Okay, let’s talk about this “Tea Olive” thing, the first hole at Augusta. I’ve been messing around with it, trying to figure out what makes it so tough. This ain’t no ordinary starting hole, let me tell you.
First off, I got my clubs out and headed to the range. I wanted to get a feel for that slight dogleg right they talk about. It’s not super obvious, but it’s there. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up in that deep bunker on the right side. I tried a few different drives, working on hitting a little draw to keep it in the fairway.
- Getting the Drive Right: I spent a good hour just working on my tee shot. I started by just trying to get it straight, no frills. Then I started working on that draw, aiming just left of the bunker and trying to get it to curve back. It’s tricky, man. Too much draw and you’re in the rough on the left. Not enough, and you’re in that bunker.
- That Bunker’s a Beast: I purposely hit a few into the bunker, just to see what it was like. No joke, getting out of there is a pain. It’s deep, and the lip is high. I tried a few different wedges, experimenting with opening the face and really hitting down on it. You really gotta pop it up to get it over that lip.
- Approaching the Green: After the tee shot, I moved on to the approach. The fairway dips down before that bunker, so you’ve got this little uphill shot to the green. I tried a few different irons, messing with my stance and swing to get the right trajectory. You don’t want to come up short, but you also don’t want to go long.
Figuring it Out
I spent a whole afternoon just on this one hole, going back and forth, trying different shots. I even dropped a few balls in different spots around the green, just to see how they’d roll. This green is no joke, it’s fast and has some subtle breaks. You think you’ve got a straight putt, and then it slides off to the side. I tried putting from different angles, uphill, downhill, sidehill, you name it. It’s a real test of your touch.
Man, after all that, I can see why they say this hole is so tough. There’s just no room for error. You gotta be precise with every shot, from the tee to the green. I’m gonna keep working on it, though. I’m determined to figure this hole out. Maybe next time, I’ll bring some of those fancy crystal glasses they give out for eagles, just in case, you know? But let’s be real, I’d be happy just to make par on this beast.
