The five best Masters ever
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No-one can really explain why the Masters invariably creates such drama. Maybe it has something to do with the set-up of the final nine holes; but whatever it is, hardly a year seems to go by without several sudden turns of fortune at the climax. And so, in this list, the possibilities are endless; and we’ve had to leave out some magic moments: 1960 (Palmer making two birdies in his last two holes to win by one), 1975 (Nicklaus, Miller and Weiskopf going head to head), 1978 (Player, winning with seven birdies in 10 holes), 1987 (Mize’s incredible play-off chip-in) and 2005 (Tiger’s incredible play-off chip-in on 16)…
1 | 1935 | Sarazen’s iconic shot
The Masters was only in its second year and was nothing like it is today, but Gene Sarazen’s albatross on the 15th in the final round put the tournament on the map. His ‘Shot Heard Around the World’ brought this little corner of Georgia under the global spotlight. Three behind Craig Wood as he hit his approach from 235 yards, Sarazen drew level with one swing. He beat Wood by five shots, the next day, in a 36-hole play-off. There have only been three subsequent albatross in the Masters but none at the 15th.
2 | 1996 | Faldo catches Greg Norman
Greg Norman, chasing his first Masters as a 41-year-old after so many near misses, opened with a 63 to tie the course record. By Saturday night was six ahead. Standing next to him in the urinal, GW’s Peter Dobereiner commented: “Even you can’t screw this up, Greg!” Still four ahead with 11 to play, Norman then went bogey, bogey, bogey, double-bogey. The Great White Shark had turned into a limp fishfinger. The wheels came off totally when he found water on 16 and he lost to Nick Faldo by five.
3 | 2004 | Phil Mickelson finally comes of age
Phil Mickelson had gone 0 for 46 in majors and was fed up answering questions about when he would finally win one. He was tied for the lead with a round to play, but went to the turn in two over. Playing in a group in front, Ernie Els made two eagles in six holes. Then Mickelson made his charge, with birdies on 12, 13 and 14 to trail by one. After holing a 15ft for birdie on 16, he then seemed to surprise himself with his 20ft birdie on 18. An unforgettable star ‘jump’ followed as Els turned white in disbelief.
4 | 1997 | Tiger Woods starts his dominance
The significance of Tiger’s 12-shot victory, in his first major as a professional, cannot be overestimated. African Americans had been discriminated against for years at Augusta. There was no black player there until 1975 and no black member until 1991. Tiger’s incredible week had huge social significance. Rounds of 70 (40, 30), 66, 65 and 69 meant his 270 (-18) beat the scoring record at Augusta. His 12-shot victory was the biggest in a major championship since Old Tom Morris won the 1862 Open by 13.
5 | 1986 | Bobby ‘The Bear’ Jones’s last hurrah
Many reckon this ranks only behind Bobby Jones’ Grand Slam of 1930 in terms of ‘a story’. With 10 holes to play Nicklaus was six off the lead, held by Seve Ballesteros. But the 46-year-old, with his son on his bag, played the last 10 holes in 33 shots, with six birdies and an eagle (on 15, after a 4-iron to 12 feet). His 5-iron at the 16th almost went in, and at 17 he followed his 20ft birdie putt in by raising his putter in the air. His 65 had taken the clubhouse lead and Seve (water on 15), Kite and Norman all failed to match him.
