5 MEMORABLE MASTERS MOMENTS – MCILROY MAGIC, WOODS’ CHIP-IN, NICKLAUS’ SIXTH WIN

The Masters has produced more than its fair share of memorable moments since Augusta National started hosting the first major of the year in 1934.

Here, the Press Association looks at just a handful from the past half-century.

McILROY MELODRAMA

Rory McIlroy endured a rollercoaster back nine on his way to completing the career Grand Slam with a play-off victory over Justin Rose last year. A double-bogey seven after dumping his 90-yard approach into Rae’s Creek at the 13th looked like derailing the Northern Irishman’s chances. However, he produced a contender for the shot of his career at the par-five 15th, hooking a brilliant seven iron around trees from 207 yards out on the left of the fairway to set up an eight-foot eagle chance. While he could only make birdie, it put him back on track.

TIGER CHIPS IN

Arguably the television moment of Masters history was Tiger Woods’ chip-in on the 16th in 2005. Up against the collar of rough, he chipped out 20ft above the hole and, over the course of 16 seconds, watched the ball trickle down the slope to the edge of the hole, famously pausing at the side of the hole to show off his sponsor’s Nike logo before dropping into the cup. The pair of bogeys which followed were consigned to history after Woods won a play-off against Chris Di Marco at the first extra hole.

WOODS WINS AT A CANTER

No apologies for including Woods again for his record-breaking maiden win at Augusta. He started the final round in 1997 with an incredible nine-stroke lead, shot 69 to break the 72-hole scoring mark with 270, and won by a record 12 shots, becoming the first African-American to win a major. The fist-pump after holing his final putt became a trademark but it was the lingering hug with his father Earl, six weeks after a heart bypass, off the back of the green which portrayed the raw emotion of what was described by television commentary as “A win for the ages”.

SIX AND OUT FOR NICKLAUS

Forty years ago Jack Nicklaus won his sixth Green Jacket and the final of his 18 majors. Nicklaus started the final day four off the lead and probably knew, at the age of 46, this would be his last chance. But a back-nine charge thrust him into contention and, tied for the lead, he hit his approach to 12ft at the 17th and holed out for birdie, with a par at the last seeing him come home in 30 for a round of 65, giving him a one-stroke victory over Tom Kite and Greg Norman.

UNLUCKY 13 FOR WET WEISKOPF

For all its glory, Augusta has thrown up plenty of calamities as well. None more so than for poor Tom Weiskopf. In 48 previous rounds, the four-time runner-up had found the water just once at the notoriously tricky par-three 12th. However, in his first round of the 1980 Masters, the American hit five balls into Rae’s Creek on his way to a 13, equalling the record for the joint highest score at a single hole at Augusta.