From the opening tee shot by the honorary starters, to the green jacket ceremony and everything in-between, the Masters never fails to deliver indelible moments.
Here’s seven shots — and one unforgettable moment — that helped make the 86th Masters one to remember:
Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa go out with a bang
The two multiple-major champions were grouped together Sunday, each playing with a best-ball mentality. On the 72nd hole, they both found themselves in the right greenside bunker. McIlroy holed out for birdie — finishing his day with a 64 that tied the lowest final-round score in Masters history — and then Morikawa matched it.
McIlroy said it was the happiest “I’ve ever been on a golf course right there,” while Morikawa called the moment “the coolest thing in the world. " With what they both have accomplished in their careers, those are significant words.
Stewart Cink’s hole-in-one
Though Cink missed the cut shortly after his heroics, he didn’t leave Augusta empty-handed. In Round 2, Cink stepped onto the par-3 16th’s tee box, took out his 8-iron and then holed the 24th ace on No. 16 in Masters history.
“This golf course and the tournament, it’s just a wonderful environment anyway,” he said. “So to have something like that happen was really something I’ll always remember for sure.”
But there’s another component to the moment that made it even more memorable. It made for the perfect gift as Cink had his son, Reagan, whose 25th birthday was Friday, on the bag.
“That’s the extent of my birthday present. I gave him the ball,” Stewart Cink said. “That should be enough, right?”
Stewart Cink with an ace at 16!! #theMasters
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 8, 2022
pic.twitter.com/hrnCJwqx6k
Bubba Watson’s blast from the past
A decade since his iconic rope-hook from the pine straw in a playoff to win his first of two Masters, Watson found himself deep in the pine straw once again, but this time on the par-4 18th. With 171 yards to the hole, below an umbrage of trees, Watson, with a pitching wedge, hit his ball flawlessly through the gap leaving it just feet from the cup. Although it didn’t lead to him donning the green jacket, as it did 10 years ago, Watson felt very strongly after the latest version of Bubba Golf.
“I’ll be honest, not that you want to know, but that was the best shot I’ve ever hit at Augusta National,” he said, “that one right there.”
Bubba Watson makes magic from the pine straw at #TheMasters ... again. pic.twitter.com/uaiGs5fix5
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 8, 2022
Charl Schwartzel’s eagle en route to his best finish of 2022
Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, came to Augusta ranked last on Tour in strokes gained: total statistic. However, he became a surprise contender and his best moment happened in Round 3. On the par-4 10th, with 136 yards to the hole, the South African holed-out for eagle to move into second place a 6 under.
pic.twitter.com/SJGgJjhj1C https://t.co/AVtpfPTDEZ
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 9, 2022
Schwartzel, now ranked 131st in the world, finished T-10 and made his first cut since November.
“Overall, it was probably the best week I’ve had this year,” he said.
Hudson Swafford loses club head on Amen Corner in Round 2
Swafford at first — and still — probably wouldn’t characterize this as his favorite moment from his week at Augusta National, especially being as confused as anyone right after the head went flying on his second shot at the par-5 13th.
But from a viewer’s standpoint, it made for one of the best viral, in-between moments of the tournament. And making the club malfunction even more notable was the fact that the ball flew the full 235 yards and then some. The ball ran through the green and into a back bunker, from where he eventually made par.
Hudson Swafford loses his clubhead on No. 13. #TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/tLVbeBDnQW
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 8, 2022
Also, PXG quickly made sure that Swafford’s bag was full for the weekend, too.
Looks like an off week third-party reshaft issue. The PXG team has built Hudson a new club and it’s game on! ^Brianna
— Parsons Xtreme Golf (@pxg) April 9, 2022
Scottie Scheffler’s chip-in Sunday on No. 3
Scottie Scheffler’s 54-hole lead was cut from three to one after Cam Smith opened the final round with consecutive birdies. And on the par-4 third, it appeared Scheffler was starting to unravel after he hooked his drive into the pine straw.
Things didn’t look better for Scheffler after he left his approach short of the elevated green. But with his main goal “just to get up-and-down,” the world No. 1 had the signature moment of his win, holing his chip for birdie.
Scheffler with an unbelievable chip-in for birdie on No. 3. His lead is now back to three strokes. #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/0FnPQOOOmA
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 10, 2022
It was reminiscent of Phil Mickelson’s iconic bunker shot on Kiawah Island’s fifth hole in last year’s PGA Championship. Trying to fend off Brooks Koepka early, Mickelson, with a one-stroke lead, holed out for birdie, extended his lead, and, like Scheffler, never looked back en route to victory.
After 508 days and five holes, Tiger Woods nearly makes an ace
Making his first official competitive start since the 2020 Masters, Woods set out Thursday with a massive following. And he didn’t disappoint. Woods shot 1-under 71, highlighted by his first birdie since the final round of that November Masters, at the par-3 sixth hole. It was a 2 that was nearly a 1.
Tiger Woods' tee shot at the 186-yard, par-3 sixth to 2 feet for his first birdie of the day at #themasters.pic.twitter.com/E9X3N7IzbF
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 7, 2022
Tiger completes the comeback
More than just a solitary shot, this week will be remembered as the Return of Tiger.
Woods’ goal is always to win. And although the 15-time major winner finished the week in 47th place at 13 over, just completing all 72 holes at Augusta National was a victory in itself, considering where Woods was a year ago.
The 46-year-old, in his 24th Masters, gave the sports world a week to remember. And because of that, his week was capped off with an applause as he walked up the 18th fairway Sunday that made it seem like he’d just won his sixth green jacket.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” Woods said after the final round. “Just to have the patrons and the support out there. I wasn’t exactly playing my best out there, but just to have the support out there and the appreciation from all the fans.
“I don’t think words can really describe that given where I was a little over a year ago and what my prospects were at that time to end up here and be able to play in all four rounds. Even a month ago I didn’t know if I could pull this off.”
Another Tiger roar from the crowd as Woods walks up No. 18 to conclude his week at #TheMasters. pic.twitter.com/GQTTo3soKv
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 10, 2022