Few tournaments on the PGA TOUR come close to the sheer drama and pageantry that the Masters Tournament offers. From the awe-inspiring location that is Augusta National to the thrill of finally wearing the coveted green jacket, The Masters is never short of timeless historic moments forever etched into golfing lore.

Nitrobetting is here to give the best tips from the betting greens and fairways. This time, let’s count down the 10 greatest moments from the long history of the Masters Tournament.

Top 10 Best Moments in the History of the Masters Tournament

10. Greg Norman’s Multiple Collapses

There’s just something about major tournaments held in the United States that Greg Norman could not wrap his head around. “The Shark” for Down Under has won two major titles in his career, but both of them were at The British Open.

Meanwhile, Norman has been a runner-up seven times across the three other major tournaments in America; three of them coming in Augusta. And as we’ll cover in the following entries, the Queensland native has been on the losing end of some of The Masters Tournament’s most memorable moments.

For better or (more often) worse, Norman was, without a doubt, an integral part of The Masters’ enduring history that should not be long forgotten.

9. The “Elder” Statesman of African-American Golfers

Lee Elder isn’t the first name that most people think of when it comes to the best golfers of all time. However, his impact on the PGA TOUR’s evolution could not be understated.

In 1975, Elder became the first black golfer to qualify and play in The Masters, paving the way for change in the PGA TOUR that would not come a decade-and-a-half later when the organization officially started to accept African American players for the event. Elder was present for the coronation of Tiger Woods’ first win at Augusta in 1997; another historic moment that also deserves a spot on our list.

8. Stupidly Stupendous Moment

A one-stroke error on a scorecard would end up haunting Argentina’s Roberto De Vicenzo at the 1968 Masters. De Vicenzo failed to notice that his playing partner, Tommy Aaron, had written down a score of 4 instead of his deserving 3 on the 17th hole of the final round.

That one-stroke difference would end up being the exact margin of defeat that De Vicenzo would suffer against the eventual winner in Bob Goalby. To make matters worse, this all happened on De Vicenzo’s 45th birthday. The Argentinian would soon be quoted for years to come after admitting in the post-game interview: “What a stupid I am to be wrong here.”

7. International (Gary) Player’s Anthem

Seven years before De Vicenzo’s blunder, one other golfer born outside of the United States made headlines at Augusta. Despite lacking a truly groundbreaking performance, South Africa’s Gary Player still managed to capture the 1961 Masters Tournament title to become the first international player to win the event.

It took 27 years since the inception of The Masters to award an international golfer the green jacket for the very first time. Player is one of only a handful of golfers as well to complete the career grand slam, winning all four major tournaments a combined nine times; three of them coming in Augusta.

6. Lefty’s First Green Jacket

Speaking of three-time Masters champions, Phil Mickelson is another all-time great at Augusta with three wins and a total of 15 top-10 finishes and 10 top-5s to date.

In 2004, Mickelson would be in a final-round duel with another South African golfer in Ernie Els. Lefty’s 18-foot birdie on the 18th hole would cement his place into the tapestry of champions at The Masters, with Jim Nantz’s call on broadcast of his final shot and his celebration on the greens with his daughter, Sophia, being one of the most cherished moments ever in Augusta.

5. Larry Mize: The Pride of Augusta

Against all odds, Augusta-born Larry Mize became the only hometown hero to win The Masters in 1987. It wasn’t easy, either, as Mize had to beat heavy-hitters Seve Ballesteros and the aforementioned Greg Norman in a playoff.

Mize would end up hitting the winning shot over Norman, as the former scorekeeper on Augusta National’s scoreboard has now become the local Masters champion. Mize only has four PGA TOUR victories on his belt, but we’re confident in believing that he’ll take his one major victory on his own home turf over continued success in the pros any day of the week.

4. Tiger’s Miraculous 16th Hole Shot

Without a doubt, There’s no other golfer in history who’s made more of an impact in The Masters than Tiger Woods. In fact (and spoilers ahead), Woods makes up the next three items on our countdown and would’ve easily taken first place if we’re simply talking about the best golfers to have ever played in Augusta.

Tiger’s fourth Masters win will forever be remembered for his phenomenal chip shot in the 16th hole of the final round of the event; one that also coincidentally took about 16 seconds to roll, curve, and trickle its way into the cup. Woods would finish the round with a couple of bogeys, but that one remarkable shot was more than enough to fend off Chris DiMarco for the title.

Verne Lundquist could not have put it any better after Woods sank that beauty of a birdie: “In your life, have you seen anything like that?!”

3. Woods’ Phenomenal Comeback

Leave it to Woods to continue to wow golf fans 14 years after his last Masters win in 2005 that we just covered. In 2019, the then 14-time majors champion claimed his 15th major victory at Augusta.

Woods barely escaped with a one-stroke lead for the win over three elite runners-up in Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Xander Schauffele; all three of whom are participating in this year’ run of the 2021 Masters. Woods had not won a PGA TOUR event since 2008 prior to that victory, and it’s his return to form well beyond his prime that earned this moment a high spot on our list.

2. Tiger’s First of Many Masterful Performances

From Tiger’s last Masters victory to his very first we go. Woods made his presence known as the future of modern professional golf after donning the green jacket in 1997. He set all sorts of records with that landmark win at Augusta, becoming the first-ever African-American player to win the Masters and also the youngest to have ever done so at the age of 21.

Woods won his maiden Masters title by 12 strokes; a record at Augusta that still stands to date and will likely be one of the highest of bars set on the PGA TOUR considering that broke legendary Jack Nickalus’ winning margin at Augusta in 1965 by five full strokes.

1. The Golden Bear’s Golden Moment

For all the acclaim and memories that Woods has generated in Augusta, golf fans who’ve been following the sport since the ‘80s will still put Jack Nicklaus’ improbable win over Greg Norman at the 1986 Masters as the tournament’s real defining moment.

In a feat similar to Woods’ comeback in 2019, Nicklaus defied father time to win his record sixth green jacket 11 years after his last Masters victory in 1975. The third-winningest golfer in PGA TOUR history was 46 years old at the time, making him the oldest player to win The Masters.

As fate would have it, Woods is also 46 years of age entering the 2022 Masters Tournament and is aiming to tie Nicklaus’ record of six-career wins at Augusta this week. We can’t wait to find out if Tiger has what it takes to repeat the amazing history that The Golden Bear has left behind.

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