Tournament organizers at the Masters made a significant change for the final round on Sunday, and fans were not pleased with the development.
Shortly before players teed off on Sunday, the Masters shared a chart that showed the exact pin placements for all 18 holes in the final round of the tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. One thing that immediately jumped out was the pin placement on the famous par-3 16th hole.
In years past, the pin placement for the final round on 16 has been just behind the left greenside bunker. That location is extremely accessible and allows players to use the slope on the right side of the green to set up easy birdie opportunities. There have also been a number of holes-in-one on the 16th during the final round over the years.
This year, the pin placement on 16 is in the back right, which will likely make birdies tough to come by.
Hole locations for the final round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/99Xeszmh9H
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
There is even a blurb on the official Masters website that mentions how the 16th hole at Augusta National (which is called “Redbud”) is best known for its traditional final-round pin placement.
“The 16th green is best known for the famous Sunday hole location just behind the left greenside bunker,” the website reads. “This particular hole location is the primary reason ‘Redbud’ has seen 24 holes in one in the Masters tournament, more than any other hole at the Augusta National.”
Fans were stunned when they saw that the pin placement on 16 was in a new spot.
16 not being in the traditional location was genuinely shocking, I just spit out my coffee
— Pars Are Good (@parsaregoodgolf) April 13, 2025
What the hell is going on with 16?
— Tobin Archer Jr (@RealTobinArcher) April 13, 2025
Wow 16 is diabolical
— Prop Geek Zeke📚 (@PropGeekZeke) April 13, 2025
16 has gone from win the Masters with a 2 …. to now lose the Masters with 4 #themasters @TSN_Sports @TSNGolf https://t.co/gSajAdYbbB
— Mark Zecchino (@ZeeManGolf) April 13, 2025
The 16th pin placement on Saturday was close to the traditional Sunday location, so perhaps we should have seen this coming. Still, not watching balls funnel from right to left and flirt with the hole on 16 is going to make the viewing experience a lot different for the final round of the 2025 Masters.
