The 88th edition of the Masters Tournament tees off this week, with Jon Rahm looking to become the rare green jacket winner to defend his title. He’ll have his work cut out for him, with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and more all looking to add to their own legacies.
As the first men’s golf major of the year, the Masters has seen its share of incredible performances and top-flight drama over the years. With the tournament just days from starting, we thought we’d reminisce about some of our favorites from Masters past. From physics-bending shots to nerve-wracking playoff duels to clutch putts, there’s no shortage of astounding highlights to choose from.
Here are some of the best shots and moments from the Masters since 2000.
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Mickelson’s first major win was a doozy. A duel with Ernie Els came down to the stretch, and Lefty was up to the challenge. Mickelson birdied five of his final seven holes, and his 20-foot putt on No. 18 sealed the deal.
This might be the iconic Tiger Woods shot. Late in a tournament, red shirt blazing and a line only the great one could truly see? That was Tiger’s chip-in on No. 16 in 2005. It helped lead him to his fourth Masters victory.
Phil Mickelson, 2010
Still photos of this shot look like a disaster in the making, with Mickelson’s ball in the pine straw and a tree seemingly directly in from of him. Mickelson’s second shot on No. 13 was definitely not a disaster, however, as it landed just 4 feet from the hole and setup an eagle. A truer encapsulation of Mickelson’s aggressive style would be difficult to find.
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Charl Schwartzel birdies final four holes to win Masters
Charl Schwartzel birdies the final four holes to win the 2011 Masters.
In just his second appearance, Schwartzel was four strokes behind Rory McIlroy entering the fourth round. But he outdueled the field by birdying the final four holes to win his first green jacket and only major. He was the first golfer ever to pull off a four-birdie finish at the tournament.
Louis Oosthuizen‘s double eagle at the 2012 tournament was tough to beat, but Watson did it in dramatic fashion. In trouble at the second playoff hole, Watson hit an incredible wedge shot from the woods, landing it within 15 feet of the hole, en route to his first of two Masters wins.
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Adam Scott reflects on life-changing Masters putt
2013 Masters champion Adam Scott reflects on his win over Angel Cabrera in a playoff at Augusta National and the ensuing celebration in Australia.
As the rain poured and the hour grew late, Scott and Angel Cabrera battled in an epic playoff at the 2013 Masters. With a chance to win after Cabrera settled for par, Scott sank a 15-foot putt to take his first (and so far only) major title.
Few people have had finer tournaments than Spieth did in 2015. The fifth wire-to-wire winner in Augusta history, Spieth finished at 18-under, tying an all-time record, and made an incredible 28 birdies.
Tiger Woods, 2019
You never know what will happen at the Masters, and Tiger’s 2019 victory was the prime example. Eleven years after his last major win, a stretch in which he dealt with injury and scandal, Woods came roaring back to win his 15th major in a dramatic four-way battle with Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele.