In Collaboration with our partner Windhoek, Compleat Golfer selects five of the most ingenious moments in golf.
Bubba Watson 2012 Masters
Battling South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff at Augusta National, Watson pulled his drive from the 10th tee far to the right – ending up with a ridiculously difficult shot with his ball firmly nestled behind a string of pine trees. The left-hander lofted a wedge high into the air that caught the front edge of the green, but due to the hook on his shoot, boosted by some extra spin, Watson managed to roll it towards the hole that ended about 15 feet from the cup – setting him up for his first green jacket.
Seve Ballesteros 1993 European Masters
‘You’ve finally lost the plot,’ was the words from Ballesteros’ caddie Billy Foster for this attempt. The Spaniard found himself behind a massive wall after his tee shot went way right off the 18th tee. What appeared to be the end of his tournament as a result, Ballesteros shocked everyone when he decided to for the green with half a back swing and pine trees everywhere around him. He managed to find a small gap between the trees and got it over the massive wall in front of him as the ball landed just a yard away from the green.
Tiger Woods 2005 Masters
This chip in on the par-three, 16th hole at Augusta became arguably one of the most legendary moments in Tiger Woods’ illustrious career. Battling for the lead during the final round, Woods had to master a controlled chip shot from thick rough into the exact right area for the ball to roll down to the cup and not past it into the bunkers below the green. His aim was perfect and timing on par as Woods landed his approach on the famous hill before the ball started rolling down to the hole. The anticipation and noise around the course grew as the ball stopped for a moment on the edge of the cup before dropping down.
Larry Mize 1987 Masters
Mize edged past Greg Norman in a playoff with an incredible 140 foot chip that just kept on rolling and rolling until the ball eventually sank away on the 11th hole at Augusta. Norman appeared to be heading for a famous victory as he lined up for a birdie putt, while Mize was off the green, trying to control the speed of the quick Augusta greens. Mize got the shot to hit the front edge of the green, which in the end slowed it down somewhat, but the ball continued to roll from right to left for another iconic Masters moment.
Jon Rahm 2020 Masters
More recently, Rahm produced a great moment of innovation that will long be shown in highlights reels prior to any Masters event. Playing a practice round on the Tuesday in November, Rahm decided to skip the ball across the pond on the par-three, 16th hole just for the fun of it, only for the ball to take almost all of the slope of the green and roll with it into the cup. It might not have been an official hole-in-one but the brilliance of the invention was undeniable.
Do you agree with our five picks or who would have added to the list?
