Fansided

The 5 shots that define the magic of the Masters

By David Salituro

AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 08: Bubba Watson of the United States plays at a shot from the rough on second sudden death playoff hole on the 10th during the final round of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2012 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 08: Bubba Watson of the United States plays at a shot from the rough on second sudden death playoff hole on the 10th during the final round of the 2012 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2012 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Apr 1987: Larry Mize of the USA chips in on the second play-off hole to win the US Masters at Augusta National in Georgia, USA. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon /Allsport
Apr 1987: Larry Mize of the USA chips in on the second play-off hole to win the US Masters at Augusta National in Georgia, USA. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon /Allsport /

4. Larry Mize, 1987, 11th hole (playoff)

Augusta native Larry Mize grew up dreaming about winning the Masters. But even he could’ve never imagined how he would actually do it.

Mize, 28 years old in April 1987, birdied the 18th hole on Sunday to tie Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman for the lead at three-under. Norman, though, had a good look for birdie on the finishing hole to win the tournament. His putt looked on the right line the entire way but broke right just at the cup, missing by an inch. That forced a three-way sudden-death playoff for the Green Jacket.

On the first playoff hole, the 10th, Norman made par while Ballesteros three-putted for bogey, eliminating him from contention. Mize was left with a 12-foot putt for birdie to win that missed, sending him and Norman to the 11th for the second extra hole. Mize hit a terrible second shot to the difficult par-four, leaving him right of the green and 140 feet from the hole. Norman’s approach came to rest just off the green about 40 feet away and with a big advantage.

By most measures, Mize shouldn’t have been able to compete with Norman. Norman was already a major champion and the No. 1 ranked player in the world in 1987. Mize was 36th and had won just once in his PGA Tour career. He needed a piece of good fortune, and he got it on his third shot at 11.

Mize hit a 56-degree sand wedge, landing the ball just short of the green and watching as it rolled toward the hole. When it disappeared into the cup for an unlikely birdie, Mize ran around in excitement knowing the Green Jacket he had dreamt about was now within his grasp. “It landed on the exact spot where I was aiming. I remember thinking, ‘That’s pretty good,” he told Golf Digest’s John Feinstein in 2017. “Then it began tracking the hole. Next thing I knew I was jumping around and going crazy.”

Norman missed his putt, leaving Augusta’s native son as the Masters champion. Mize would win two more PGA Tour titles in his career. He last made the cut at the Masters in 2017, finishing in 52nd place.

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