Augusta rarely fails to serve up drama and magic. Here’s a look back at some of the greatest Masters moments since Larry Mize holed that shot...
The Greatest Masters Moments Of The Last 30 years
Augusta National and The Masters rarely fails to serve up drama and magic. Here’s a look back at some of the greatest Masters moments since Larry Mize holed that shot…
1987 – Local boy Larry breaks Norman’s heart
Wonder if Greg Norman has ever forgiven Larry Mize?
Okay, it’s now over 30 years old but we’ll keep it in.
Greg Norman could have and should have already had a Green Jacket in his wardrobe before Larry Mize broke his heart with his outrageous play-off chip-in on the 11th.
1988 – Sandy’s 7-iron
Okay, Sandy, we’ll even forgive you the little dance…
In sand off the tee on 18 needing birdie to win, Sandy struck the crispest of 7-irons before coaxing the putt in down the hill. We’ll even forgive him the awkward dance.
Related: 12 Greatest Masters shots
1989 – Faldo triumphs as Hoch chokes
Nick Faldo lands another one for the Brits in 1989
Sir Nick had given it his best effort but had come up short as Scott Hoch faced a simple tap-in on the first play-off hole to win… except, of course, Hoch somehow missed and Faldo went on to beat him on the next hole.
Related: The history of the Green Jacket
1990 – It’s Faldo again
The look on Ray Floyd’s face says it all as Faldo successfully defends
Only Jack Nicklaus had ever successfully defended the title until Faldo forced his way into a play-off with a closing 69 before watching Ray Floyd hook it into the water on the second play-off hole to hand him his second Green Jacket.
Related: David Cannon: My best Masters pictures
1991 – Woosie’s turn
Woosie while he still had full use of all limbs before the big caddie crush
Incredibly, Woosie kept the jacket in British hands, holing a brave eight-footer on the last before nearly being crushed to death by caddie Wobbly in the ensuing celebrations.
1992 – Fred Couples befriends the 12th hole
The 12th holes finds a friend for life in Fred Couples
It’s common knowledge that all balls landing on the bank short of the 12th green roll back into Rae’s Creek. Fred Couples ball confounded that theory on Sunday.
1995 – Gentle Ben gets all emotional
It all gets a little too much for Gentle Ben in 1995
Inspired by longtime coach, Harvey Penick’s funeral just days before, Crenshaw suddenly remembered how to play and went on to claim his second Green Jacket.
Related: Top 5 Masters water disasters
1996 – Faldo yet again but more heartache for Norman
Two men with very different feeling towards the 1996 Masters
All credit to Faldo for his excellent final-round 67, but Greg Norman leant a helping hand, collapsing spectacularly to convert a six-shot lead into a five-shot defeat.
1997 – Tiger introduces himself to the world
Job done: Tiger demolishes the field by 12 strokes in 1997
We’d all been told Tiger was going to be quite good when he turned pro in 1996. In the following year’s Masters we got the first inkling of just how good as he demolished the field by a full 12 strokes.
1999 – Ollie completes the comeback
Olazabal celebrates his comeback win with compatriot Sergio
From not being able to walk, let alone play golf a year earlier, to a second Green Jacket, Ollie’s heartwarming 1999 victory is one of golf’s greatest ever comeback tales.
2004 – Finally it’s Phil’s turn
Thanks Granddad! Phil celebrates his final putt that never looked like dropping until it dropped
Major bridesmaid Phil finally got across the line despite Ernie Els firing two final-round eagles at him to set the clubhouse target. With a play-off looming, Phil coaxed a 20-footer in on 18 for his first Major, apparently with a little assistance from on high courtesy of his late grandfather.
2005 – ‘That chip’ from Tiger Woods
The only thing that went wrong on 16 for Tiger was the terrible missed high-five with Stevie
With Chris DiMarco breathing down his neck, Tiger seemed destined to lose the lead after straying long on 16. Then he hit ‘that chip’ before going on to win in a play-off.
2011 – Charl closes it out in style
Four birdies to finish – that will do nicely for Charl
If you’re going to win, do it in style. Charl did just that, closing things out with four straight birdies to pinch the title from under the noses of Aussie pair, Adam Scott and Jason Day.
2012 – Louis’ albatross and Bubba’s banana shot
Bend it like Bubba – just a 45-yard hook from 160 yards with a gap wedge
When you hole your second shot for an albatross two to take the lead early in the final round as Oosthuizen did, you might just be forgiven for thinking it’s going to be your day. Bubba had other ideas, winning in a play-off thanks to his amazing banana wedge shot from the trees to the right of the 10th fairway.
2013 – Scott lays the Lytham ghosts to rest
Stevie moves in for another Masters high-five with 2013 champion, Adam Scott
Just nine months after handing the Open to Ernie Els with four closing bogeys at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Adam Scott put things right with a winning putt on the second hole of a play-off with 2009 champion, Angel Cabrera.
2016 – Danny becomes first Englishman since Faldo to win after Spieth’s collapse
Willett closed out The Masters like a true champion, firing a bogey-free round of 67
Jordan Spieth closed out the front nine on Sunday with four birdies to take a commanding lead in to the back nine, but nobody could predict what was going to happen from there on in. Spieth started the back nine bogey-bogey before stepping onto the 12th tee and finding Rae’s creek not once, but twice! He carded a seven and Sheffield’s Danny Willett overtook him with birdies on three of his final six holes to become the first Englishman in over 20 years to win a Green Jacket.
2017 – Sergio Garcia finally gets over the line
.@TheSergioGarcia forever a major champion! #theMasters pic.twitter.com/8BR0vJG2vA
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 9, 2017
The whole world of golf smiled at Augusta in 2017 with Sergio Garcia finally winning a Major at the 74th time of asking. After bogeying 10, 11 and then hooking his drive into the trees at 13, it looked as if the fairytale would not have a happy ending for the Spaniard. But a scrambling par, a birdie at 14, then a masterful eagle at 15 got him back in touch with Justin Rose.
A playoff ensued, and Garcia played it beautifully with a birdie. Sad times for Rose, but nobody was unhappy to see Sergio break the duck.
2019 – Tiger gets his 15th
We don’t really need to say all that much here, other than the fact that Tiger won his 15th Major title.
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