How many shots would you get off your handicap at Augusta National? The answer might shock you

Playing Augusta during Masters week is every golfer’s dream — but with the course at its toughest, it’s no walk in the park. Here’s how many shots you’d get, based on your handicap index, to stand a fighting chance.

Most of us have imagined what it would feel like to be in the field at Augusta National during Masters week. The crowd’s cheers reverberating through the pines (plus a few quizzical ‘Who the heck is that?’ murmurs, of course), the azaleas in full bloom, Rae’s Creek glistening, and birdsong the soundtrack as you follow in the footsteps of golfing legends…

But, for all its beauty, Augusta is also a beast.

It’s a course that has had the better of many of the game’s greatest players, so amateur golfers might expect to quickly find themselves out of their depth.

Several professional golfers and analysts have weighed in on what an amateur golfer might shoot at Augusta National, and the consensus is that it wouldn’t be pretty.

What tour pros think amateur golfers would shoot at Augusta

1. Two-time major champion and former world number one Greg Norman once estimated that an average golfer would struggle to break 110 at Augusta, let alone 100. Norman, who has played 23 Masters Tournaments, emphasized that the challenge isn’t just the length of the course but the demanding nature of its greens and the strategic layout.
2. Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson once said that an amateur would probably struggle to break 100. He mentioned that the course plays long, especially when set up for The Masters, and the speed of the greens adds a whole new layer of difficulty for anyone not used to them.
3. Jack Nicklaus won six Masters titles and suggested that an average golfer might shoot somewhere in the range of 90-95, depending largely on their ability to avoid big numbers and manage the course effectively. Nicklaus noted that the biggest challenge for amateurs is often the course’s greens and the need for precise course management.
4. Justin Thomas suggested that an amateur with a decent game might break 100, but added “It’s highly unlikely that anyone would break 90 without significant experience at Augusta”. He pointed to the demanding length, tight fairways, and tricky greens as major hurdles.
5. Jason Day gave his verdict on a 15-handicapper’s chances: “If you’re playing well and everything’s going your way, you would probably be in the mid-to-high 90s. But you’ve got to understand that you’re dealing with weather conditions. If you’re dealing with fast, hard conditions, and if the greens are rolling at a 14, good luck. I mean, it’s really, really hard. It’s hard for us.”
6. Rickie Fowler has suggested that if you took an average weekend golfer and put them on every green in regulation, they still wouldn’t break 80. “TV does not do Augusta’s greens justice, especially when at tournament speed,” he explained. “Add some wind and enjoy…”
7. Adam Hadwin said a “15-handicapper probably wouldn’t break 100. No chance. I’d say anywhere from 100 to 105. A bad day would be 105-110. I’ve putted balls six feet away from holes [because the break is so severe]. Guys just don’t see those lines unless you do it every day like we do, so they’re probably going to three-putt most holes.”
8. Tour coach David Leadbetter puts the number at “105, but they’d have to play their boots off. They can’t even keep putts on those greens even after they’ve seen their mates knock it off.”

The general consensus is that a decent amateur would do well to break 100.

Whilst a round at Augusta would be more about the experience than the score, it would still be nice to feel like you’ve got half a chance. And that’s where golf’s handicap system comes in.

This poses the question: If you had the chance to play Augusta with the course set up for Masters tournament conditions, how many shots would you actually be getting?

How they worked out how many shots you’d get at Augusta

When Augusta National is in its Masters setup, it’s far from your typical members’ course. With the tees back, the course plays over 7,500 yards, then you’ve got lightning-fast, undulating greens that scare even the world’s leading pros.

For tour stars, it’s a tough test. For the average golfer, it’s a whole new kind of tough.

To figure out how many shots you’d be getting, England iGolf have done some clever calculations. Since Augusta isn’t measured for difficulty like most golf courses, it doesn’t have an official Course or Slope Rating, but the experts have had a good guess.  

• Course Rating: 78.1
• Slope Rating: 141
• Par: 72

A Course Rating of 78.1 means a scratch golfer would typically be expected to shoot a 78 — six over the par of 72 — under Masters conditions.

Golf course slope ratings range from 55 (easiest) to 155 (hardest), with a course of standard difficulty sitting at 113. Augusta’s estimated slope rating of 141 would put it among the world’s most challenging layouts.

So, no matter your Handicap Index, you can expect to get some strokes. And it’ll probably be more than you think!

How many shots would you get at Augusta?

Using the WHS formula, England iGolf calculated your Course Handicap for Augusta, ranging from a Handicap Index of +5 all the way to 54.0.

Ready to take on the challenge and see if you can beat your handicap at Augusta? Here’s how you can get a tee time at Augusta.