The 16th at Augusta Is Going to Look a Little Different Today

Between the tournament's rich tradition and the iconic venue that has built so many of the players we've come to know and love, Masters Sunday is always a day filled with nostalgia. Every golf fan can recite one (or 100) favorite moments in Masters history. Among the top of my list of moments that made me a life-long golf fan? Tiger Woods’ iconic chip-in at No. 16 circa 2005.

The 16th green with its back-left hole location each Masters Sunday has become a favorite of patrons because of the funnel-like conditions that make it ripe for birdies and better, producing roar after roar across the the 170 yards of the Par-3 nicknamed “Redbud.”

If you ask my father, his favorite memory also happened on 16—but exactly 50 years ago (and 30 years prior to Woods’ out). In 1975 as Jack Nicklaus was en route to win his fifth Masters, he holed an incredible 40-foot birdie putt after a less-than-ideal 5-iron off the 16th tee.

Before his second shot, Nicklaus looked over to watch Tom Weiskopf take the lead of the tournament with a 15-footer paired with echoing cheers across the course.

“That will be evil music ringing in Jack Nicklaus’ ears,” announcer Ben Wright said.

But whatever soundtrack was playing in Nicklaus’ head, it worked. He sent his putt home and it propelled him through the final two holes comfortably into the Green Jacket again.

It’s an unforgettable moment for anyone who witnessed it (or watches archival Masters footage on YouTube like we do) and those who select Sunday hole locations must also have a soft spot for the Golden Bear because it’s a carbon-copy placement on the back-right of 16 green today at Augusta National.

Whether it’s a nod to the 50th anniversary of the tournament or a kismet moment for what will go down in history as another one of the greatest duels in the final round akin to the Nicklaus-Weiskopf fit, we are so here for it.

Now as with any major move during major week, it doesn't come without controversy or commentary. The current generation of golf fans certainly has a stronger connection to the 2005 Woods moment on number 16 and the countless aces and near aces that have funneled down that green year after year—but my hot take? It's time to mix things up, and this throwback hole location has the historical context to cement a winner. And as usual, golf Twitter had a lot to say about it...