Could a Scratch Golfer break 85 at Augusta?

[golfer929]

Friend and I were having a discussion. He says he could do it and would not only break 85, but 80 as well! Stipulations are no caddie, no cart, no walking the course beforehand, and 1 hour warmup before the round. Sunday tournament conditions, from the back tees. He said he wouldn't make a double bogey, and would birdie #13. What do you all think?

[PGArox]

Yeah, if he had a good day.

[golfgirlrobin]

Might break 85. No chance of breaking 80 in tournament conditions.

 

How many 3-putts is he counting on? There will be some. He might never finish number nine.

[Ristlager]

Steph Curry just shot 74, 74 on web.com. He is a scratch player and Augusta probably plays 4-5 shots harder than that course. So 80 should be possible.

[Santiago Golf]

On a good day a scratch should break 85 on any PGA Tour course (look at steph curry). Depends on the players game, but he should break 85 on a good day at Augusta. He would have to career it out there to break 80. Why wouldnt he get a caddie if its tournament conditions

 

Steph Curry just shot 74, 74 on web.com. He is a scratch player and Augusta probably plays 4-5 shots harder than that course. So 80 should be possible.

Steph got to play practice rounds, this situation gets no practice rounds

[ZBigStick]

If he can hit it 320+ off of the tee, like most Golfwrxers, then yeah. No problem.

[golfer929]

On a good day a scratch should break 85 on any PGA Tour course (look at steph curry). Depends on the players game, but he should break 85 on a good day at Augusta. He would have to career it out there to break 80. Why wouldnt he get a caddie if its tournament conditions

 

Steph Curry just shot 74, 74 on web.com. He is a scratch player and Augusta probably plays 4-5 shots harder than that course. So 80 should be possible.

Steph got to play practice rounds, this situation gets no practice rounds

He said he wants to make it as tough on himself as possible to prove the course isn't that hard

[TLUBulldogGolf]

Unless he has watched a ton of rounds played there I don't see any way he would be able to navigate those greens without some rough holes. It could be done but he would have to play well.

[MoneyPlayer33]

A teammate of mine. In college worked the masters 3 years in a row. The pay was playing the course on monday with the same. Setup as sunday. His best round was 81.

 

He was a scratch mayb even plus cap at the time and hit driver 280-285 on average.

[straightshot7]

Sunday tournament conditions, from the tournament tees, with no practice round? And he's never played there before? And his handicap is around 0? Your friend is probably joking. He'd have to hole like 3 iron shots to have a chance to break 80. I think if he played really well he would shoot 82-85.

 

Augusta is not a normal golf course. You can't prepare for those greens without playing several practice rounds. Not to mention knowing where to miss, etc. He would need to play it on Xbox a few dozen times to get an idea : )

 

My guess would be 87.

[rawdog]

Augusta was unofficially rated at 78.1 from the Masters tees in 2010 by the Pope of Slope, Dean Knoth.

 

Couple that with the expectation that a player averages about 3 shots over their handicap, and your buddy may well be able to shoot around 81 on average.

 

Of course, things change in 7 years, and the "nerves" that come with a bet or the prestige of playing Augusta could further tip things in your favor.

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-tough-augusta-knuth

http://www.popeofslope.com/magazine/howtodetect.html

[widow-maker]

There are scratch players that have broken 80 at Augusta. They've got a member who plays as a marker when there's an odd number of players in the Masters that breaks 70. It depends on the player and if he's used to those types of greens. Tee to green Augusta isn't all that scary. If you're a scratch player at Oakmont or Oakland Hills and are used to crazy greens, there's a very good chance you could break 80 the first time seeing it.

[Darth Putter]

Oh the arrogance, in tournament conditions and no caddy either?

 

I say he triples one and fails to break 90.

 

Will he be going to Pine Valley and taking bets on breaking 80 there too?

[rockinar]

Augusta is not some magical course that brings everyone to their knees. Its a course that old rich hacks play all day. If 14 handicaps can survive, a scratch can too. The toughest challenge would be the short game. Not having a caddy would be stupid though.

[Stall]

I doubt the 14 h'cap members are playing off the tips with championship green speeds

[MtlJeff]

I don't think it has an 85 course rating, so I'll say it's possible if even expected

[puttingmatt]

I don't think we are ever going to know, because Augusta will not let you through the gates, unless

you know a member.

[kg92lefty]

He has that arrogance/confidence after posting a 75 at some average no name course where ever you live?

 

*Augusta isn't some mythical beast but can we stop the scratch golfers are so good threads. They are not. Not with the inflated course ratings we have today.

[straightshot7]

Honestly just take him to the hardest course in your area (that he's never played) and have him tee it up from the back of every box.

 

I bet he doesn't break 80 even doing that.

 

It's tough playing a course for the first time. Let alone Augusta National.

