From Jack to Tiger, most memorizing Masters

STORY BY MIKE BAILEY

Not coincidentally, I first started watching the Masters intently right about the time I got hooked on golf. I can still remember Seve Ballesteros winning in 1980 and 1983, Tom Watson and Craig Stadler’s victories in between, and Ben Crenshaw and Bernhard Langer in 1984 and 1985 respectively.

I recall how remarkable it was that a German won in ‘85. Having lived in Germany three times myself and being born there, I knew Germany wasn’t exactly a hotbed for golf, which makes Langer’s career so remarkable. (He continues to set records on the PGA Tour Champions).

But it really wasn’t until 1986 that I got hooked on the Masters, watching pretty much every round ever since. That’s about the same time

I became obsessed with playing golf, thanks to a coworker at the first newspaper at which I worked. He was my golf mentor and would become my best friend.

Coincidently or not, 1986 was also most remarkable at Augusta National. It was when Jack Nicklaus won his 18th major, an unlikely feat nobody saw coming at age 46. Watching that cemented the Masters as my favorite major, as it is for many golfers. And because it’s the only major played on the same course every year, I often find myself asking how I would play those holes because we know them so well. So from 1986 to present, the Masters has been on par with Super Bowls for me. Heck, what am I saying, better than the Super Bowl most years since the team I root for is never in it. What follows are my favorite Masters years, led off by ‘86, of course.

Golf gods smile on Fred Couples

This was the one where Couples’ tee shot on the par-3 12th, hit the bank of the green. But unlike most of the other shots that landed at there that week, his didn’t roll back to water, miraculously stopping before it get wet. Couples managed to get up and down for par, then went on to win the tournament over none other than Raymond Floyd. Had Floyd won, his victory would have rivaled Nicklaus’ six years early. As it was, he was the oldest player at the time to finish second at age 49.

‘97 Tiger’s First Green Jacket

After a front nine of 40 on the front nine on Thursday, it sure didn’t appear that Tiger Woods would be in the hunt, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Maybe it was early jitters with this being his first professional appearance in the Masters, but Woods fired a 30 on the back nine, and it was clear he had arrived. He wound up shooting 66 and 65 over the next two rounds, and his 18-under total would be the lowest winning score ever recorded at Augusta National. Oh, and he won by 12 strokes. This would lead officials to try to “Tiger Proof” the course in subsequent renovations. It never worked, obviously.

‘04

Lefty finally breaks through

For the first part of his PGA Tour career Phil Mickelson wore the moniker of “best player yet to win a major.” But that all changed in 2004 when the 33-year-old drained an 18-footer for birdie on the final hole to best Ernie Els by a stroke. He became only the fourth player in Masters history to win by birdieing 18. In fact, Mickelson birdied five of the last seven holes to shoot 69. Els, who finished two holes earlier with a 67, had eagled both the par 5s on the back.

‘12

Bubba Watson’s amazing wedge shot

While everyone will remember the wedge shot Watson hit to win in a playoff, most have probably forgotten how Louis Oosthuizen got into position to win. The South African, in fact, made only the second double eagle in Masters history (the other was Gene Sarazen’s shot heard ‘round the world in 1935) by holing out his second shot on the par-5 second

Ben Crenshaw’s help from above

The day before the first round, Crenshaw flew back to Texas. He was a pallbearer at the funeral of Harvey Penick, the only coach he every had, his mentor since age 6, and, of course, the author of the famed “Little Red Book.” Crenshaw, the ‘84 champion, went into the Masters in a slump, to say the least, signaling perhaps that his best playing days were behind him. But this week he would not only find his game, but he found all the breaks, too. He said, “It was kind of like I felt this hand on my shoulder, guiding me along.” When he drained the putt on the 18th to win by one over Davis Love III, he doubled over with emotion. Was it divine intervention? Crenshaw certainly thought so, and most golf fans probably agree.

‘95 ‘96

Mickelson’s amazing second shot on 13

Mickelson would win the Masters two more times, most notably in 2010 when he hit one of the most famous shots in Masters history, a 6-iron second shot from the pine straw through the trees just a few feet from the hole on the par-5 13th. He actually missed the eagle putt, but made the comeback for birdie. Commentator Nick Faldo called it “the greatest shot of his life.” Mick- hole. He took a one-shot lead into the back nine, but Watson reeled off four consecutive birdies, starting with the 13th, to finish tied and force the playoff. On the second playoff hole, the left-handed Watson pulled his drive on no. 10 right into the trees. While Oosthui zen found trouble him self and wound up mak ing bogey, Watson hooked a wedge some 40 yards around the trees from the pine straw to find the green and two-putt for par and victory. elson would go on to win by three strokes over Lee Westwood. On a side note, most golf fans forget that Mickelson had another incredible shot, this one coming in the third round when he holed his approach shot on 14 for an eagle 2.

Faldo’s mastery greater than Norman collapse

Arguably the tournament was known more Norman’s final round 78 than it was for how well Nick Faldo played in the final round to overcome a six-stroke deficit. It would be Faldo’s third green jacket as he shot 67 on Sunday for the low round the day. Norman appeared well on his way, especially after he tied a course record on Thursday with a 63. Had he simply shot even par on Sunday, he would coasted to victory. How bad was Norman’s back nine on Sunday? He carded a 40 with two birdies, on 13 and 15.

‘19 Tiger’s improbable fifth green jacket

Not many saw this coming. It had been 11 years since Woods had won his last major, the 2008 U.S. Open, and 14 years since his last Masters victory. His 2019 win would beat the record for years between Masters wins set by Gary Player, who had 13. The odds were certainly stacked against Woods, who had to overcome injuries and a fall from grace after much publicized personal issues came to a head in 2009 and 2010. Woods played steady throughout at the 2019 Masters. When leader Francesco Molinari, the leader after 11 holes on Sunday, opened the door by hitting it in the water on 12 and again on 15, Woods stepped up. His final round 70 was good enough to win by one stroke over three other golfers.