Top 10 shots in the history of The Masters

3.  Larry Mize, 11th hole (2nd playoff hole) (1987)

As amazing as Bubba Watson’s shot on the second playoff hole was in 2012, just ahead of him is one that actually went in. As part of a series of incredible Masters finishes (Nicklaus in ’86, Lyle in ’88, Faldo in ’89 and ’90), the closing stretch of the 1987 edition was truly one for the ages, even if Greg Norman (not for the last time) watched his dream of winning the green jacket go up in smoke.

Coming into the 1987 Masters, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros were arguably the two best golfers on the planet, even if neither got off to a great start. Norman opened with 73-74 and was well off the pace. But a 66 in the third round left him just one back heading into Sunday. As for Seve, he had gone 73-71 in the first two rounds and remained consistent with a 2-under 70 on Saturday to sit at 2-under for the tournament, two back of leaders Ben Crenshaw and Roger Maltbie. (Yes, the same Roger Maltbie that’s been one of the best on-course commentators for years.) Then there was Augusta native Larry Mize, who had a lone PGA Tour win coming in, that being a victory at the Danny Thomas Memphis Open in 1983.

Mize opened with a 70 and trailed by one after the first round and remained in the hunt with an even-par 72 on day two to remain one back. He shot another 72 on Saturday and was two back heading into the final round, which turned out to be a day that would forever change his life. After firing a 1-under 71, he found himself in a playoff with Norman and Seve and was merely an afterthought against these two giants of the sport.

However, things got really interesting when Seve bogeyed the first playoff hole and was eliminated from contention after Norman and Mize took pars at the 10th. Both found the fairway at the par-4 11th but Mize’s approach shot came up short of the green and with a tough up-and-down coming for his opponent, Norman decided to play it a little safe and hit his second to about 50 feet, perhaps figuring a par would be good enough to win. It wouldn’t be.

Approximately 140 feet from the hole, Mize had to play a delicate bump-and-run, essentially so he wouldn’t run over and into the water. Using a sand wedge, he chipped up and on and it looked like it was going to be a great shot but I don’t think anyone expected that it could or would actually go in the hole. But it did just that and Mize was ecstatic. Norman couldn’t get his putt to drop to tie and the hometown boy was the 1987 Masters champ.