 

A big reason your friend is "scratch" is probably because he plays the same course or few courses. Removing that element changes the game and his handicap entirely.

[Hawkeye77]

Tournament conditions a whole different animal than its "ordinary" course rating. Playing back tees, one chance, no practice, no caddy I say no way. He overestimates his ability to know where and be able to place his tee shots, has nowhere near the ability to know where yet alone be able to find the spots on the greens he needs to hit, probably doesn't have the short game he'll need when he misses and no way he knows enough about the greens. Plus, the pressure. Tournament conditions Mr. Boast means all the fans, too. Maybe he breaks 100. Without the fans under his stipulations, maybe he breaks 90, maybe.

 

He could very easily double bogey 13, kill both of his little guarantees in one hole.

 

Even the great Tiger has put up a 40 on the front - your bud is full of it. Ted Bishop will be tweeting when he breaks down and cries after 11.

 

Edit: patrons - I'm going straight to hell.

[MtlJeff]

Wait can we clarify here, are we talking tournament "conditions" only, or an actual tournament with fans?

 

I played Torrey south a few weeks before the tournament when the rough was in, from the one up tees and shot 81 with new clubs and didn't hit it super well. Qmany shot 69 that day as a +1.

 

Obviously Augusta is harder but we're talking shooting 84 here not winning a tournament and unless I'm mistaken it's not even in front of fans

[Hawkeye77]

Wait can we clarify here, are we talking tournament "conditions" only, or an actual tournament with fans?

 

I played Torrey south a few weeks before the tournament when the rough was in, from the one up tees and shot 81 with new clubs and didn't hit it super well. Qmany shot 69 that day as a +1.

 

Obviously Augusta is harder but we're talking shooting 84 here not winning a tournament and unless I'm mistaken it's not even in front of fans

 

I'm sure he doesn't mean fans. Played Torrey South as well, from tees more appropriate for me than you studs (!) shortly after the tourney a few years ago and looking at the back tees and imagining the different challenges from there and much faster greens, etc. I could see it being a lot tougher, but it wasn't an intimidating course to play and the greens weren't that bad to read, but still some local knowledge would have helped a lot.

 

Having seen AN under tournament conditions that course is intimidating, would love to play it. So much different than Torrey.

 

I don't think Mr. Boast shoots 84, not saying any scratch player wouldn't (but tournament conditions/tough pins/zero experience) and if I broke 90 would love to watch you and Q break 80! If Jack invited us to play my life would be complete.

 

 

[golfer929]

He has that arrogance/confidence after posting a 75 at some average no name course where ever you live?

 

*Augusta isn't some mythical beast but can we stop the scratch golfers are so good threads. They are not. Not with the inflated course ratings we have today.

He is a tournament scratch, I should have clarified this. Broken par several times in tournaments. We play a lot of different courses as well.

 

To clarify I don't think he can do it either

[golfer929]

Wait can we clarify here, are we talking tournament "conditions" only, or an actual tournament with fans?

 

I played Torrey south a few weeks before the tournament when the rough was in, from the one up tees and shot 81 with new clubs and didn't hit it super well. Qmany shot 69 that day as a +1.

 

Obviously Augusta is harder but we're talking shooting 84 here not winning a tournament and unless I'm mistaken it's not even in front of fans

For the sake of this strange situation let's just say no fans

[golfer929]

Honestly just take him to the hardest course in your area (that he's never played) and have him tee it up from the back of every box.

 

I bet he doesn't break 80 even doing that.

 

It's tough playing a course for the first time. Let alone Augusta National.

 

A big reason your friend is "scratch" is probably because he plays the same course or few courses. Removing that element changes the game and his handicap entirely.

I do not think he will break 85 either and have told him on several occasions. I should have clarified, he is a tournament scratch. Not just some guy who plays the same course everyday and knows it like the back of his hand

[J13]

A tourney scratch player could absolutely break 85 at Augusta. There are harder courses then Augusta National not sure why this course was chosen.

[Guia]

Simple answer, Yes.

 

I played Pebble Beach from the back tee's in 1971 as a 2 hc, and shot 76.

 

I have seen Augusta but never had the opportunity to play it. I am now 77 and a 12 hc, and confess that from the tournament tee of any major course I would be lucky to break 150 (don't get old people).

[stu_man]

Easily.. Pine Valley.. maybe

[Hawkeye77]

Okay, read the stipulations carefully, digest what tournament conditions are at the Masters, this scratch stranger says he guarantees he will break 80 (not maybe could) - who is betting even up any amount that would hurt to lose he does it?

[hammer1]

A friend of mine who is about a 5 handicap played Augusta a few years ago from the members tees and shot an 82. I'm not sure how much longer the tournament tees play but I would think the OP's friend could shoot low 80s, assuming his short game is on.