Best shot at Augusta? Masters players tell us their favorites
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The best shot pros ever hit at the Masters? It was a Golfweek Masters Survey question that made faces light up as they racked their brains for the one shot out of thousands hit — in some cases — at famed Augusta National Golf Club.
But to a man, this was a question that players didn't mind reminiscing about one bit. Some recalled a fortunate break or a clutch shot or just one that somehow found the bottom of the cup. Others just loved remembering the purity of a shot well hit on hallowed ground. But regardless of the response, it came with a fat smile that said everything about what the shot meant. Here are the answers to the latest Masters Survey question.
Adam Scott
The 6-iron into the 10th in the playoff against Angel Cabrera. Just a beautiful shot.
Brian Harman
I was in contention one year, late on Friday, and I hit a 7-iron on 17 and made birdie and was only one back going into the weekend.
Collin Morikawa
The bunker shot I holed at 18 in 2023 (final round).
Corey Conners
Hole-in-one on the sixth hole in 2021. It was 8-iron to a front, left pin. Laser right at it.
Gary Player
This might be considered lucky, but I was buried in the back bunker on Hole 12 under the lip with water on the other side. It was so far under I almost declared unplayable. I decided to hit way behind so it would come back in the bunker. I couldn't see the ball under the lip, so I took a hard swing and it went in the hole. I could try that 1000 more times and never hole it. But that was 80% luck.
But really, the best shot was my putt in 1978 on 18 from 22 feet above the hole to come back in 30-64 to win.
Gary Woodland
In 2011, I hit it to a foot on my second shot at 13 to a back-right pin, made eagle and went off and birdied 14, 15, 16, and 18.
Harris English
I've got some crystal. I chipped in on eight for eagle, so that's kind of the one that sticks out.
Jason Day
In the final round in 2013, I hit a 4-iron in the rain at 15 to 25 feet just below the hole to get the lead. It was bucketing down and I rifled it so straight.
Justin Thomas
I hit a ridiculous chip shot at 4, a low, nasty skidding spinner up to the top and it ran to the hole. That was pretty sick.
Keegan Bradley
I hit one in the rain last year on 13, fresh out of the rain delay and it was freezing cold, and it was that pin that's sort of middle left, and I hit this wedge in there, and it was pouring rain and blowing and I hit it to like 6 feet. I'll remember that shot the rest of my life.
Kevin Kisner
I made a pitch to the front pin at nine on Friday one year. I was trending the wrong way quickly. I made it to chill out and the back nine wasn't as brutal with the wind blowing trying to make the cut.
Ludvig Aberg
I hit a 4-iron at 13 in the last round. It was the point of the tournament where I needed to do something. It may not have been the flashiest of shots but it was ball above my feet, wind off the left to a back-right pin and I hit it to maybe 15 feet.
Matt Kuchar
The 3-wood into 15 to a couple feet for eagle to tie for the lead (in 2012).
Rickie Fowler
I hit an 8-iron at 18 to set up birdie and shoot 67 and at least put some pressure on Patrick Reed. (Reed held on to win by a stroke.)
Russell Henley
Fifth hole, 2017, I flew it in the hole for a two from 186 out.
Stewart Cink
Hole-in-one at 16 (in 2022). I hit the perfect shot for the funnel. It landed right on the spot.
Tony Finau
Second shot on 17 in 2018, my first Masters. I hit it on the pine straw right and had about 180 yards and had to hit a huge slice. I curved it about 60 yards with a 5-iron to a middle-right pin. It landed on the very far left of the green and shot sideways to 3 feet. I was nervous on the putt so I know it wasn't a gimme but I brushed it in.
Webb Simpson
7-iron, holed it for eagle on 7 on a Sunday.
Wyndham Clark
I hit a 6-iron into the wind to a back-left pin at 11.
Xander Schauffele
I've pulled off some good ones. (That's his full answer!)
Zach Johnson
Probably 16 when I won, because at that point I knew where I stood. Prior to that I did not. Coming off 15 green, I just missed a 12-footer for birdie and birdied 13 and 14. I hadn't looked at the boards since three; I probably should know what's going on. My caddie Damon goes, "We got a couple," and I'm like, "We got a couple of what? What does that mean?" He says, "We're up by two." So I get to 16, you know where the Sunday pin is and it was perfect. It was in between clubs, but it was like a perfect punch six. I didn't swing very hard, stock draw and land it right of the hole and 8-10 feet out. I did exactly that. Executing when you know you have to execute would probably be the shot that stands out.
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