AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Larry Mize and Sandy Lyle delivered two of the most memorable shots in Masters history in consecutive years.
Mize, the first champion born in Augusta, holed a 140-foot chip from right of the 11th green in the second hole of a playoff to beat Greg Norman in 1987, probably the one shot that haunts Norman the most. The next year, Lyle hit 7-iron from the fairway bunker on the 18th hole to 10 feet and made the birdie putt to win.
Now they are linked again. They announced this will be their final year playing the Masters.
“As they were in 1988, when Larry presented the green jacket to Sandy, they are connected again this week,” Masters Chairman Fred Ridley said. “We commend them for their fine play over four decades and for representing the Masters so well. Rest assured, their victories will forever be remembered.”
This is Mize’s 40th consecutive Masters, while Lyle was part of the “Big Five” from Europe who once seemingly ruled the Masters. Lyle, Bernhard Langer, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo combined to win nine times between 1980 and 1996, including a stretch of seven wins in 12 years.
35 years after Larry Mize slipped the Green Jacket onto Sandy Lyle, the two past champions are competing in their final Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/pSd8IEXoZ7
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 5, 2023
The news was shared with the 33 champions at the Masters club dinner Tuesday night.
“Larry got a little emotional,” two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal said. “He had a hard time trying to speak. Actually, he didn’t. It was a very emotional dinner. So it was nice.”
PAR 3 CONTEST
Tom Hoge aced the eighth hole over Ike’s Pond on his way to winning the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday.
Hoge received a crystal vase for the hole-in-one, a crystal bowl for his winning round of 6 under, and some steep history to overcome: No winner of the Par 3 Contest, which goes back to 1960, has gone on to win the Masters.
For yet another year, the Par 3 Contest captured hearts and inspired smiles. #themasters pic.twitter.com/b1cxmXsA6b
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 6, 2023
“I made a few birdies early and then the hole-in-one on 8, so that was cool to see that go in,” Hoge said after walking off the recently renovated Par 3 Course in the northeast corner of the property. “Just a fun day out here this afternoon.”
Bubba Watson also had a hole-in-one and finished second at 5 under, while Seamus Power stole the show with back-to-back aces, joining Claude Harman in 1968 and Toshi Izawa in 2002 as the only players to accomplish the feat.
“Obviously to get one was special,” Power said, “but to get the second one was a bit surreal.”
