What was the best Masters ever?

[Mennon]

After two of the most boring Masters in my life the last two years, I was wondering what we could say at the Masters funeral if it dies next week.
Remember what it used to be like? Just a birdiefest, with the best players in the world going crazy. Norman, Seve, Faldo, Calc? No rough, screaming crowds, balls going in from averywhere like it was destiny or magic.
The best Masters, in my opinion, happened only recently though.
2004. No Tiger involved, but it crazy. KJ holing out on 11. Els not able to hang on, and Mickleson begrudgingly earning my respect with an awesome birdie on 18. Loved every minute of it.
What are the chances of this years' Masters coming anywhere near that?
Don't know, but when the US open is suddenly the most exciting tournament of the year, you know something's wrong at Augusta.

[Ruari]

After two of the most boring Masters in my life the last two years, I was wondering what we could say at the Masters funeral if it dies next week.

There have been close finishes and titanic battles over the years but, for me, the best ever was 1986, with Nicklaus going 5-under - including a bogey - on the back 9 to finish with 65 and beat Ballesteros, Langer, etc and claim his 6th Masters, at the age of 46. The memory still brings a small tear to my eye...

I agree that the way the course was set up last year took something away from the Masters' heritage. It used to offer a variety of choices on every shot - but the majority of them would leave the chooser with egg on his face. The pressure of making the right choice and executing it precisely was what made it exciting. Get it right and the birdie - or eagle - was on, the crowds muttered in expectation, rising to a roar when the ball disappeared in the hole. If the Masters is big-shot target golf, then it becomes just another Tour event, with no magic to it - and, with the Players' rising in importance, its Major status comes under threat. But I'll post separately on that issue... Nice thread, good post.

[i-Guy]

There have been close finishes and titanic battles over the years but, for me, the best ever was

I agree the

1986 Masters is the "Best Ever" ...I watched this final round live on TV and I was not even into golf then and remembered it being Incredibly excting...Jack is still "Da Man"...

[BASHERBAKER69]

The Masters should be a great event this year- there is a truly international field for what has become an international tournament.

I think one of the problems with the coverage is that it has become Tiger mania out there with the majority of the coverage centred around him. Its great to see other players contend and it was pleasing to see a decent contest in 2004.

This year i want to see a penal course with fringes and greens cut to the bone. I would have to say in my lifetime, the best Masters to stick out in memory, was when Faldo beat Norman in 1996- that was absorbing tv watching Faldo come from behind and Greg gradually wither away. We don't see that sort of thing very often on such a grand stage. After that i would say Nicklaus in 1986, at the age of 46.

[leftythenext?]

i'll have to agree with 2004. of course mickelson is my favorite so i had something to root for the whole day on sunday. still the drama was pretty intense and lasted til that final putt. and jump?

[mikelz]

1986
Oldest Winner ( record ): Jack Nicklaus, 1986 (46 years, 2 months, 23 days)
Sixth Masters victory ( record ).
33 years between 1st victory and the 6th ( record ).
Dressed in plaid pants that complemented the Green Jacket.
Sold about 350,000 of those oversize putters he used.

From Dan Jenkins at the time:
"With 10 holes left in the final round, Jack was six shots off the pace being set by Seve Ballesteros, who simply looked as if he owned the tournament, and had been looking like the owner all week long.
But let it be recorded that Jack played those last 10 holes in 33 strokes
--with a birdie at the ninth , a birdie at the 10th , a birdie at the 11th , a bogey at the 12th, a birdie at the 13th , a par at the 14th, an eagle at the 15th , a birdie at the 16th , a birdie at the 17th and a par at the 18th.
Poor Jack. The guy almost didn't know how to make a par."



At the time that was his 20th Major Victory.
Since then, the powers that be decided that the U.S. and British Amateurs are majors only for Bobby Jones.
Now that's really f###ing fair.
If that's fair, then Tiger already won the Grand Slam.

[BASHERBAKER69]

how we love Jack Nicklaus- 16th hole Masters, 1986



doesnt get any better than that!

[mikelz]

how we love Jack Nicklaus- 16th hole Masters, 1986

Now that was a shot. I think it was right before Seve snot hooked the 4 iron on 15. Cause and effect or coincidence?

[BASHERBAKER69]

I think that shot put so much heat on Seve that i think he buckled a bit, knowing that the Golden Bear was on his heels. I just think that Jack was a different animal to what Tiger is now.

Don't think Seve was the same after that incident. Just brilliant- happy days!

[r7 425]

I liked the one where Len Mattiace lost...that was such an exciting tournament...i dont know what year it was but that was the best one IMO

[BASHERBAKER69]

that was 2003, lost to Mike Weir

[Lemay427]

I am 25 so i havent watched that many masters. Since I really started to watch golf when Tiger was playing on TV (Us Amateurs), I would say that 1997 was my favorite. It was the beginning of an era in golf in my opinion.

[BASHERBAKER69]

Faldo and Norman in 1996 was also a good spectacle . Here is a short clip of the 2 of them talking it over on the golf channel. What a gent Greg is!

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/core.a...0&select2;=6635

[Puttin4Bird]

My personal favorite that I have seen was 2001 when Tiger, Phil, David Duval and I think Ernie was right up there too. All three of them played great with Tiger winning after the other 2 kind of gave it away. At the mid way point of the back 9 on Sunday you had no idea who was going to win. Great drama! I still have the VHS of that final round and periodically will throw it in and still love watching it!

I would have to think that anyone following the Masters long enough would say that Nicklaus' 86 Masters was the one that tops them all....I love those highlights!

[MrKadash]

There have been close finishes and titanic battles over the years but, for me, the best ever was 1986, with Nicklaus going 5-under - including a bogey - on the back 9 to finish with 65 and beat Ballesteros, Langer, etc and claim his 6th Masters, at the age of 46.

I'm a stickler for stats. Nicklaus shot a 30 on the back with a bogey.

"33 years between 1st victory and the 6th ( record )." Mikelz, actually it was 23 years (1963-1986)... Gotta get the numbers right when talking about the greatest Masters champion ever....

[BASHERBAKER69]

to shoot 30 with a bogey on the back nine is just mind bending!....will TW be able to do that by the time he hits 46?..i doubt it.

[Ruari]

I'm a stickler for stats. Nicklaus shot a 30 on the back with a bogey.

You're absolutely right - it was a mis-type: he shot 6-under, 30. 7-under for the last 10 holes - amazing, whatever.

[Thrash13]

I'll take the 2004 Masters, but I was only 4 years old for the 1986 Masters. I can't compare the two fairly, so I'll take the one I actually watched. I'm not even a Phil Mickelson fan, but that was a special moment in golf after so many close calls in majors. And as others have mentioned, there were birdie and eagle cheers the entire last two or three hours of the broadcast. It was definitely something special.