From Miracle Hooks to Ice-Cold Putts
“In your life, have you seen anything like that?!” – the legendary words of Verne Lundquist still echo through Augusta National. The Masters isn’t just a major — it’s where the most unforgettable moments in golf happen. Augusta National, with its pristine fairways, brutal slopes, and deafening silence on Sunday, has produced some of the greatest shots ever seen. Here are 10 legendary strikes that shaped history, defined careers, and made The Masters what it is today.
1. Bubba Watson – 2012 Playoff, Hole 10
The Shot: From deep in the trees right of the 10th fairway, Bubba hooked a 52-degree gap wedge 40 yards right-to-left onto the green. It defied physics. Why It Mattered: It set up the win over Louis Oosthuizen and secured Bubba’s first Green Jacket. Pure creativity and nerve under pressure.
2. Tiger Woods – 2005, Hole 16
The Shot: Chip-in from behind the green with a 60-degree wedge. The ball paused on the edge, showing the Nike logo, before dropping. Why It Mattered: It’s perhaps the most iconic shot in golf history. Tiger’s roar, the drama, the timing — perfection. Verne Lundquist’s call: “In your life, have you seen anything like that?!” became legendary. The crowd exploded in a deafening roar, and the moment instantly became part of golf’s eternal highlight reel.
3. Phil Mickelson – 2010, Hole 13
The Shot: A 6-iron from the pine straw through a narrow gap between two trees. It found the green and set up eagle. Why It Mattered: Phil played aggressively when everyone expected him to lay up. It cemented his swashbuckling legacy and led to victory.
4. Larry Mize – 1987 Playoff, Hole 11
The Shot: Chip-in from off the green to beat Greg Norman in sudden death. Why It Mattered: A miracle finish from a heavy underdog. Mize remains the only Augusta native to win the Masters.
5. Jordan Spieth – 2016, Hole 12
The Shot: Two shots, actually — back-to-back balls into Rae’s Creek. Why It Mattered: It turned a 5-shot lead into one of the most stunning collapses in major championship history. Golf is brutal. The commentators fell silent as Augusta gasped. One even muttered, “That’s going to take a long time to forget.” It was a moment where momentum vanished in seconds.
6. Louis Oosthuizen – 2012, Hole 2
The Shot: A 4-iron albatross from 253 yards. The ball landed short and rolled like a dream into the cup. Why It Mattered: The rarest of scores — only the fourth albatross in Masters history, and the first ever on hole 2. It gave Oosthuizen an early lead and sent shockwaves through the course, instantly etching his name into Augusta folklore. 2012, Hole 2** The Shot: A 4-iron albatross from 253 yards. The ball landed short and rolled like a dream into the cup. Why It Mattered: The rarest of scores — only the fourth albatross in Masters history. It gave Oosthuizen an early lead and sent shockwaves through the course.
7. Jack Nicklaus – 1986, Hole 17
The Shot: 18-foot birdie putt to take the solo lead on Sunday. Why It Mattered: At 46, Jack’s charge remains the greatest back-nine run in Masters history. The putt was the exclamation mark — and the crowd went wild.
8. Sergio Garcia – 2017, Hole 15
The Shot: A flushed 8-iron to 14 feet for eagle. Why It Mattered: It brought him level with Justin Rose and sparked a final push to win his long-awaited first major.
9. Nick Faldo – 1996, Hole 13
The Shot: A perfect long iron into the green while Norman collapsed elsewhere. Why It Mattered: It symbolized composure versus collapse. Faldo’s steady hand overtook one of the most dramatic final rounds ever.
10. Rory McIlroy – 2011, Hole 10
The Shot: A snap-hooked tee shot into the trees left. It ricocheted off cabins. Why It Mattered: It began one of the most painful Sunday meltdowns in Masters history — and still haunts Rory’s Augusta dreams.
Who’s Next?
With the 2025 Masters underway, new chapters are being written. Will Åberg produce magic on 13? Could Rory finally find redemption on 10? One shot can change everything. And Augusta always delivers.
🗳️ Which Masters moment lives rent-free in your mind? Vote or drop your all-time favorite in the comments!
🗨️ What’s your favorite Masters shot of all time? Or is there one we missed? Let us know in the comments or on socials — and keep following YourGolfGOATS for more iconic moments all week long.
