As the US Open appears on the immediate horizon, are we willing to accept that the 2011 Masters may have just been the greatest major ever contested?
Or am I just a biased Aussie excited by the performances of three of our best on the greatest stage?
Okay, so let’s back track and I won’t venture past my own historical perspective, which may taint my judgment slightly – but apologies to any of the pre-mid-1970s winners.
Let others judge your place – even YouTube cannot give me the perspective to comment fairly. So with those caveats in place, let’s commence a discussion of some of the great majors.
1978 Masters, Gary Player playing alongside Seve Ballesteros birdies seven of the final ten holes to win. It would be the last major that Player won and was the round when he passed the baton to another non-US player – Ballesteros, providing him the impetus to win in 1980 and 1983.
In 1978 Player was countless shots behind and told Seve, “These people do not think I can win, I will show them.” And he played the outcast and underdog to perfection.
Unfortunately for Player though, his greatest victory was followed eight years later by the Masters that everyone remembers. In 1986 the Golden Bear, written off for a number of years as past it, over the hill and never to win another major awoke from hibernation to dismantle the field.
Nicklaus shot 65 on the Sunday, including a brilliant 30 on the back nine that included an eagle on 15, and birdies on 16 and 17 – 46 years old, 160th on the money list coming into the event and spurred on by an article that said that he could not win (which a friend put on his fridge).
Nicklaus beat Norman, who bogeyed the last, Ballesteros who sank his second into water on the 15th, Langer and Price – all at the top of their game. And with son Jackie on the bag, he took just 25 putts to close out a 65 and a victory for his sixth green jacket. If you want great sports memories, watch his back nine, and the determination – including his famous putter salute when he sank the putt on 17. Or 15 minutes later – arm-in-arm with Jackie walking off the 18th green, knowing that they had achieved something truly special.
Staying on the Masters theme, there will be others that claim that Ben Crenshaw’s second win in 1995 was the most memorable. Losing his long time coach Harvey Penick the week leading to the event, Ben was a pallbearer at the funeral of Penick on the Wednesday and flew back that night to Augusta. With the passing of his friend and mentor, Crenshaw won the Masters, collapsing on the 18th green in grief.
Prior to the event, Crenshaw had no form – his glory days in the mid 70s were long past, but with the weight of loss; and his desire to honour his lifelong friend; he played amazing golf, winning without a three putt on the treacherous greens.
Recently, who could forget Woods first victory in 1997? Twelve shot victory at the age of 21, reminding us all that the heir to Nicklaus’ crown had truly arrived.
Or 2001, when the weight of the ‘Tiger Slam’ weighed heavily and he closed the deal to be the only golfer who ever held all four major trophies in his possession at one time. Not since the great Bobby Jones, who captured the Grand Slam in 1930 – British and US Opens, and British and US Amateur crown – had any player dominated like Woods in 2000-01.
And The Open? There is no question for me; 1977 Turnberry, Nicklaus versus Watson. Nicklaus shooting 66-66 in the closing rounds paired with his heir Tom Watson, who shot 66-65 to win by one shot.
The match in the final group was inspiring, and typified by the 72nd hole; Nicklaus one shot down drives into gorse on the right side of the fairway, Watson down the middle.
Nicklaus lashes a six-iron through the gorse to find the green, about 50 feet from the hole. Watson plays seven-iron to two feet; and whilst contemplating his probable two putt victory, Nicklaus miraculously holes his putt! Watson holed his putt to end the greatest modern duel in golf majors.
And then there was Stewart Cink’s Open in 2009. But not for an unlucky bounce on the 72nd hole, would we even be commenting on anything else? Watson again at Turnberry – 59 years old, competing against the young guns and keeping them at bay, just as Norman had done leading after 54 holes the previous year in 2008.
I don’t care who you are, if Watson had gotten up and down on the 72nd to win, his effort would have eclipsed any previous effort. I recall staying up late and living every hole, hoping that he could close the deal, and capture his sixth Open.
But it was not to be, bogeyed the last after a great second that took a big bounce through the green; and losing the three hole playoff.
And lastly, one from the vault.
Venturi’s US Open in 1964, my one journey into golf folklore. Venturi won in 64 in the days when the US Open played 36 holes on Sunday. He was advised to retire after 18 holes, as the temperature at Congressional soared over 100 degrees, and he was feeling the effects of heat illness.
He played on, sank the final putt and collapsed exhausted. So drained, that at the completion of the round, he handed over his partner’s card and there were no scores on it. Venturi had not been with it enough to record scores for his playing partner. And when the putt sank he said, “My God, I have won the Open.”
So why would the 2011 Masters be rated higher than these events?
Because Charl Schwartzel won? Birdied the last four holes to win by two? Because there were three Aussies in contention on the back nine? Because Woods fired an amazing four birdies and one eagle on the front nine then folded? Because Bo Van Pelt who was not shown at any time on the back nine except for eagles on 13 and 15 to be one off the pace. Because McIlroy led into the event and imploded on the last day?
No, I would have to say that the 2011 Masters because it was anyone’s event to win. McIlroy couldn’t close the deal after some amazing golf in the first there rounds. Woods got there and then failed to deliver. Schwartzel patiently stayed focused and joined his friend Louis Oosthuizen as major winner.
Day and Scott both led in the final round. KJ Choi and Angel Cabrera in the hunt with nine to go. Luke Donald chipping in on 18,
The reason I rate the 2011 the greatest Masters I have seen? It was incredible drama, the back nine was simply amazing. Attack and counter attack, on the best golf stage in the world.
Some highlights from the back nine: Ogilvy five birdies from 12 through 16; Day birdies 17 and 18; Scott birdies 14 and 16, and like Day holds the lead on the back nine but fails to birdie 13 or 15; Donald birdies 15 16 and 18, but bogeys 17; and Schwartzel with the roars around Augusta ringing out – birdies 15 to 18 and wins by two.
And these highlights fail to mention Van Pelt, Cabrera or Choi who were all within one shot of the lead after 69 holes on -10!
The 2011 Masters was the greatest, because so many great players stepped up and made it great. And yes, we had three Aussies in contention – two of whom led on the back nine.
But boy, what drama and what a great golf event on a beautiful course and great test of golf; at Bobby Jone’s inspirational Augusta National.
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