No golf tournament has produced more Sunday drama than the Masters. The unique mix of risk-reward holes on the back nine at Augusta National are a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. Here are 10 great Sundays at Augusta:
10. 1968 » Bob Goalby
Roberto De Vicenzo made a birdie 3 at No. 17, but playing partner Tommy Aaron wrote 4 on the scorecard. The Argentine overlooked the error, signed for an incorrect score and handed the title to Goalby instead of advancing to a Monday playoff. “What a stupid I am,” he said.
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9. 2005 » Tiger Woods
When Woods chipped to a ridge at No. 16, the ball tracked sideways down a hill, hung on the lip, and dropped. Woods had a signature moment and Nike had a ready-made TV commercial. But Woods still had to fend off Chris DiMarco in a playoff after the Floridian made a back-nine charge.
8. 1987 » Larry Mize
The Augusta, Ga. native, who worked a scoreboard at the Masters as a teenager, made one of the most stunning shots in Masters history when he chipped in from 45 feet away at No. 11 to defeat hard-luck Greg Norman in a playoff.
7. 1960 » Arnold Palmer
What the 1997 Masters did for Tiger Woods, the 1958 Masters did for Palmer. But it was at the 1960 Masters where Palmer established his reputation for comebacks, making birdies on the 71st and 72nd holes to disappoint Ken Venturi for his second of four green jackets.
6. 1978 » Gary Player
At age 41, Player made a charge for the ages, making seven birdies on the final 10 holes to come from seven strokes back against Hubert Green. The win was the South African’s third at Augusta and his eighth and final major.
5. 2004 » Phil Mickelson
The highest-level back-nine duel ever at Augusta? Ernie Els was up by three and played the final five holes in 1-under, but was overtaken by Mickelson who birdied five of the final seven, punctuating his 18-foot putt on the 72nd hole with a Lefty Leap as he won his first major in 47 attempts.
4. 1995 » Ben Crenshaw
His legendary teacher, Harvey Pennick, had died earlier in the week. So when Crenshaw made a short putt on the 72nd hole to clinch a one-stroke victory over Davis Love III, Crenshaw bent at the waist and sobbed into his hands in one of the most emotional moments in tournament history.
3. 1997 » Tiger Woods
The outcome was never in doubt, but it was great theater as Woods became the first African-American to win a major and the youngest Masters champ (21), setting records for lowest score (270) and largest victory margin (12), and receiving a tearful, triumphant bear hug from his father, Earl.
2. 1996 » Nick Faldo
Greg Norman led by six going into the final round, but collapsed with a 78 on Sunday. The final misstep came at No. 16 where he splashed his tee shot, sealing his fate against the opportunistic Faldo, who shot a final-round 67. With his grace in defeat, however, Norman showed the sports world how to lose.
1. 1986 » Jack Nicklaus
Six years removed from his last major, the Golden Bear summoned his legendary stuff, firing a back nine 30 to overtake Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman. When Nicklaus, 46, rolled in an 18-footer for a birdie at No. 17, CBS announcer Verne Lundquist summed up the moment — “Yessssirr!”
