1987 – Larry’s big win
Larry Mize was well to the right of the green on the second playoff hole, No. 11, while Greg Norman had a birdie putt. Mize, the underdog in a three-man playoff that saw Seve Ballesteros eliminated on the first extra hole, holed the pitch shot and walked away with the title when Norman couldn’t make his putt.
1988 – a one-stroke victory
Sandy Lyle was tied for the lead, but seemingly in trouble when his one-iron tee shot found a fairway bunker on the 18th. No problem, his seven-iron landed dead on line behind the hole and trickled back down the hill to 10 feet for a birdie, an all-time “sandy” and a one-stroke victory.
2004 – Phil’s first major
Phil Mickelson had come close in many majors but hadn’t won one—until he sank an 18-foot putt from behind the hole on 18 to beat Ernie Els by one.
2005 – a dramatic slow ball
Tiger Woods faced a tricky chip shot on the 16th that would go well past the hole before taking the slope and tracking backward. The ball slowly made its way toward the cup, momentarily hung on the lip for added drama, and dropped for a birdie. Woods ended up beating Chris DiMarco in a playoff.
2012 – a masterly and thrilling finish
Bubba Watson hooked his tee shot into the trees on the second playoff hole, No. 10, and faced a near impossible task to hit the green in two with a tree squarely in his path. Known for his shot-making ability, Watson was the right man for the job, as he hooked a gap wedge 40 yards to within 12 feet of the hole. When Louis Oosthuizen bogeyed, Watson two-putted for the win.
This was first published in Essential Golf – you can read the complete magazine here.