It’s that time of the year again when golf enthusiasts are given a four-day pass to indulge in the biggest event on the golfing calendar: The Masters.
Our selection process for the best moments of the prestigious event didn’t just focus on the best shots, best golf outfits or the most historically significant moments, though we’ve included plenty of both. Instead, we aimed to highlight those moments that resonated deepest—the ones that dominate headlines, trend on Twitter, and leave an indelible mark on Augusta National’s lush greens.
While recognising that personal preferences play a role, we’ve curated a list that blends inspiration, heartbreak, and outright oddity—all reminders of what makes this tournament unforgettable.
Our Favourite Memories from The Masters
Table of Contents
1. Tiger Wood’s Reign Begins (1997)
At just 21 years old, Tiger Woods etched his name into golfing history with a commanding victory that still stands as the largest margin of victory in Masters history. His triumph was a coronation that inspired a generation and shattered records, setting the stage for a legendary career.
Setting a new record for television viewership for golf in America, Tiger started the final round with a nine-stroke lead. He would go on to win by 12-strokes and begin one of the most dominating reigns in sporting history.
2. Jack Nicklaus Becomes the Oldest Masters Winner (1986)
In 1986, age proved to be no barrier for Jack Nicklaus, who at 46, defied the odds to claim his sixth green jacket. His final-round heroics, coupled with a touching father-son moment, showcased the timeless magic of the Masters.
Nicklaus, at 46 tied for the lead in the final round of the Masters and going for a record sixth green jacket, had hit his approach to 12 feet on the 17th. “It’s hard to appreciate on TV how hard that putt was,” Jack Nicklaus Jr. told Golf Digest’s Guy Yocom. “The hole was on a crest where the ball could break either way. I took a look and told Dad I thought the ball would break a little to the right. He overruled me.”
The Golden Bear went on to par the 18th to complete a back-nine 30 for a final-round 65, holding off Greg Norman and Tom Kite by a stroke.
3. Adam Scott Breaks Australia’s Masters Drought (2013)
Adam Scott’s playoff victory in 2013 not only secured his first major title but also ended Australia’s decades-long quest for a green jacket. His clutch putting under pressure marked a historic moment for both himself and his nation.
Scott’s win was the Aussie’s long-awaited first major title and an even longer-awaited green jacket for his continent. It also marked the first—and last, unless the rules change again—Masters win by someone using an anchored putting stroke.
4. Tiger Woods “The Chip” (2005)
Tiger Woods’ miraculous chip-in on the 16th hole in 2005 remains one of the most iconic shots in golfing history.
Locked in a final-round battle with Chris DiMarco, Woods found himself in an awkward spot up against the collar of the rough after missing the 16th green long and left. But he conjured up arguably the most magical shot of his career and certainly the most replayed shot in golf history, a chip aimed some 20 feet above the hole that funnelled—and trickled—down the slope and into the hole for an improbable birdie.
Tiger’s golf ball was in motion for a full 16 seconds, including a brief, dramatic pause before dropping into the cup and producing Verne Lundquist’s famed call: “OH! WOW! IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT?!”
5. Hideki Brings a New Touch to the Champions Dinner Menu (2021)
Hideki Matsuyama’s victory in 2021 not only made him a national hero but also brought a taste of Japan to the prestigious Champions Dinner. His win was celebrated not only for its historic significance but also for the cultural flair it brought to Augusta.
Matsuyama’s caddie, Shota Hayafuji, also contributed to the memorable moment by removing the flag from the flagstick and bowing towards the course in a spontaneous sign of respect and appreciation. This gesture resonated with fans around the world, adding an extra layer of significance to Matsuyama’s victory.
6. Mikkelson’s leap win (2004)
“It’s been one of the greatest days in Masters history, plain and simple,” said Jim Nantz as Phil Mickelson lined up an 18-footer that would give him the victory and his long-awaited first major title. Things got even better moments later. As Mickelson’s putt made its way to the hole Nantz uttered the now-classic, “Is it his time?” two feet from the hole and an emphatic, “Yes! At long last!” after it snuck in the left side, sending Mickelson on a leap that has been mocked for its lack of lift, yet remains iconic.
The scene afterwards was nearly as good. From Mickelson’s joyous celebration on the green to lifting his daughter Sophia and saying, “Daddy won. Can you believe it?” to the patrons simply not wanting to leave, Mickelson gave the tournament one of its most popular champions in a year Arnold Palmer played in it for the last time. A great day indeed.
7. The Greatest Comeback the Sport Has Seen (2019)
After a troubling period in his career marked by scandals and injuries, Tiger Woods shocked and inspired the golfing world with his triumphant comeback in 2019. His victory, though not his most dominant, remains one of the most memorable and heartwarming stories in the sport’s history.
Woods birdied three holes in a four-hole stretch, including a kick-in on the par-3 16th. But mostly it was a vintage example of Woods at his cautious, most calculating best, patiently waiting out the mistakes of others.
