The hole is played entirely over water and eventually bends
to the left. Two bunkers guard the right side, and the green
slopes significantly from right to left. The Sunday pin
typically is back and on the lower shelf, and pars from the
top shelf that day are rare.
Rich
Beem's take: "Sixteen is a mid-length par 3. Tee
shot mostly over water, but it doesn't come into play a lot.
It depends on the pin placement. Front left and back left, you
could make a mistake. What really makes the hole tough is the
undulation of the green. It's a big sweeping, right to left,
crescent moon shaped green with a big ridge running up the face
on the right and flattening out on top. They put two of the
most diabolical pins I've ever seen on the right side where if
you try to get it anywhere near the hole, you're risking a high
number. The prudent play is to hit the center of the green and
make a long putt. Any time you make 3, you're doing good. Back
left pin placements, you can have some fireworks."
Famous Moment: With a one-shot lead in the
final round of 2005, Tiger Woods hit a pitch from behind the
green that went up the ridge, made a U-turn and rolled back
toward the hole and hung on the lip for two seconds before the
ball took a final turn and dropped for birdie.
Hall of Shame: Billy Casper, playing the
Masters a final time at age 73 in 2005, hit five balls into
the water and made a 14. It was the highest score on any hole
in the Masters. Casper declined to turn in his card and the
tournament did not recognize his score of 106.