Each one of the Masters eighty-nine tournaments has brought a trove of great moments, and without doubt the upcoming 90th event in April will deliver yet more. Anyone challenged with making a selection of greatest Masters moments is therefore faced with a vast richness of choices—here are just ten of those many outstanding moments.
1935 – Sarazen’s dead aim
Gene Sarazen was three strokes behind Craig Wood, who had already finished, as he played the 15th hole. He made up those three strokes with one swing of the club, holing a 230-yard four-wood shot for a miraculous double eagle. He went on to win a playoff the next day.
1960 – a fine finish
Arnold Palmer’s approach to the 18th green landed two feet from the hole, finishing six feet away, and he made the birdie putt to beat Ken Venturi by one stroke, also having made birdie on the 17th.
1975 – remarkable three-way battle
Jack Nicklaus sank a 40-foot putt on the 16th to tie Tom Weiskopf for the lead. Minutes later, Weiskopf bogeyed 16 and ended up tied for second with Johnny Miller, one stroke behind Nicklaus in a titanic three-way battle.
1978 – Player’s triumph
Gary Player rolled in a 15-foot putt on the 18th green for a 30 on the back nine and a 64 in the final round. It ultimately gave him a one-stroke victory over Tom Watson, Hubert Green, and Rod Funseth.
1986 – a father-and-son exchange
When Jack Nicklaus hit his five-iron tee shot on the 16th hole, his son and caddie Jackie, said “Be right!” Nicklaus responded, “It is,” and the ball settled three-and-a-half feet from the hole. The birdie, combined with an eagle on 15 and a birdie on 17 gave him a 30 on the back nine for a 65 and a sixth Masters title by one stroke.