For golfers tackling the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, the second hole—famously known as “Pink Dogwood”—is often the first moment of genuine optimism in a round. The 585-yard par-5 is widely regarded as the first realistic birdie opportunity of the tournament, provided a player can master the dogleg left tee shot and avoid the menacing bunkers guarding the green.
Yet, as any veteran of the Masters can attest, reaching the green in two is a far cry from actually holding the surface. This precarious balance between risk and reward became the center of a humorous exchange between two legends of the game, as a former Masters champion reveals the hilarious ‘advice’ Arnold Palmer once gave him about playing Augusta National’s second hole.
Raymond Floyd, who dominated the tournament in 1976, recently shared the story during an appearance on Golf Channel’s ‘Live From the Masters.’ The anecdote serves as a timeless reminder of the playful, sometimes mischievous, chemistry between the era’s greatest competitors and the sheer unpredictability of the Georgia landscape.
The exchange took place a year or two prior to Floyd’s historic victory. While walking the second hole with Arnold Palmer, Floyd expressed his frustration with the green’s tendency to repel shots. He noted that hitting the center of the green often resulted in the ball screaming back up the slope, leaving the player with a daunting recovery shot.
The ‘Human Backstop’ Strategy
Palmer, known as “The King” and a master of the Augusta layout, offered a solution that was less about swing mechanics and more about the physics of the crowd. According to Floyd, Palmer suggested that during the actual tournament, the presence of the gallery changes the geometry of the hole.
“We’re [Palmer and Floyd] going down the second hole—this is a year or two before ’76—and I said to Arnold, ‘how do you play this hole during a tournament? You hit it in the middle of the green and, boom, it’s gone back up the hill up there.’ He looked at me and said, ‘during the tournament, you just take whatever club you need and let it hit in the middle of that green and all the gallery behind the green, they give it one of these [demonstrates being hit by a golf ball] and it drops down and you can just roll it down there with your putter. It’s easy!’”
Palmer’s logic was essentially to apply the spectators as a human backstop. In theory, a ball hitting a person in the gallery would lose its momentum and drop vertically, landing safely on the putting surface rather than bouncing 20 yards back up the hillside. It was a piece of advice that blended tactical observation with a classic Arnold Palmer prank.
A Lesson in Trust and Timing
Floyd, trusting the word of one of the most successful players in the history of the Masters Tournament, decided to put the theory into practice the following April. During the first round, Floyd executed his side of the bargain perfectly: a flawless drive followed by a precise 2-iron approach shot that landed exactly in the center of the green.
The result, however, was not what Palmer had promised. Instead of the ball striking a spectator and dropping dead, the gallery reacted with a collective instinct for self-preservation.
“First round that year, I drive it perfect. I’m hitting I think a 2-iron in. Perfect. Right down the slot. Hits right in the middle of the screen but my gallery didn’t do that [demonstrates getting hit by golf ball], they went ‘pffft’ [demonstrates stepping aside to get out of the way of the golf ball]. I was 20 yards up on that slope coming back. I was lucky to make five. And at that time, Arnold wasn’t my best friend.”
The “pffft” of the crowd stepping aside left Floyd stranded high on the slope, turning a potential eagle or easy birdie into a struggle for a par. The experience served as a humbling reminder that while the gallery can influence the atmosphere of a tournament, they are rarely reliable as a piece of course equipment.
From Pranks to Dominance
While the “human backstop” method failed, Floyd’s overall mastery of the course eventually peaked in 1976. He transitioned from being the victim of Palmer’s jokes to becoming one of the most dominant champions in the event’s history. Floyd won the PGA Tour’s most prestigious event that year by a staggering eight strokes, a testament to his ability to navigate the complexities of Augusta National without relying on the spectators.
The relationship between Palmer and Floyd reflects the unique camaraderie of the 1970s professional circuit, where elite competition was often paired with a high degree of psychological warfare and locker-room humor. For Floyd, the lesson was clear: take everything Arnie says with a grain of salt.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Winning Margin | 8 Strokes |
| Key Hole Discussed | 2nd Hole (Pink Dogwood) |
| The “Advice” | Use gallery as a backstop |
| Actual Result | Ball rolled 20 yards up slope |
The story remains a favorite among golf historians because it highlights the specific challenges of the Pink Dogwood. At 585 yards, the hole requires a precise blend of power and finesse. The green’s severe contours mean that a shot that looks “perfect” in the air can become a nightmare once it touches the turf, making the allure of Palmer’s “easy” solution all the more tempting.
As the golf world looks toward the Augusta National experience in future years, these anecdotes serve as a bridge between the modern game and the legendary figures who defined it. While today’s players rely on launch monitors and precise GPS data, the unpredictability of a crowd and the slope of a green remain the great equalizers of the sport.
Fans and players alike can expect the tradition of storytelling to continue as the Masters continues to evolve. The next official update regarding tournament scheduling and field entries for the upcoming seasons will be released through the official Masters channels.
Do you have a favorite memory of Arnold Palmer or a story about a “disappointing” piece of golf advice you actually followed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Keep reading
