Masters 2016: Tiger Woods Offers Hole-by-Hole Advice for Playing at Augusta

Fourteen-time major champion and four-time green-jacket winner Tiger Woods may not be playing in the Masters Tournament this week, but that doesn't mean he isn't locked into this year's proceedings. 

In a piece for the Masters' official website published Monday, Woods broke down the holes at Augusta National Golf Club and explained how to best to attack them in advance of Thursday's Round 1.

While the entire piece is well worth your time, here's a look at Woods' analysis of some of Augusta's trickiest holes—with several appearances from the famous Amen Corner.   

No. 11: White Dogwood

According to Woods' piece, the first hole on Amen Corner graded out as the toughest to score on during the 2015 tournament won by Jordan Spieth. 

Zero players eagled on the 505-yard par-four monster in last year's tournament, and the field made only 22 birdies throughout the course of four days at Augusta. 

With that in mind, here's how Woods suggested attacking the back-nine beast: 

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No. 11 immediately tests us with the toughest tee shot we face during the Tournament. I hit driver and try my best to keep the ball out of the forest on the right.

You see a lot of balls in those pines because players shy away from the left — and for good reasons. For starters, it shortens the hole if you play up the right side. Doing so also gives you a much better angle into the green so you don’t have to flirt with the pond guarding the left half of the putting surface.

Depending on conditions, I’ll usually hit my approach with a club ranging from a 6-iron to a 9-iron. On Sunday in 2001, I hit a 9-iron from 145 yards and nearly jarred it, then took the lead. Taking such an aggressive line was 100 percent club- and situation-dependent. I had carried the trees on the right side and that left me the perfect club and angle into the green. I simply took advantage of the opportunity.

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The scoring average on White Dogwood last year clocked in at a staggering 4.325, and there were more than four times as many bogeys (90) as birdies among players in last year's field. In other words, players capable of mastering—or at least taming—No. 11 could be in for a strong week. 

No. 12: Golden Bell

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Following White Dogwood is Golden Bell—which represents one of the more daunting par-three challenges at the Masters. 

Although it ranked just ninth in terms of difficulty last year, No. 12 followed the same trend as No. 11 in that there were more bogeys (51) than birdies (50) made at the scenic hole a season ago. 

No. 12 has become renowned for the winds that swirl—which makes short-to-medium iron shots a pain following a huge test on No. 11, according to Woods: 

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Whether it’s windy or not, the tee shot is still just a wedge, or at most a 7-iron if the breeze is really going strong. That’s when the 12th green seems to shrink as you’re getting ready to hit the ball, and you realize there is no good place to leave it except on the putting surface.

If you go over the green long and left, you face a tough little pitch because the grass there doesn’t get as much sun as other parts of the course. The back bunkers aren’t forgiving, either. I’ve seen players put sand shots into Rae’s Creek numerous times, and I made a bogey from one of the bunkers in 2001 on Sunday.

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And make no mistake about it: Players can parlay success on No. 12 into momentum as the back nine comes to a close. The par-five 13th known as Azalea was the easiest hole for players in last year's field, with average scoring clocking in at 4.546 strokes. 

There were a meager 22 bogeys made on Azalea all of last year, which was stunning considering there were nearly as many eagles (20) converted during that stretch. 

With Nos. 14 and 15 also representing relatively easier tasks, the key to unlocking back-nine success can rest on a performance at the short yet ferocious 12th. 

No. 16: Redbud

No breakdown of Augusta would be complete without a look at Woods' take on No. 16—the site of his famous chip-in that helped him clinch a 2005 Masters title. Incidentally, that was the last time Woods came out on top at the year's first major. 

During his discussion of the best ways to approach Redbud, Woods explained there's a small section of the putting surface that can lead to ideal results: 

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Hole location plays such a big role here. The front-right pin requires one of the testiest 9-irons you’ll ever hit. If you miss right, that’s no fun. If you go past the flag, you’ll face one of the tougher two-putts you’ll ever hit. But if you’re flag-high or if the ball rolls back, then it’s an easy par because you’ll be putting up the hill. The back-right pin has a little bit more room for error now that the Club has widened that area a bit. Then there’s another hole location on that left-hand side that is only about four yards from the back edge.

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Woods may not be able to replicate his 2005 heroics this year, but with Spieth, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and a host of talented youngsters vying for green-jacket greatness, this year should produce plenty of memorable moments with Augusta immortality at stake.