I've heard this kicked around several places, so I thought I'd bring it here for discussion. 

Could you win the Masters if you started each hole on the edge of the green at the furthest or most difficult position from the pin on every hole? Every other golfer is playing from the tees. You start out on the green, albeit on average 100+ feet away. Could you win the 2025 Masters under those conditions?

 

Agusta National doesn't release their green speeds, but most pros consider the speed to be 13 maybe even 14+.

For reference. 

• 7-8: Very slow greens, often found at public courses. 
   
• 9-10: Medium speed, common at average private clubs. 
   
• 10-11: Fast greens, typical of high-quality private clubs. 
   
• 12-13: Very fast greens, often seen at top-tier golf courses and during PGA Tour events. 
   
• 13 or higher: Considered lightning-fast, sometimes seen during major championships. 

No chance, but I’m also an appallingly poor golfer. 
 

I’m not sure I’d win starting 15 feet from the pin on every hole. 

I'd be done after the first time that I would putt my ball into a lake.

Short answer, no.

I would be curious what a PGA golfer would shoot in the same scenario. It's easy to believe they would waltz through the challenge, but it is much easier to 2-putt from 40 feet away (eg.) as opposed to being in jail.

If you 3 putt every hole after chipping on the green, you'd shoot 72, which wouldn't be good enough to win. To have a chance at winning you'd have to get up and down 4 or 5 times, and not 4 putt at all. I think a scratch golfer could do this. I don't think you're average Joe would have a chance. 

2 minutes ago, rjs4470 said:

If you 3 putt every hole after chipping on the green, you'd shoot 72, which wouldn't be good enough to win. To have a chance at winning you'd have to get up and down 4 or 5 times, and not 4 putt at all. I think a scratch golfer could do this. I don't think you're average Joe would have a chance. 

I was applying the challenge by putting on the furthest spot from the hole, but still on the green. If on the fringe and chippping first... it would be the same result ?

I don't think those of us watching on TV have an appreciation on how difficult the Augusta greens are.  How many of us can start a line about 12 feet from the hole in some instances and hope to get it close?

41 minutes ago, nkypete said:

I don't think those of us watching on TV have an appreciation on how difficult the Augusta greens are.  How many of us can start a line about 12 feet from the hole in some instances and hope to get it close?

With this challenge, would we have a caddy there providing support?

58 minutes ago, bugatti said:

With this challenge, would we have a caddy there providing support?

 

3 hours ago, bugatti said:

I was applying the challenge by putting on the furthest spot from the hole, but still on the green. If on the fringe and chippping first... it would be the same result ?

I misread and was thinking just off the green. Either way it's going to be tough. I've played on two courses that have hosted majors.....Bethpage Black and Merion. When I played Merion, the greens were 12 on the stimpmeter which is way faster than you can imagine, especially when the greens are extremely contoured. Downhill putts are just silly difficult. While you do get used to it, an average golfer is going to struggle with any putt greater than 2 or 3 feet.

6 hours ago, rjs4470 said:

If you 3 putt every hole after chipping on the green, you'd shoot 72, which wouldn't be good enough to win. To have a chance at winning you'd have to get up and down 4 or 5 times, and not 4 putt at all. I think a scratch golfer could do this. I don't think you're average Joe would have a chance. 

You start on the green, just the furthest point away from the pin. No need to chip.

3 hours ago, bugatti said:

With this challenge, would we have a caddy there providing support?

Yes, you'd have a caddy and the pins would move each day.

21 hours ago, Jumper_Dad said:

You start on the green, just the furthest point away from the pin. No need to chip.

You might be chipping on the second or third shot though!

1 minute ago, gchs_uk9 said:

You might be chipping on the second or third shot though!

Absolutely true! ?