GOLF’S MOST EXCITING tournament is now less than a week away.
On Thursday, 9 April the best golfers from around the world will once again tee up at Augusta National Golf Club to try and win the coveted green jacket.
Breathtaking birdies, painful near misses and heartbreaking collapses are what make the Masters truly special. With the tournament rapidly approaching, we decided to take a minute to look back on the top 10 moments from past trips to Augusta.
10. Phil Mickelson – 2004
It may be unthinkable now, but there was a time when people doubted Phil Mickelson had what it took to win a major. Having choked away leads in the past, 2004′s Masters came down to Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and an 18-foot birdie.
Eleven years and several majors later, many look back at that putt on the 72nd hole as the shot that kick-started his career.
9. McIlroy’s Meltdown – 2011
Memorable moments are not always happy ones. In 2011, Rory McIlroy had his first major championship in sight. He had blown away his competitors over the first three rounds and held a 4-stroke lead after 54 holes.
As he stepped up onto the 10th tee, nobody could have predicted that we were about to witness one of the worst collapses in Masters history.
8. Bubba’s Punch Shot – 2012
One year on from McIlroy’s collapse and the Masters was once again decided in the woods lining the 10th fairway. After starting the day three shots behind leader Louis Oosthuizen, Bubba Watson managed to birdie four consecutive holes and force his way into a playoff.
On the second playoff hole he drove his ball into the trees and left himself with an impossible shot. It would take at least 40 yards of left to right hook to even get his ball going anywhere near the green.
The resulting shot is one of the greatest of all time and helped Bubba go on to win the green jacket.
7. Greg Norman’s Second Collapse – 1996
Greg Norman is remembered for all the wrong reasons at the Masters. In 1996, Norman held a six shot lead going into his final round but like McIlroy it all fell apart on the back nine.
As Norman struggled to a 40, Nick Faldo launched a late charge and wrestled his 3rd green jacket from the ‘The Shark’s’ clutches.
6. Jack Nicklaus – 1986
In 1986, Jack Nicklaus entered the final round trailing Greg Norman by four strokes. Dubbed one of the greatest Masters victories of all time, 46-year-old Nicklaus shot an incredible 30 on the back nine which included an eagle-birdie-birdie streak starting at the 15th hole.
Becoming the oldest ever player to win the Masters, ‘The Golden Bear’ sunk that putt to win his record 18th major championship.
5. The Youngest Ever – 1997
A 21-year-old Tiger Woods put on a devastating display at the 1997 Masters.
Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters, setting a tournament record of 18-under par on his way to his first green jacket.
His 12-stroke margin of victory was also the largest ever at a Masters.
4. Tiger Slam – 2001
In 2001, Tiger Woods became the only golfer in history to hold the four major championship titles at the same time. The 26-year-old American’s ‘Grand Slam’ was impossible to leave out, especially with shots like the one depicted in this video.
3. Mickelson’s Shot from the Trees – 2010
In 2010, Phil Mickelson won his third Masters in just six years after beating Lee Westwood.
But this win will always be remembered for his unbelievable shot on the 13th hole. After driving into a woody area, ‘Lefty’ found an enormous tree trunk standing in his way.
Most people would have chipped out but Mickelson instead attempted to draw the ball around the tree…over the water…and hit the green. Jaw-dropping stuff.
2. Larry Mize’s Chip Shot – 1987
The 1987 Masters was Greg Norman’s to win. Losing out to Nicklaus the year before, Norman had a 20-foot birdie putt to win on the second playoff hole.
His opponent Larry Mize, meanwhile, was standing over a 140 yard chip shot.
Could Mize pull off a miracle? Amazingly, yes.
1. Tiger’s Chip on the 16th – 2005
Tiger Wood’s miraculous chip on the 16th hole rounds out our top ten Masters moments.
Woods was in a battle with Chris DiMarco in 2005. The defining moment came when Tiger eyed up the pin from an impossible lie behind the 16th green. Defying all the odds, Tiger chipped the ball up to the top part of the green and hoped the slope would do the rest.
The ball trickled down and hung on for a split second centimeters from the hole. It dropped, Woods gave his patented fist-pump and it is now remembered as the most dramatic moment in Masters history.
What’s your favourite Masters moment?