18) Hideki Matsuyama’s caddy bows at 18
Some acts can be very simple but incredibly significant at the same time. Certainly the way in which Hideki Matsuyama’s caddie Shota Hatafuji reacted after his man became the first Asian winner of The Masters was special and poignant in the same breath.
Bowing one’s head is a hugely significant gesture in Japan. It is the way people greet each other and is a sign of respect.
And Hatafuji’s actions shone a light on that in the best possible way. Off came his cap and that simple bow by the 18th hole showed what it meant to Matsuyama and his fellow countrymen.
It was a wonderful victory. Matsuyama was imperious as he charged into contention on the Saturday and, even though there was a big wobble at the end – he bogeyed three of the last four holes – no one could begrudge the talented Asian player his one-shot success.
17) Oostuizen’s albatross in 2012
https://youtu.be/2skyyr1IVnY
You’re in contention to win the Masters on the final day and your head is full of a million thoughts. However the overriding one is ‘make a good start’.
Louis Oosthuizen began the fourth round at the 2012 Masters one behind 54-hole leaders Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson. However that all changed in the most extraordinary fashion at the par five second, the South African holing his second to jump into a two-shot lead.
All albatrosses are special but with Oosthuizen it was the time it took the ball to meander down to the hole, the ball pitching a good 80 feet away from the flagstick. Officially it took 22 seconds between the South African hitting the shot and the ball dropping in.
However there would be no happy ending for the 2010 Open champion as he lost out to an inspired Bubba Watson (see below).
16) Faldo and Norman embrace on the 18th green
The final of the 1996 Masters felt like a neverending splurge of drama as Nick Faldo overhauled Greg Norman in the most astonishing fashion.
Norman had opened the tournament with a course-record-equalling 63 and was five clear going into Sunday but, partly due to Faldo’s brilliance – he closed with a five under 67 – and mainly because of Norman’s profligacy, everything changed.
Faldo’s persona at that time was of a man driven to succeed come what may. He famously said little to playing partners during his playing career but the way he reacted, after winning his third Green Jacket, speaks volumes as to what was really going on inside.
To see two big men – giants of the game – embrace like that on the final green was special. Faldo clearly felt for his old sparring partner and was happy to show it to the world.
Related: Augusta’s holes ranked from 1 to 18 - Part 1
15) Mickelson’s leap into immortality in 2004
From the moment Phil Mickelson won a PGA Tour event he looked destined to become a Major winner.
However throughout his twenties he endured so many near misses people were beginning to wonder. It also didn’t help that a certain Tiger Woods was doing his thing.
Mickelson was 33 by the time the 2004 Masters rolled around and once again he was in serious contention going into the final round, playing in the final group alongside Chris Di Marco. Both players were on six under, two ahead of Bernhard Langer and Paul Casey.
Di Marco faltered early but eagles on eight and 13 meant all the momentum was with Ernie Els up ahead and, heading into the final few holes, the South African appeared to be surging to a first Masters success.
However Mickelson responded in stunning fashion, birdieing 12, 13, 14 and 16 to draw level with the South African. It stayed that way as the final pair walked up 18, Mickelson hitting a wonderful approach past the flag and his ball somehow stuck on the slope, unlike Sandy Lyle’s 7 iron 16 years earlier.
It left the American with 20 feet down the hole for the victory and, as his putt arrowed towards the centre of the cup, the commentator famously asked “Is it his time?” My goodness was it ever!
Cue bedlam and some wonderful shots of Mickelson’s family embracing their all-conquering hero.
14) Nicklaus holes a bomb at 16 in 1975 to derail Weiskopf and Miller
The 1975 Masters developed into a fascinating three-way battle between Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus, who had spent 1974 going close without securing Major Number 13.
Going into the last day he was two back of the super-consistent Weiskopf, who held onto the lead until the 11th where a bogey gave The Golden Bear, playing in the penultimate group with Tom Watson, the advantage.
However Weiskopf retook the lead as he birdied 14 and 15 to get to 12 under but then the pendulum swung back in the most dramatic fashion at 16, a hole which would again be very kind to Nicklaus 11 years later.
Having nearly holed his second at 15 – he would have to settle for a birdie – Nicklaus left his approach at the next well short. With 40 feet for birdie it looked like Weiskopf had a huge advantage but then the four-time Masters champion sent the massive gallery crazy as he sunk his bomb up the green with Miller and Weiskopf waiting on the tee.
Nicklaus’ leap of joy was matched by that of his caddy and just a couple of minutes later Weiskopf hit a terrible tee shot, which just got over the water but left him 90 feet from the pin. He failed to make par, handing the lead to Nicklaus, who parred the last two and that proved enough. Miller birdied 17 to also get within one but neither member of the final group could find the necessary birdie at the last to force a play-off.
13) Nicklaus holes across the green at 17 in 1986
This is the first of two entries from Jack Nicklaus’s astonishing charge to glory in 1986.
There are so many amazing things about that most memorable of Sunday afternoons at Augusta but one of the many fascinating side stories surrounds the reluctance of the man in control of CBS’s coverage to cover The Golden Bear’s rise up the leaderboard. He had to be convinced by the rest of his team that the 17-time Major champion was a contender, even as he blitzed his way through the back nine.
However by the time Nicklaus hit his approach to 17, he had made himself the centre of attention although those watching on TV still didn’t get to see all his shots on the final few holes. After his birdie on 16, the 46-year-old was level with Tom Kite and Seve Ballesteros on eight under, and then he hit his approach at the penultimate hole to 16 feet. The camera was positioned perfectly to see Nicklaus draw back his new, oversized putter and pour it in for another birdie. In nine glorious holes he had gone from a footnote to the biggest story in golf.
It is worth noting he birdied nine, ten and 11, bogeyed 12, birdied 13, eagled 15 and also birdied 16 and 17 on his way to a closing 65.
The famous phrase – ‘The Masters starts on the back nine on Sunday’ – was never more apt.
