Augusta National confirm change for final round which Masters fans will love and could help Rory McIlroy

Masters fans will be treated to all the traditional Sunday hole locations today following some criticism last year.

The pin placements for the final round of the 2026 tournament were confirmed at 8am on Sunday morning and there are some classic flags out there today.

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Much to the delight of the patrons, the 16th – the famous 170-yard par 3 called Redbud – is back in its Sunday home.

Augusta caught some flack for changing that tradition last year and putting the final round flagstick in a difficult location high up on the right that failed to yield much drama.

For today’s finale, it’s back where it belongs, in a little bowl just behind the left bunker which players can use the slopes to access.

It is the same location as Tiger Woods’ ‘in your life have you seen anything like that’ chip in back in 2005 and the placement that has seen many holes-in-one down the years.

Justin Thomas used the slopes to his advantage at the 2019 Masters to record an ace.

Elsewhere on the course, the second hole is also in its traditional Sunday spot.

The 585-yard par 5 Pink Dogwood plays severely downhill and even with just a decent approach shot, balls can funnel right down to the hole with today’s pin tucked over on the right. 

Louis Oosthuizen famously made an albatross to that flag location in the final round of the 2012 event.

Augusta bosses have kept up the traditions right through the set up today with the 7th, 9th, 13th, and 18th all having their iconic locations too.

They should provide plenty of scoring chances for the players with many holes cut in places where slopes and ridges guide the correct approach shot towards the cup.

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The 12th, the legendary 155-yard par 3 called Golden Bell, is in its famous spot over the creek yet again and will bring the drama this evening as players tackle Amen Corner.

There are, of course, some horrible pins too.

The short par 4 3rd has its most difficult flag location while the 6th, 11th and 15th holes will all play tough.

It should all add up to a thrilling final day in Augusta as Rory McIlroy looks to defend his title.

The Northern Irishman saw his historic six-shot lead wiped out yesterday as the chasing pack reeled him in.

McIlroy will resume play tied for the lead with Cameron Young with a host of other star names lurking close behind.

He said: “The course was obviously gettable, there were a lot of good scores out there, and the quality of the chasing pack is obvious.

“There’s a lot of guys in with a chance [today]. I’m still tied for the best score going into [the final round], so I can’t forget that, but I do know I’m going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.

“I’m in the final group. I just need to go to the range and try to figure it out a little bit.

“When you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle. You have to dig deep and I felt like I did that on the front nine and made a lot of good par saves.

“I missed a couple of chances on eight and nine and then I thought I turned the round around with the birdie on 10.

“I felt like I hit a pretty good second shot on 11 but it just drifted on the wind a little bit and went in the water. Those two holes (11 and 12) weren’t great.

“But again I felt like I bounced back pretty well with the birdies on 14 and 15. It would have been nice to play those last few holes and not make that bogey on 17 but, you know, I still have a great chance.”