All golf fans have seen the iconic photograph of Jack Nicklaus, putter outstretched towards the hole as he holed for birdie on the seventeenth at Augusta National in 1986. This was a run of eagle-birdie-birdie that saw him take the lead at the 71st hole of the tournament. Generally written off by pundits prior to the championship The Golden Bear was goaded into action by an article in Atlanta Journal-Constitution calling Nicklaus “done, washed up, through” and giving him no chance to win. A final par 4 saw Nicklaus close with a 65, 7 under for the final 10 holes, 30 for the back 9 and an ultimately winning score of -9 to win his 18th Major title and a record six green jackets. The round has gone down in history as one of the greatest of all time.
For an amazing golf shot to be considered a truly “great” shot it must have context. Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus had some memorable tussles in Major championships of the late 1970s and early 80s and their encounter in the 1982 US Open at Pebble Beach was one of the best. Nicklaus, playing two holes ahead of Watson, fought his way into contention with a burst of 5 consecutive birdies early in the round and as he was completed at #18 Tom dropped a shot at #16 to fall to a tie with him. The 17th hole at Pebble Beach is a devilish 200 yard par 3 on the edge of the Pacific Ocean that requires a precise long iron to a shallow green protected by deep bunkers and thick rough. Watson’s 2 Iron tee shot looked good in the air but drew just too far, it hit the green but ran through into the deep wiry rough. Whilst this drama was being played out Nicklaus was watching on television and offered the opinion that Watson couldn’t get up and down. Legend has it that Tom’s caddy gave him his sand wedge and told him to “Get it close.” Watson is credited with replying “Bruce, I’m not trying to get this close. I’m going to make it”.Tom Watson was always a brisk player so after 2 quick practice stroke he popped the ball up with an open faced chop just onto the putting surface, it ran out to the hole, rattled the flag and dropped into the hole for birdie to take a one stroke lead. Watson went on the claim his only US Open title.
This amazing golf shot was delivered like a boxer’s knockout blow. In blustery conditions Padraig Harrington played percentage golf for much of the 2008 Open Championshipbut when opportunities presented themselves he took them. On the 71st #17 hole at Royal Birkdale two shots ahead of he field he took a calculated risk and hit a magnificent five wood 272 yards to the heart of the green, the ball finally rolling out to 6 feet, “That’s a ripper!” said Peter Alliss. Harrington inevitably holed out for his eagle, closed out his rivals and won his second Claret Jug.
The TPC Sawgrass #17 hole has reached iconic status in golf as every year the worlds best golfers queue up to sweat over a shot to the island green at The Players Championship. With zero margin for error you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s all about the tee shot. Well it is, almost! Once your ball has reached the putting surface you are still faced with a treacherous putt. See Tiger Woods read a double breaking putt to perfection and laugh as the commentators get the call completely wrong. A wonderful amazing golf shot.
