Ariy-El Boynton

Truly, the Augusta National Golf Club should be the eighth Wonder of the World. Having said that, here are the nine greatest golf shots by winners of the Masters, brought to you by The Collegian.

9. Larry Mize, 1987 Masters, 11th hole – playoff

On the 20th hole of the day, Greg Norman could feel the green jacket on his body. The shot of Augusta native Mize missed the 11th hole green and landed in the sand, while Norman hit the front edge of the green. Mize hit a 56-degree sand wedge, and the ball bounced twice up the grassy bank, once on the putting surface and landed in the bottom of the hole for a miracle birdie. Norman missed his putt and was robbed of the ’87 title.

8. Arnold Palmer, 1960, 18th hole

Nearly 10 feet separated Palmer from winning the Masters. Palmer ignored all the pressure and made his final putt of the 1960s Masters to birdie the hole. Palmer also birded the 17th hole to defeat Ken Venturi by a single stroke.

7. Gene Sarazen, 1935, 15th hole

This shot was called the original sporting “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” The 1935 Masters was in the second year, and the tourney was unknown at the time. Sarazen changed that by knocking a double eagle from 235-yards out. The 4-wood shot helped Saeazen force a playoff and win the ’35 title.

6. Phil Mickelson, 2004, 18th hole

Mickelson was given the name “Mr. Choke” by someone who saw him miss the big one over and over. 2004 was the year where ‘Lefty’ birdied five on the final seven holes. Easter Sunday saw the sweat-trenched Mickelson hit a putt from 18 feet to win the Masters. Mickelson jumped high in the air and celebrated the monkey getting off his back.

5. Jack Nicklaus, 1986, 16th hole

Many critics saw “The Golden Bear” as the old man who was over the hill and had no chance at winning another jacket, a feat that he had last accomplished over a decade before. After birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th, “The Golden One” was primed for the 16th. Nicklaus’ first shot was a masterpiece. Nearly a hole in one, he hit the 3-foot putt to win his last green jacket and a record 18th major.

4. Tiger Woods, 2005, 16th hole

Woods was in a battle with Chris DiMarco in the back nine of the final day. Woods took his 8-iron shot over the green and over 25 feet from the hole. Woods’ shot landed on the beach and was on a difficult slope. “I knew it was going to be virtually one of the most difficult shots you could have on the golf course,” Woods said. Woods stroked the ball, and the ball rolled and rolled and was headed to the hole. The ball then posed just off the cuff of the hole and then landed in the hole. Woods would go on to win the famed jacket.

3. Jack Nicklaus, 1975, 16th hole

Nicklaus was in a three-way fight with Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf. Nicklaus needed to do something if he wanted to be the top dog that weekend. He nailed a 40-foot miracle putt with his fellow-leaders on-looking. “The Golden Bear” won his fifth green jacket from his putt from way downtown.

2. Mark O’Meara, 1998, 18th hole

Much like Arnold Palmer, O’Meara birdied the 17 and 18th back-to-back in the last round, including a 20-footer at the 18th in an incredible read at the green. His one shot lead got the better of David Duval and Fred Couples.

1. Tiger Woods, 1997, 11th hole

Carrying a nine-stroke lead, all Woods had to do was settle for par on three of his final nine holes in the ’97 Masters and he would have been the youngest player ever to wear the green jacket. Woods on April 13 was not interested in settling but rather putting on a show, which left all at Augusta, Ga., speechless. On the 11th, Woods sunk a 20-foot birdie on the par-4 hole, making the gallery give out a very large Tiger “roar.” He was one of few players to dominate the back nine at the Masters in a given day.