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Top 10 greatest Masters shots of all time

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Although we are going to have to wait to see if we will add to this list come the fall, now is a great time to look back at some of the greatest shots in Masters Tournament history.

The list does have some bias towards more recent shots since we can relive them on carefully archived video, but it doesn’t mean we don’t tip our hats to some of the other greats that only live in verbal lore.

10. Arnold Palmer, 1960

After unsuccessfully defending his title in 1959, Arnold Palmer returned to Augusta National looking to regain his title and take home his second green jacket. To do it, Arnie had to chase down Ken Venturi on Sunday. He made a long birdie putt on the par-4 17th and arrived at the 18th hole tied with Venturi and the opportunity to win with a couple of well-struck shots.

Palmer found the right side of the fairway and struck a perfectly executed 6-iron to just five feet. The King went on to make the birdie and take home his second of four Masters titles.

9. Sandy Lyle, 1988

1988 was the beginning of the “British invasion” as fas as Augusta National was concerned. Sandy Lyle became the first Brit to win the green jacket and it set off a run of wins by Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam. Lyle accomplished this by hitting a remarkable shot from the left fairway bunker on Augusta’s 18th hole in the final round. He was tied with American Mark Calcavecchia and played the bunker shot up the hill to the green where it caught he back ridge behind the famous Sunday pin position. The ball slowly rolled down the slope to settle just inside 10 feet. He would go on to make the putt and stun the golf world and Calcavecchia who was left speechless after seeing Lyle hit the shot from the bunker so close.

8. Louis Oosthuizen, 2012

It’s hard to imagine an albatross being the second most remembered shot from 2012 tournament but that’s exactly the case for Louis Oosthuizen’s two made in the final round on the second hole. His approach shot landed just on the front of the green and that was when David Feherty declared “This one could be very nice…. very nice.” It followed the contours to the back right corner and disappeared softly into the bottom of the cup.

It is well documented that he threw the ball into the crowd and shortly after the patron who caught it was approached by Augusta National members looking to preserve the piece of Masters history. In the end, the ball was enshrined in the clubhouse, and the lucky patron reportedly got Masters badges for life. Fun fact: It is the only 4-iron in the Ping vault.

7. Jack Nicklaus, 1975

The 16th hole has been very good to Jack Nicklaus in his many trips around Augusta National. During the 1975 final round, Nicklaus sank a 40-footer, which at the time tied him for the lead with Tom Weiskopf. Weiskopf went on to bogey the difficult 17th hole, and Jack parred his way into the clubhouse to secure his fifth Masters title.

Gary Nicklaus Jr. 2018

Although it wasn’t during the official tournament, this is a well-documented shot that will live in Masters history. As is a tradition for many of the golfers participating in the Wednesday Par 3 Contest, Jack Nicklaus let his caddy, who also happened to be his grandson Gary, Jr., hit the approach to the final hole. It landed on the slope just behind the hole and trickled down to find the bottom of the cup. This shot is less about the outcome and more about the fantastic memory its worth for the group which also included Masters champions Gary Player, and Tom Watson. For his part, Nicklaus says the moment is more special to him than his six green jackets.

6. Jack Nicklaus, 1986

As I said, the 16th hole has been very good to Jack Nicklaus over his Masters Tournament career. It was a 5-iron to the Sunday pin at 16 which lit a fire in both Jack and the patrons. The most memorable moment was just after impact when Jack’s son Jack, Jr. immediately said “be right,” without even flinching Jack calmly replied to his son: “It is.”

5. Phil Mickelson, 2010

Phil has always been known as the aggressive gambler, whether it be flop shots or improbable approaches, his love the thrill has endeared him to golf fans and drawn comparisons as the modern-day Arnold Palmer. Phil hit his drive right on the par-5 13th and had only a narrow opening through the tall Georgia pines to hit his next shot. With more than 200 yards to the putting surface and a two-shot lead, it looked like a layup was inevitable. However, 6-iron in hand, Phil went for it and hit his approach to only 5 feet. Although he went on to miss the eagle putt, it secured him a birdie four and set him on the path for another Masters win.

