Five Memorable Moments at the Masters
Posted on April 4, 2019
The Masters Tournament is upon us once again. The 2019 Masters Tournament will be the 83rd playing of the major championship. The tournament began as a way for Bobby Jones, co-founder of the tournament and Augusta National Golf Club where the tournament is held, to play golf with his friends. It was initially called the Augusta National Invitational. It’s popularity and status rapidly grew as the tournament transformed into a major championship on the tour. Throughout its extensive history there have been many incredible moments. Here’s a look at five memorable moments in Masters history.
1935 | 2nd Masters | Gene Sarazen
The second Masters Tournament, which was still the Augusta National Invitational, in 1935 was Gene Sarazen’s first. He was unable to play the previous year due to contractual obligations with his sponsor to do exhibitions. Sarazen was good friends with tournament co-founder Bobby Jones. The pair, Sarazen and Jones, along with Walter Hagen were American golf’s first big three, dominating the sport in the 1920s and 1930s.
As Sarazen approached the 15th hole on the final day he was three strokes behind the clubhouse leader Craig Wood. After a stellar drive, Sarazen found himself 235-yards away from the green on the par 5 hole. He decided to go for it. After discussing club selection with his caddie, Sarazen pulled out a 4-wood. With all the might he could muster with his 5 ft 5 ½ inch stature Sarazen struck the ball. To the surprise of his playing partner, Walter Hagen, the gallery and Bobby Jones himself, who was watching around the green, the ball cleared the water hazard guarding the front of the green and rolled on the green then dropped into the hole. Sarazen scored a double-eagle, or an albatross, to tie Wood.
Gene Sarazen would finish with pars on the final three holes to force a playoff with Craig Wood. Sarazen would emerge victorious by five strokes over Wood after a 36-hole playoff to capture his only Masters win. With the win Sarazen became the first golfer to achieve the Career Grand Slam, winning all four modern majors. In 1955 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the amazing feat, the bridge approaching the left side of the 15th green was named the Sarazen Bridge.
1942 | 9th Masters | Byron Nelson
Two of the greatest golfers to ever play the game faced off in an epic 18-hole playoff to decide the victor at the 1942 Masters Tournament. The match was between Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan and was the first 18-hole playoff in Masters history. The pair were familiar with each other, having been competing against each other since their days caddying together at Glen Garden Country Club. The two were part of America’s Great Triumvirate of golf, with Sam Snead as the third golfer among them.
Nelson and Hogan ended their regulation rounds at 280, 8-under par, each. During the playoff Hogan took an early three stroke lead after the first five holes. However, Nelson scored an eagle on hole 8 to make a two shot swing and take a one shot lead. Byron Nelson extended his lead to 3 shots by hole 13, but then Hogan began to come back. However, Hogan was unable to close the gap and despite Nelson shooting a bogey on 18, Nelson was able to clinch a one stroke win. Nelson shot a 69, Hogan shot a 70.
The 1942 Masters win was Byron Nelson’s second and final Masters victory. It was also the last Masters Tournament held before the event was put on hold due to World War II.
1953 | 17th Masters | Ben Hogan
In 1953, Ben Hogan had one of his most iconic seasons despite only playing six tournaments. Hogan was in a near-fatal car accident in 1949, but with his resilience made his way back to the golf course a year later. However, he played in pain every round after that which is why he only played in six tournaments come 1953. Out of those six tournaments, he won five of them including three major championships.
1953 became known as Hogan’s “Triple Crown” season, having won three of the four major championships that year starting with the Masters Tournament. He broke the Masters scoring record by shooting a 274, 14-under par, which remained for 12 years. It was the second and final Masters Tournament he would win. Hogan would go on to win the 1953 U.S. Open Championship and Open Championship, in his only time playing in the tournament.
Hogan is the only golfer to hold all three of those major titles, Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open, in the same year. However, the feat of winning three major championships in one year has been matched by one other golfer, Tiger Woods.
1986 | 50th Masters | Jack Nicklaus
At the onset of the 1986 Masters Tournament, some critics felt Jack Nicklaus shouldn’t compete and allow younger players a chance. The tournament prior Nicklaus even failed to make the cut. However, a 46-year-old Jack Nicklaus proved all the doubters wrong and proceeded to make history. Nicklaus went into the final round four shots behind the leader Greg Norman. The Golden Bear progressed and shot an unprecedented 30 on the back-nine for a final round 65 and overall score of 279, 9-under par. Finishing one stroke better than Norman and Kite.
Jack Nicklaus was able to capture his record 6th green jacket and 18th major championship. He became the oldest champion in Masters history at the age of 46. The victory came 23 years after Nicklaus claimed his first green jacket. The championship was made sweeter as Nicklaus was able to share the experience with his son Jackie, who was his caddie during the tournament.
2001 | 65th Masters | Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods finished fifth at the 2000 Masters Tournament, which was subsequently won by Vijay Singh. That was the only major championship Woods lost that year. He went on to win the 2000 U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship. In 2001, Woods stepped up to the first tee box at Augusta National Golf Club as holder of three major titles.
Tiger Woods finished his first round five strokes off the leader. A deficit he quickly narrowed to two after the second round and overtook after the third round, claiming the lead by one stroke. Woods capped off his final round with a birdie, although he only needed par to secure the win, to finish with a two-stroke victory. Woods completed what became known as the “Tiger Slam,” having successfully won all four major championships consecutively. It’s the closest any golfer has ever come to matching Masters Tournament co-founder Bobby Jones’s feat of a Single Year Grand Slam where he capturing all four majors of his era in a single year, 1930.
(Photos from Associated Press & Getty Images)
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