Even on Easter Sunday, the sadists gather here.

This grassy nook, tucked between the 14th tee and the tributary from Rae's Creek that snakes in front of the 13th green, isn't for the happy-go-lucky or sympathetic souls.

The only thing bubbly here is the tributary, which emits a soothing sound as it trickles over rocks downstream.

This crowd is different from any other at Augusta National Golf Club. Solemn. Hushed. Waiting for carnage. These are the kind of people who prefer seats above turns at a racetrack over those at the finish line.

The best wrecks happen in the corners, after all. The winner is often decided before the checkered flag, so why sit there?

At Augusta National, this spot offers both. A chance to see golf's wrecks, as the Masters Tournament contenders flirt with the water hazard on their approach shots at the 510-yard, par-5 hole. And a chance to see the outcome determined, because an eagle here can win the tournament while a bogey can ruin a player's chances.

The winner's inauguration happens at No. 18. The election takes place here.

The nook also marks the exit to Amen Corner. The players cross the tributary via a short bridge and walk right past on the way to the 14th tee.

Some leave wide-eyed. Others with their eyes shut in frustration. All are relieved to leave.

The beauty of the 13th green's surroundings balances the ugliness that takes place on the stage. Four powdery white bunkers help the tributary frame the putting surface, and azaleas in every shade of red and purple accentuate the hole, lining the far side.

But the unseasonably cold weather this weekend has dulled the flowers' brilliance. The hole is still pretty, but it falls short of gorgeous.

As a newcomer points this out to a nearby security guard, regulars within earshot snicker. Sunday sadists indeed.