4. Larry Mize, 1987

Augusta native Larry Mize took on Greg Norman in the peak of his career, at the Masters in a sudden-death playoff. After hitting his approach well right on the 11th green Mize still had well over 125 feet to the cup from a tight lie and water past the pin. In what could only be considered the shot of his life, he carefully fed a chip shot towards the pin before it hit the flag and made its way to the bottom of the cup for a birdie three. Norman failed to match Mize’s birdie, and the Australian once played the bridesmaid in a major.

3. Gene Sarazen, 1935

Associated Press

It’s still known as “the shot heard ’round the world.” Gene Sarazen, who was trailing by three shots at the time he holed out from 235 yards (remember this is the persimmon era) on the 15th hole for an albatross two on the famous par 5. The shot garnered national attention for what was at the time known as the Bobby Jones’ Invitational Tournament and also forced a 36-hole playoff with Craig Wood, which Sarazen went on to win.

2. Bubba Watson, 2012

This shot would have never even happened if it wasn’t for the albatross made earlier in the day by Louis Oosthuizen on the second, which ultimately lead to a playoff with Bubba Watson. After both golfers hit poor tee shots on the downhill dogleg left 10th hole, Bubba Watson—a man known for his uncanny ability to work a golf ball—hit a 40-yard hooking wedge through a small opening in the trees onto the green to set up a simple two-putt par. Thanks to the circumstances of the shot, the famous spot in the trees on the right side of the 10th hole has become a popular spot for patrons to stop and gaze at what it took to pull that off.

1. Tiger Woods, 2005

The call by Verne Lundquist is entrenched in Masters history “Oh my goodness…Oh, WOW!”

After hitting his approach shot long and left of the 16th hole, Tiger Woods played his pitch shot up the slope behind the flag and let gravity do the rest of the work from there. It was struck perfectly and slowly trickled down the break before taking a momentary pause on the lip and disappearing into the hole. This lead to two-shot lead for Woods with two holes to go.

What is often less discussed is Tiger finished bogey-bogey on 17 and 18 to allow Chris DiMarco back into the tournament and forced a playoff, but it was an anti-climatic finish as DiMarco missed the green with his approach on the first playoff hole and Tiger won his fourth green jacket.

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Jack Nash

    Apr 13, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    Phil should be #1. Long iron, stymied, pine needles, birdie to solidify win? C’mon.

  2. Joe Wilson

    Apr 13, 2020 at 9:53 am

    Surprised Sandy Lyle’s bunker shot is not ranked higher, but it’s all subjective.

  3. dj

    Apr 11, 2020 at 8:39 am

    the last comment of Tiger’s chip-in. “That guy’s pretty good”.

  4. Frank

    Apr 10, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    No Byron Nelson hook shot around the right trees on 18 to get into a playoff with Ben Hogan and winning the 1942 Masters? SHANK!

  5. Robert

    Apr 10, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    Sarazen’s double eagle number one – 3 under tops 2 under. Went on to win. Oosthuizen didn’t.

  6. David Lehmann

    Apr 10, 2020 at 11:46 am

    Why does Tiger’s chip garner the number one place when Davis Love made the same shot years earlier?

    • Sam

      Apr 11, 2020 at 7:43 pm

      Tiger’s was more difficult because the ball was resting against the collar. Also, it mattered more – Love was not realistically in contention. Also, it’s Tiger. Also, he won the tournament.

    • Cody Reeder

      Apr 13, 2020 at 9:16 am

      I knew when I saw the title that Tiger’s chip would be number one. The love for the goat is strong here. But he owes the whole thing to Love. Tiger knew about that shot because of Love. Love’s was actually even harder being further off the green.

      Tigers is more memorable though. I guess that is the difference. It is not really a best shot compilation as it is more of a most memorable shot list. Which is fine.

  7. BJ

    Apr 10, 2020 at 11:17 am

    Every time i watch that tiger chip in, its still amazing it went in.

    • Mike

      Apr 10, 2020 at 11:59 am

      He basically went over and kicked Dimarco in the nuts!

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

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This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

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Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

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