The 2022 Masters Tournament is just a chip shot away from starting Apr. 7, and the field was recently announced.
One of the sport’s biggest names and former Masters champion says he will not be playing in this year’s Masters. Phil Mickelson won’t be at Augusta National, and perhaps not even for the champions dinner.
It appears Augusta National officials do not want Phil Mickelson playing in the Masters. Lefty has had some very memorable moments in Masters history, and makes our list of 5 of the most memorable moments. With Georgia scanning the field on possible gambling legislation, Masters betting will no doubt become a very popular draw in the state
There are hundreds of memorable and defining moments in Masters history.
But since all-time majors win leader Jack Nicklaus (18) has won the Masters a record six times, and Tigers Woods has five Green Jackets in his closet, we certainly feel those two golf greats can be our targets and key shots in the bag to lead this list.
No. 5 Larry Mize – 1987
A chip down memory lane produced another iconic Masters moment in 1987.
Augusta native Larry Mize broke Greg Norman’s heart (again) with a 140-yard chip shot that rolled in for a birdie on the second playoff hole at No. 11. It would be his only major title and Masters win.
Mize trailed two of golf’s greats Seve Ballesteros and world No. 1 Greg Norman by one shot. But then, he made a birdie on No. 18 to force the 3-man playoff before the most dramatic shot and win.
No. 4 Ben Crenshaw – 1995
‘Gentle Ben’ Crenshaw made an improbable run in the 1995 Masters to win his second Green Jacket at age 43.
The melodrama of Crenshaw’s victory was guided by the unseen hand of his lifelong swing coach Harvey Penick, whom he buried the day before the tournament began.
The storyline and emotional win were felt by the golf world as Crenshaw broke down in emotion after his tap-in on 18 sealed his memorable place in Masters history.
No. 3 Jack Nicklaus – 1986
In 1986 and the oldest Masters champion at age 46, the ‘Golden Bear’ defied the odds. He won his sixth Green Jacket and 18th major championship with his son Jack, Jr. on the bag as his caddie.
“Yes, Sir” is the legendary call of Masters announcer Verne Lundquist as Nicklaus makes birdie on hole 17 Sunday. That capped a back nine 30 and final round 65. It included a 12-foot eagle putt on No. 15 that got Nicklaus within 2-shots of the leader Seve Ballesteros.
This was one of the great performances in golf’s long history. A stunning, thundering, magnificent rally by the golf’s greatest player against a strong international contingent that all led or shared the lead at one point over the final 18 holes:
- Seve Ballesteros
- Bernhard Langer
- Tom Kite
- Greg Norman
Norman made a string of four straight birdies starting on hole 14 only to suffer another heartbreaking defeat when he made a bogey on the 72nd hole to come up 1-shot short to the great Jack Nicklaus.
No. 2 Phil Mickelson – 2004
The best player to never win a major heading into the 2004 Masters, Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson changed that along with his place in golf history with a crowd-roaring, lefty-leap after sinking a 20-foot birdie putt to win The Masters.
It was a great call from the voice of The Masters, Jim Nance.
With future Hall of Fame golfer Ernie Els on the practice tee hoping for a playoff having shot 67 and the second-lowest round Sunday, Mickelson dashed Els’ hopes for a Green Jacket and won his first of three himself.
Mickelson’s putt on the final hole and lefty’s leap will forever be a memorable moment in Masters history.
No. 1 Tiger Woods – 1997-2019
Which memorable moment is most captivating of Tiger Woods’ five Masters wins? You can list many, including 2019 when he won his fifth green jacket at age 43 and his 15th major title since 2008.
But how about 2005 when Woods won his fourth Green Jacket with one of the greatest shots in Masters history?! His chip-in for birdie at No. 16 Sunday is one of the most dramatic and memorable moments in Masters history for certain.
But after turning pro early in 1997, Woods’ dominating and record-breaking win by 12 shots to capture his first Green Jacket at age 21 is set apart. Tiger set or tied 27 Masters records including the lowest winning score at 18-under par 270.
This was tied by 21-year-old Jordan Spieth in 2015 and broken by Dustin Johnson in 2020 with a 20-under par 268 score in front of no fans at Augusta National.
Photo Credit: Dave Martin / Associated Press
