Top 10 shots in the history of The Masters
By Luke Norris
10. Jack Nicklaus on the 16th hole (1986)
The iconic image that most remember from the 1986 Masters is Jack Nicklaus raising his arms in the air after making an 18-foot putt on the 17th hole, which more than likely would have made this list if it was a list of putts, as would his incredible 40-footer on the 16th in 1975. However, since that’s not the direction here, and because he deserves to be on any list involving The Masters — he is a six-time champion, let’s revisit his tee shot on the par-3 16th from that incredible stretch of holes in ’86.
Coming into the final round, the 46-year-old Nicklaus was sitting at 2-under par, four shots back of leader Greg Norman. The Golden Bear parred his first eight holes and then fired off birdies at 9, 10 and 11, but a bogey at the par-3 12th still left him three shots back of the leaders, of which there were five throughout the day.
Nicklaus birdied 13, made a par at 14 and then began one of the most legendary charges in history. With a shot on 15 that also could have made this list, Nicklaus holed a 12-footer for eagle to get to 7-under, two shots within leader Seve Ballesteros. Jack came to tee at 16 needing another great shot and, of course, pulled it off.
As soon as he hit it, he knew it was good and reached for his tee. The ball landed past the hole, spinning back and nearly dropping before settling in some three feet away. He made the putt to go 6-under in his last eight holes and then made his magic at 17 to cap it off. A back-nine 30 gave Jack his sixth and final green jacket.