Missing the 11th green at Augusta in The Masters results in a very very difficult up and down. A slick chip over a grassy bank with a lake beckoning behind must make for a knee-knocking experience. When Greg Norman saw his opponent Larry Mize faced with exactly that shot on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff in 1987 he must have been confident of victory. Imagine then his thoughts as he watched Mize’s 140 foot chip skip twice before the green and then track straight into the hole. Norman couldn’t believe it and nor, I’m sure, could Mize. But, what an amazing golf shot with which to win a Major.
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.
Of all the amazing golf shots that Tiger Woods has played in his career this shot stands out as probably the most memorable.
Let me take you back; Tiger led Chris DiMarco by three shots going into the final round of the 2005 Masters tournament but that lead had been whittled away to a single stroke as they stood on the tee of the par three sixteenth at the Augusta National Golf Club.
The pin was in its traditional Sunday placement, on the left side of the green at the bottom of the slope encouraging an attacking shot to the heart of the green that will run down to the flag for a possible birdie two. DiMarco played a good shot that left him a very holeable eighteen foot putt for birdie but Tiger pulled his eight-iron tee shot long and left of the green and his ball nestled up against the second cut of rough.
This awkward lie forced Woods into playing a low running chip across the incredibly fast green away from the flag before it took the slope and curved down to the right and towards the hole. The shot was judged to perfection, as it trickled nearer to the hole the ball momentarily stopped on the edge of the cup before taking one more half turn, displaying it’s Nike swoosh, and tumbling into the bottom of the hole whilst the gallery, Woods and caddy Steve Williams erupted into pandemonium. DiMarco subsequently missed his own putt and Tiger’s one stroke advantage was preserved.
Of all the amazing golf shots over the years this is destined to become the most iconic of the digital age. Nike, Tiger’s sponsors, were delighted with that serendipitous last turn of the ball and converted footage of the shot into a ubiquitous advertisement that captures the drama of the event including CBS commentator Verne Lundquist’s immortal lines “Oh my goodness! Oh Wow!! In your life, have you seen anything like that?” as the ball edges ever nearer the hole and drops in.
Whilst this one shot doesn’t tell the full story of the 2005 Masters, DiMarco caught Tiger and forced a playoff, it is certainly what the tournament will ultimately remembered for.