But then it was over, and the restraint Woods exercised over the final round was replaced by an emotional release. Woods’ jousting his arms in the air after the final putt. Woods wrapping his caddie, Joe LaCava, then his son Charlie in powerful embraces. Woods whooping and smiling all the way to the scoring area, he and everyone else celebrating a decade-long journey reaching a fitting, triumphant conclusion.
8. The Masters Begins (1934)
The inaugural Masters in 1934 marked the beginning of a storied tradition that has captivated golf fans for generations. Founded by amateur golfer Bobby Jones and his friend Clifford Roberts, the tournament laid the foundation for what would become one of the most prestigious events in golf.
9. A Hometown Hero’s Stunning Hole Out (1987)
In 1987, Augusta native Larry Mize stunned the golfing world with a dramatic hole-out to win the Masters in a sudden-death playoff. His improbable victory over heavyweights Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman remains one of the tournament’s most unforgettable moments.
He simply had no chance, but Ballesteros bogeyed the first sudden-death playoff hole, the par-4 10th. He had to trudge back up the steep hill while Norman and Mize played on. Norman found the edge of the green at No. 11. Mize missed right, well off the putting surface, 140 feet from the cup, leaving a perilous chip shot to a green running away from him towards water. It was almost impossible to get close. So Mize knocked it in. He leapt in the air, losing his visor, and thrust his wedge in the air. Then he jogged towards the green, still celebrating and trampling Norman’s spirit.
10. Bubba Watson’s Pitching Wedge from the Trees on the 10th (2012)
Bubba Watson’s remarkable shot from the trees on the 10th hole during the playoff of the 2012 Masters was the shot that not only secured his first Masters title but also left spectators in awe of his skill and creativity.
How do you know when something deserves to be tagged a “defining moment”? In the case of Watson’s stupefying second shot to the 10th hole, it’s the fact that ever since the lefty pulled it off en route to securing his first Masters title in a playoff over Louis Oosthuizen, spectators routinely seek out the spot in the trees to the right of the fairway, pretend to play the shot themselves and have their minds blown all over again.
A 52-degree wedge? From 144 yards? Hooking 40 yards? To 15 feet of the hole? Few would have even thought of the shot, let alone been able to pull it off. Somehow, Watson made it look routine.
11. The King Wins His First Major (1958)
Arnold Palmer’s victory in the 1958 Masters was not only his first major win but also a moment riddled with controversy.
Palmer came to the par-3 12th on Sunday leading by one, only to airmail the green and find his ball plugging into the turf. Palmer felt he was entitled to relief under a local rule, but a rules official told him to play it.
Arnie hacked it out and made 5, but chose to play another ball and let the committee decide what score should count. Palmer made 3 with the second ball as playing partner Ken Venturi protested, insisting Arnie couldn’t do it after the fact. Palmer eagled the 13th, then on the 15th was told his 3 at 12 would count—a critical call seeing as he won by one over Fred Hawkins and Doug Ford to become the youngest champion at 28 since Byron Nelson in 1937. For Venturi, it was another Masters heartbreak—and he never got over the incident.
12. Dustin Johnson’s Record-Breaking Low Score (2020)
Dustin Johnson’s dominant performance in the 2020 Masters shattered records and cemented his status as one of golf’s elite.
There was nothing “normal” about the 2020 Masters, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was delayed until November, a tournament first. There were no Par 3 Contest, no patrons, no azaleas. Even so, a fall Masters was way better than no Masters at all, golf fans worldwide appreciative of the efforts to move forward with the tournament during harrowing times.
In the end, they got a memorable winner, World No. 1 Dustin Johnson grabbing what had become an elusive second career major title with a five-stroke win. DJ broke or tied nine Masters records, most notably the 72-hole scoring mark by two with a 20-under 268. Unflappable for four rounds at ANGC, DJ then showed something few had seen from the 36-year-old in his post-round interview: emotion.
A cracked voice and the wiping of tears from the new winner, only weeks removed from his own personal bout with the coronavirus, hinted that the man who grew up in nearby South Carolina had more invested in his game than we all understood—or appreciated.
13. A Dinner Like No Other – The Birth of the Champions Dinner (1952)
The Champions Dinner, a tradition that began in 1952, signifies the prestige associated with the Masters. Initiated by Ben Hogan, this exclusive gathering brings together past champions for an evening of fine dining and cherished memories, with each menu selected by the previous winner.
There are clubs to belong to, and then there are clubs for the elite of the elite. After winning the 1951 Masters, Ben Hogan proposed a dinner for the Tuesday of the next Masters week. Requirement for attendance: A green jacket for having won the Masters (though Hogan then extended invitations to Augusta National co-founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts).
In 1952, that trio was joined for dinner by Horton Smith, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Henry Picard, Jimmy Demaret, Craig Wood, Claude Harmon and Sam Snead. (Past champions Ralph Guldahl and Herman Keiser didn’t compete that year.) For years, Snead’s risqué jokes were as much a staple of the dinner as a medium-rare steak. Today, the tab for dinner far exceeds what Hogan earned for winning that 1951 Masters: $3,000.