 350 yards and one of the toughest par-threes in major championship golf

While it's probably true that the Masters Tournament has never been won on holes two, three, and four at Augusta National, it's probably safe to say that the championship has been lost a time or two on these three architectural gems.

Final Round Highlights

Although holes two, three and four didn't play a part in the dramatic sudden-death playoff that crowned Argentina's Angel Cabrera as the 2009 Masters' champion, there was still plenty of interesting action on the three early holes that got the thousands of Augusta patrons and the millions of TV viewers very excited.

Hole #2, Pink Dogwood, the 575-yard par-5, ranked as the 16th most difficult hole on Sunday, averaging 4.680.  The hole yielded an eagle and 16 birdies, and only 2 bogies. Overall the hole ranked 16th hardest for the entire tournament.

The 350-yard 3rd hole played a little tougher, allowing only 10 birdies, but inflicting seven bogies among the 50 players who played on Sunday.  It finished as the 14th most difficult hole on the day (3.940 stroke average) and 13th for the week.

After almost being benign on days two and three, the 240-yard Par-3 fourth was once again a real test on Sunday, as it ranked third in terms of difficulty, averaging more than a quarter of a stroke over par (3.260). There were only 4 birdies all day compared to 10 bogies, two double bogies and one other.  Flowering Crab Apple finished the week as the 6th most difficult hole.

The three playoff participants had a relatively uneventful trip through holes two, three and four on Sunday, as Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry and winner Angel Cabrera all played the three hole stretch even par.  Campbell and Perry made three pars, while Cabrera birdied three and bogied four.

Other contenders made more noise on the holes.  Phil Mickelson, on his way to a front nine 30, made birdies at two and three to increasingly loud roars from the patrons. American Steve Flesh went one better, recording three consecutive threes at two, three and four on his way to a final round 67 and a tiedfor sixth.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?