It’s been a month since all golfers aspire to get this highlight and green jacket, to top their career, but alas it is a rare defining moment to capture. Even great golfers like Dustin Johnson for example, took his time in getting the Masters title, when he won it back last year. Tiger is another example of the other end of the scale and the element of surprise (against all odds). When many had written him off, he was there to bring back the success to his career again, by claiming the Augusta title for his own.
No punter could have predicted these outcomes! If you are looking for any golfing promotions for any of this years’ tournaments then take a look at the Free bets UK offers here. In the meantime, take a walk down memory lane with us, and check out the biggest golfing shocks within the history of The Masters.
Larry Mize
In 1987, Larry Mize had managed to claim the Augusta, despite the many in dismay. Mize battles Seve and Greg Norman who were more favoured at the time to claim the title for themselves than Larry. Once Larry had taken away and eliminated the opponent Seve, it was a 140-yard chip to pip that managed to take Norman out, so that Mize took the win. This success was huge by golfing standards, because Mize was not as big as the other names who he had defeated, and he was seen unworthy in that sense. To an extent, it was believed that he didn’t fight as hard to be there, in comparison to the other big names. Being unknown as he was, he kept shocking people further and further, until the huge whammy of the win in 1987. Still deserving nonetheless, we could say, no?
Danny Willett
Danny was in fact, the second ever Englishman to ever win The Masters. Willet was seamless in his interventions and it was Jordan Speiths self-sabotage that allowed Willett in getting the title to himself. Speith was at first a favourite, with his consecutive titles and a five-shot lead over everyone else. Yet, it was the birdies in 2016, made by Willett that managed to make history and go against all predictions. Let’s just say that, those that wagered on Willet, even though Speith was the favourite to win, would have made themselves a nice amount of money to walk away with. Huge losses across multiple bookmakers were recorded that day. Yet, you know they say? To the victors, go the spoils.
Charl Schwartzel
In 2011, a South African golfer managed to get his hands on the Masters title, very much similar to the manner in which Danny Willet went about his efforts. It was a 66 that was managed to be carded and bring in a victory to the player. This was before the Aussies Jason Day and Adam Scott managed to play. It was the 2011 victory for Charl, that will also be remembered as the victory which got away from Rory Mcilroy.
McIlroy was 21 and heading into the competition with a level head, as well as leading for the first 3 rounds. To make the win his, he needed to sustain that level head play, but unfortunately, he did not. On the last day, he capitulated the back nine and happened to drop back to four under, after a carded round. The run from the tenth had a triple-bogey, including a double, which Schwartzel had managed to capitalise from and succeed towards the title being his own.
Trevor Immelman
Another South African on our list, Immelman made his win in 2008, after creating a scene from a fairy tale. In fact, only four months before, he actually had an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his diaphragm, which was threatening to end his career once and for all. Yet despite this, he turned up to Augusta and happened to play the golf of his life, that anyone has ever witnessed, and hey after the bad time he had been through, he really did deserve it. He managed to card 68,68 and 69 going into the last and even though Tiger threatened to take his security in the last round, Trevor managed to secure a major (his first and only major in his career). This will always be remembered in history as something of a miracle. In the same year where he was threatened to lose it all, Immelman had managed to be fondly remembered by his peers and fans, as a fighter and true underdog.
Zach Johnson
Last but not least, we have Johnson, a winner who succeeded in 2007. He again shocked all for his win at Augusta and remains a huge name within golf today for his success. While he has a reputation today for success, in 2007 he was not really known within the golfing community. In fact, all the attention was on Tiger and he remained an underdog for most of the pricing within bookmakers. Nevertheless, he remained consistent and had managed to birdie three of his 6 final holes to keep Tiger off his tracks. This was remarkable as with windy conditions, it was very difficult golfing.
From the win in 2007, Johnson had managed to build up his career even further and claim the Open Championship as his own.