Major Moments at the Masters
The five greatest moments at golf's Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament tickets are a rare find for good reason. Augusta National Golf Club has been a grand stage for some of the most dramatic moments in golf history.
Since the first tournament in 1934, then known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, there have been numerous great moments. Suite 101 Golf has compiled its Top-Five Major Masters Moments.
There's an inherent tendency toward the most recent in many "Greatest-of-All-Time" lists and Suite Golf has tried not to fall into that trap. To make this list, each moment must have had the following elements: great golf ; a high degree of drama; and an unforgetable quality.
Number Five - 1934- Gene Sarazen's "shot heard 'round the world." Although there aren't many people still around who saw it, Sarazen's 235 yard double eagle on the then par-5, 15th hole will live forever. That shot forced a 36-hole playoff between Sarazen and Craig Wood, which The Squire won by five shots, and catapulted the tournament toward worldwide acclaim.
Number Four - 1997 -Tiger Wood's first Masters victory. The 21 year-old Woods became the youngest ever Masters champion, and he did so in spectacular fashion. His 18 under-par, 12-shot victory left second place finisher Tom Kite and the rest of golf's professional elite in awe. Still, as spellbinding as his golf was, the best part of the story was the meeting of father and son behind the 18th green after the victory.
Number Three - 1978 - Gary Player's third green jacket. The 42 year-old Player rode a final-round 64, including seven birdies in the final ten holes, to a one-shot victory. According to the Black Knight, had three rim-out puts gone in and he'd carded a 27 on the back nine, he probably wouldn't have been invited back. Prior to his Masters win, he had not won in the United States in four years. He changed that streak in awe-inspiring style.
Number Two - 2004 - Phil Mickelson's first Masters win and first major title. Everyone, and Lefty chief among them, was getting tired of hearing the "the-best-player-never-to-have-won-a-major" line so popular among the press. Any knowledgeable golfer or fan knew that it was only a matter of time until he pulled out a win at one of golf's majors. Under the weight and pressure of years of speculation that he couldn't win the big ones, Mickelson birdied five of the last seven holes, including the 18th, for a one-shot win over Ernie Els. It marked only the fourth time in Masters history that a birdie putt at the last earned a victory.
The Best - 1986 - Jack Nicklaus' sixth green jacket. At age 46, the Golden Bear had been called "all washed up" by the Atlanta Journal. Nicklaus took particular exception to that characterization. A back-nine 30 and an eagle-birdie-birdie streak on hole nos. 15, 16, and 17 helped him overcome a four shot deficit to begin the day. He finished one shot ahead of Tom Kite. The electric atmosphere of Nicklaus' huge following, as well as their unmistakeable roars, let everyone in Augusta and the world know that Jack was making a charge. As usual, he took the hill.
