Tiger Woods – 2005 Masters – Hole #16 Chip In
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.
