It’s Masters Sunday, but not as we know it. For the first time since World War 2, The Masters is not taking place in its regular spot on the calendar in April.
Instead we’ll have to wait until November for this year’s action to unfold, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy past editions from the comfort of our homes.
The officials at Augusta National recently uploaded final round broadcasts dating back to 1968 to their official YouTube channel, so here at WWG headquarters we’ve put our (virtual) heads together to pick out our four favourite final days of action from the last ten years.
2017: Sergio Garcia sees off Rose in a titanic tussle
At the 74th attempt, Sergio Garcia finally became a Major champion, and he did it the hard way. Playing in the final pair alongside Justin Rose the duo traded blows down the stretch on an electrifying afternoon, with Garcia eventually coming out on top with a birdie on the first play-off hole.
2013: Scott downs Cabrera after thinking he’d done it in regulation
As Adam Scott raucously bellowed ‘Come On Aussie’ after draining a 30-footer for birdie on the final hole in 2013, many watching thought the Green Jacket was his – but he would have to wait a little bit longer. Stood behind in the fairway was 2009 winner Angel Cabrera, and with the rain pelting down the Argentinean rifled a 9-iron to a few feet and tapped in to match Scott’s clubhouse score. Scott would go on to down his Presidents Cup teammate on the second play-off hole.
2016 – Willett steps in as Spieth collapses
Not quite as big a meltdown as Greg Norman’s in 1996 in that it didn’t take place over the course of a whole day, Jordan Spieth’s chances of defending his title in 2016 plummeted when he dunked two balls in the water on the short par-3 12th. With the American out of the reckoning, England’s then World No.12 Danny Willett stepped up as the unlikely winner.
2018 – Reed wins a muted Masters as McIlroy fades
With a leaderboard that included popular stars: Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, it was former Augusta State graduate Patrick Reed who emerged with a Green Jacket to a somewhat luke-warm reaction. In a re-run of the 2016 Ryder Cup singles tussle between McIlroy and Reed, the Northern Irishman’s challenge never got going alongside Reed in the final pair and his wait to complete the Career Grand Slam with a Green Jacket goes on.
