Best Moments in Masters History
Few events in sports deliver drama and tradition quite like The Masters Tournament, where each April the game’s greatest players gather at Augusta National Golf Club chasing history. Below is a brief sampling of some of the greatest moments in Masters history.
Jack Nicklaus’ Comeback in 1986: At age 46, Jack Nicklaus stunned the golfing world by claiming his sixth Masters title, making a historic charge on the back nine to secure victory.
Larry Mize’s Chip-In in 1987: Mize’s stunning chip-in from off the green during a playoff secured an unexpected and memorable Masters triumph over Greg Norman.
Nick Faldo’s Comeback in 1996: Faldo erased a six-shot deficit to defeat Greg Norman, completing one of the most dramatic final-round turnarounds in Masters history.
Tiger Woods’ Historic Win in 1997: Tiger Woods captured his first green jacket with a record-breaking 12-stroke win, ushering in a new era of golf dominance.
Phil Mickelson’s First Major in 2004: After years of close calls, Mickelson finally captured his first major title with a dramatic birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Bubba Watson’s Miracle Shot in 2012: Watson hooked a wedge from the trees on the second playoff hole to clinch his first Masters victory, showcasing creativity and nerves of steel.
Adam Scott’s Win in 2013: Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters, sinking a clutch birdie putt in a playoff and fulfilling a nation’s dream.
Jordan Spieth’s Dominant 2015 Performance: Spieth tied Tiger Woods’ scoring record, leading wire-to-wire to capture his first Masters title in commanding fashion.
Jeff Manzene: “I believe it was 2003, Lenny Mattiace, second place. Went into sudden death. He put it the same spot as Ben Crenshaw on the tenth hole. Unfortunately, he didn’t pull it off like Crenshaw, missed the putt and lost the Masters.”
Rory McIlroy captured the 2025 Masters in dramatic fashion, defeating Justin Rose in a playoff: The victory earned him his first green jacket and completed the career Grand Slam, making him just the sixth player in golf history to achieve the feat.
We decided to grab a sampling of some the locals gathered at Hafner’s, for their favorite Masters memories too…enjoy!
Rob Masouras: “My favorite Masters memory is 2005, me and my dad got tickets to go to a practice round. We flew down for one day on a Wednesday. That was the year that Tiger Woods chipped in on 16, and I still remember watching it to this day. That was my favorite.”
John Hesler: “My favorite memory is 1979. Fuzzy Zoeller, with his stellar short game and putting stroke, sauntering down the fairways, smoking cigarettes and winning the 1979 Masters. What a champion.”
Marty McEneny: “So it was in 2019, I was down in Myrtle Beach for the final round of the Masters. They were teeing off early, because there was weather coming. So, I went to a bar right on the boardwalk, right on the ocean. It was late morning and the bar was packed, everyone was drinking and having a great time. Tiger made a great run and every time he hit good shot, the whole bar went nuts. It was exciting and special and Tiger ended up winning in the end.”
Tim Ryan: “I would say when Tiger Woods chipped in, I believe it was hole number 16 in 2005. From off the green, up the hill, then down. That was probably one of my favorite memories of the Masters.”
For me personally, I would rank Jack Nicklaus’ historic win in 1986, Phil Mickelson finally breaking through in 2004 and Tiger Woods’ fifteenth major victory in 2019 as some of my all-time favorites. Hoping all of our Table-Hopping readers enjoy a tradition unlike any other this April. The excitement is building for the 2026 Masters!
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