Sergio Garcia recalls how Amen Corner sparked Masters glory last year.. but urges his rivals not to go through the same trauma
Spaniard looks back on his crucial final-day performance last year on the famous 11th to 13 holes at Augusta - and hopes nobody goes through the same strain
AMEN CORNER answered Sergio Garcia’s prayers when he won last year’s Masters . . . but only after bringing him to his knees!
With a Green Jacket safely in his Augusta locker, he can look back fondly on his final-round drama from 11 to 13 — golf’s most famous stretch of holes.
And ahead of his title defence, Garcia laughed: “I’d say to anyone, enjoy Amen Corner for the incredible drama it can generate, especially on the fourth day.
“Just don’t try to play them the way I did!”
The Spaniard dropped a shot on the fearsome 11th — Augusta’s longest par four at 505 yards — to fall two shots off Justin Rose.
He scrambled a par three on the 12th, often rated the most scary short hole in the game.
But his hopes of claiming that elusive first Major title looked over when he hooked his drive into a bush on the par-five 13th.
Garcia, 38, said: “It could have finished so differently if I hadn’t managed to stay calm after that drive — because it did look like my chance might have gone.
OH TINO Chelsea make Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino number one target to replace Antonio Conte
“After the bogey on 11, I told myself, ‘Look, it’s possibly the hardest hole on the course and that could happen to anyone. Just regroup and move on’.
“Making par on 12 should have settled me, as it is a hole where disaster lurks.
“Jordan Spieth put two balls in the water there in the final round the year before to destroy his chances.
“The 13th is only five yards longer than the 11th and usually is a must-birdie par five.
“But there I was, looking like dropping at least one shot, and Justin was perfectly positioned to go for the green in two, looking to stretch his lead to three or four with only five holes to play. I told myself this is what you practise for, to make something special happen when you are under the most intense pressure.
“After my penalty drop I hit a good recovery with my third, knocked it on the green to about 15ft and holed my putt for par!
THE FAMOUS THREE HOLES
THE 11th hole graphic shows Garcia’s drive (white line) is too straight and long (where he wants to be is shown in red).
From behind a tree he chips just off the green — but Garcia’s long putt is overhit and he ends up three-putting for bogey.
AT the 12th, Garcia’s tee shot floats over the water and ends up left of the pin on the green.
His birdie putt is decent — but not good enough to find the hole as he makes par.
A WILD drive lands Garcia in a bush down 13, earning a penalty drop.
He chips out again but can’t clear the water around the green. He follows up with a great chip to about two yards and taps home for par.
“Justin was on in two and rolled his first putt about 6ft from the hole. Suddenly there was a lot more riding on the putt.
“He missed, then I go birdie-eagle on 14 and 15 and we end up level on nine under.
“We all know what happened in the play-off, luckily for me.
“But without that par save on 13, I don’t think I’d have had the energy and belief to make birdie on 14, or eagle on 15.
“So I often think back to Amen Corner as the part of the course where I almost lost The Masters — and then gave myself the chance to win it.
“Ideally, you’d play that stretch in one or two under. I played it in one over. But walking off 13, it felt like I’d made up ground on Justin.
“When you get those sort of emotions, it helps explain why Amen Corner is such a special place and why it is usually so pivotal in deciding the result.”