My take on the five greatest Masters is now up on Sympatico.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Though the British Open may be more historic, and the U.S. Open has a better field, to many Canadians The Masters is the most significant golf tournament of the year. In many parts of the country, the tournament in Augusta, Georgia, signifies the start of golf season, with formerly snow-filled fairways finally awakening to allow golfers to come out of hibernation and once again hack their way around the course.
Most golfers don’t recognize that The Masters – a title club co-founder Bobby Jones was not enamoured with – barely survived the Depression. Now Augusta National, with its always blooming azaleas and pristine wall-to-wall green, is regarded by most as the most exclusive and successful golf club in the world, controlled by a group of rich, almost exclusively white men who also run one of the best golf tournaments. Settling it to watch The Masters on television is without doubt one of the sports highlights of any year.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five Masters that continue to set the tone for the tournament each year:
The rest of the column can be found here.
Rob,
Interesting article and all good choices. As for some suggestions of others how about
1953 when Hogan laps the field with a record 274 surpassing the previous record by 5 strokes which lasts for 12 years.
1995 when Ben Crenshaw wins his second Masters the week after serving as a pallbearer at his mentor Harvey Pennick’s funeral and is brought to tears after sinking his final putt
1996 when Norman’s epic collapse allows Nick Faldo to come back from a six shot deficit. Painful to watch but we all remember it.
2003 for obvious reasons – to Canadians any way.
Other than Hogan’s year I remember all of these years as if they were yesterday. Ah hell, let’s face it the Masters is great every year as it signals the beginning of the “real” spring for us Canuck golfers and I can’t wait for Thursday to get here.
Cheers, Dave
Nick Faldo’s win in 1996 was definitely memorable, as much for Norman’s meltdown as it was for Nick’s dominant performance.
1997 was a great performance and historically significant, but there was very little drama. To me, anyone running away from the field is dull.
Memorable yes. Great – not really.
1975 for two reasons:
1. Nicklaus, Miller and Weiskopf in a tremendous duel finally won by Jack.
2. Lee Elder