Published On: Fri, Oct 31st, 2025

It's Halloween so take a closer look at some of the scariest shots, and holes, in golf

That 10-footer you need for birdie to break 80 for the first time in your life? Sure, that was probably scary but that’s nothing like some of these doozies in the world of professional golf.

The 12th hole at Augusta National for the Masters comes to mind. There’s a certain par 3 at TPC Sawgrass that will strike fear into anyone standing on the tee box.

What about the first teeball at the biennieal duel between the U.S. and Europe?

The 12th tee at the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Andrew Davis Tucker-Augusta Chronicle)

The settings, the historic courses and the throngs of fans waiting in anticipation all converge to create mayhem in the mind.

Check out this list of some of the scariest shots in golf.

What’s the scariest putt at Augusta National?

Ryan Fox reacts to a missed putt on the No. 11 green during the third round of the 2024 Masters Tournament. (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Network)

What is so fascinating about the greens at Augusta National is that you could ask 18 players and practically hear every hole be named and they’d be able to make a legitimate case.

The short answer to this question is any downhill putt but check out which putt scares pros the most.

What about the scariest hole at the Masters?

Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Tom Kim and Fred Couples look over the 11th green during a practice round prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Let’s eliminate the obvious choice: the slender par-3 12th dubbed Golden Bell at Augusta National that has been a watery grave for many Green Jacket hopefuls.

Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15 and 18 have all been tabbed as “scary” but see what the pros had to say about the scariest hole of them all at Augusta National.

What about the scariest tee shot at TPC Sawgrass?

Adam Hadwin walks down the 18th hole during a practice round prior to the 2022 Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The answers here may surprise you.

The 137-yard, par-3 17th gets all the attention but it isn’t the only hole that offers up a tee shot that gets the heart racing, the hands tingling and the head racing.

In fact, despite the perpetual klieg-light spotlight shone on the terror of the 17th, another tee shot is just as, if not more, horrifying.

What’s a scary shot at the Ryder Cup?

Bryson DeChambeau of Team United States plays his shot from the first tee during the Sunday singles matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

One of the most terrifying shots in golf is the nerve-wracking tee shot on the first hole at a Ryder Cup. The shot makes hearts race, heads spin, hands shake and knees wobble during this continental clash between the U.S. and Europe.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: On Halloween take a closer look at some of the scariest shots in golf

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