Five monsters await Anirban Lahiri

Special Feature by Anand Datla

March 26, 2015: As Anirban Lahiri prepares to sharpen his tools at the Houston Open next week, there are few hungry monsters that await further afield. These voracious beasts lay in wait for the rookie making his maiden appearance at the Masters in the second week of April. In this feature, we introduce you to five of the most ferocious animals that devour golfers at the Augusta National Golf Club with the enthusiasm of child eating a dollop of ice cream.

Magnolia – Par 4 – 455 Yards

An uphill, dogleg left to a sloping green. The fairway bunkers are deep and positioned to demand accuracy off the tee. To clear them requires a carry of 315 yards. The green slopes back to the front, and a rear bunker catches balls hit too long. The Magnolia is a tricky hole that accounts for several extra shots during the week.

Flowering Crab Apple – Par 3 – 240 Yards

The front bunker at this hole forces players to go long or sail left, a problem either ways as they try and find an up and down path back to par. More often than not, the hole extracts a two putt from the golfer, leaving only those that make the green in regulation with a sliver of dignity.

Tree Olive – Par 4 – 445 Yards

The first hole at the club offers neither shade nor peace. With a thick canopy of trees to the left and a massive bunker to the right, accuracy is at a premium soon as you begin the journey on this iconic course. Several players stumble right off the tee leaving them in a scramble to save par just to begin their round.

White Dogwood – Par 4 – 505 Yards

The White Dogwood is a stern test any which ways you look at it. The tee shot itself is from a blind spot with only a narrow channel of space to find the fairway. To make matters worse, the right rough is closed off by newly planted pine trees. The green is also protected by a pond and everything sloping that way (left).

Golden Bell – Par 3 – 155 Yards

You would be hard pressed to find a more difficult hole that measures this short. The deceptive hole troubles golfers and frustrates their hopes with unfailing regularity. Even those that make the right choices at this hole find that they either sink in the sand to the left or are swallowed by the creek to the right. And then there are the constantly shifting winds to add another layer of complexity at this beastly hole.

Camellia – Par 4 – 495 Yards

Nearly the toughest test on the continent – going right would mean a lengthy second shot and any swipe to the left will end up in the dense collection of trees. It takes some really thoughtful maneuvering to get past the tenth without any dent on the scorecard.