90th Masters Tournament Preview at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Ga. The 90th Masters Tournament, one of golf's most prestigious events, is set to unfold April 9-12 at Augusta National Golf Club, where elite players will navigate a meticulously designed 7,565-yard layout renowned for its strategic challenges and storied history.

The course, par 72, features 18 holes named after flowering plants and trees, each presenting unique tests that have defined champions for nearly a century. Totaling over 7,500 yards for the men's professional field, it demands precision off the tee, accurate approach shots and masterful putting on undulating greens. Recent modifications, including a 35-yard tee extension on the 13th hole in 2023 and a 40-yard pushback on the fifth in 2019, have lengthened the par-4 and par-5 holes to counter modern equipment, while maintaining the course's emphasis on finesse over raw power.

The front nine begins with the first hole, Tea Olive, a 445-yard par 4 that plays uphill into a deep fairway bunker requiring a 317-yard carry. Players must favor the left side to avoid trouble, setting a tone of caution early. The second, Pink Dogwood, stretches 585 yards as a par 5 reachable in two for long hitters, though fairway...