The Shot That Stunned the Giants: Larry Mize's 1987 Masters Miracle
· Major Golf Hub
In 1987, Augusta National didn't just crown a champion; it forged a legend from a single, impossible shot. This is the story of Larry Mize's chip.
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Greatness at Augusta National is often measured by sustained dominance. The narrative of the Masters is written by multi-time winners who bent the course to their will, year after year. Think of Jack Nicklaus and his six Green Jackets, or Arnold Palmer, the charismatic four-time champion who first established "Arnie's Army" amidst the Georgia pines. Theirs are legacies built on consistency and repeat performances. But the true, unique magic of the Masters—the element that distinguishes it from all other majors—is its capacity for myth-making in a single, electrifying moment. It’s a place where a career can be defined not by a decade of dominance, but by one improbable stroke. No victory better exemplifies this than Larry Mize’s shocking, career-defining win in 1987.
The Unlikely Protagonist
To understand the magnitude of the moment, one must first understand the players involved. In one corner stood Severiano Ballesteros, the fiery and creative Spanish genius, already a two-time Masters champion (1980, 1983). In the other, Greg Norman, the "Great White Shark," the undisputed world No. 1, a powerhouse of raw talent and aggressive play who seemed destined to win a Green Jacket. And then there was Larry Mize. A native of Augusta, Georgia, Mize was a solid PGA Tour professional, but he was not a global superstar. His deepest connection to the tournament was having worked the scoreboard on the 3rd hole as a teenager. He was the local boy, a sentimental favorite, but against the sheer force of Seve and Norman, he was considered a massive underdog. He entered the final round two shots behind the leader. On a day of fluctuating fortunes, Mize posted a steady 71, Ballesteros a 71, and Norman a 72, leaving the three men knotted at 3-under par. A sudden-death playoff was required to decide the 51st Masters.
A Collision on Amen Corner
The playoff began on Augusta National’s 10th hole, “Camellia,” a sweeping 495-yard par-4. The tension was palpable. Norman, having birdied the 10th in regulation, had the advantage of memory and confidence. All three players, however, made cautious pars. The stage was set for the treacherous 11th hole, “White Dogwood,” the beginning of Amen Corner and one of the most dangerous holes on the course. A long par-4, its green is guarded by a pond to the left and a closely mown runoff area to the right. It is a hole that demands precision, a quality that promptly deserted two of the three contenders.
Ballesteros found the water with his approach and was eliminated with a bogey. Mize, meanwhile, badly misjudged his own approach shot. He pushed his 9-iron well right of the green, leaving it in the collection area roughly 140 feet from the pin. Norman, ever the aggressor, hit a perfect approach that settled on the fringe of the green, leaving him a very makeable 40-foot putt for birdie. The tournament was on his club. Mize was in a hopeless position, needing to get up and down simply to have a chance at extending the playoff. A bogey seemed more likely than a par.
The Chip Heard 'Round the World
What happened next is etched into golf folklore. With Norman watching intently, Mize assessed the daunting task ahead. He had a tight lie, and the green sloped severely from right to left, running swiftly towards the pond. There was no "safe" shot. He took out his sand wedge, a club chosen for its loft to carry the ball onto the putting surface with some softness. He swung. The ball landed on the fringe, took one, two bounces, and began a serpentine journey down the slope. It tracked inexorably towards the hole, seemingly in slow motion. As it reached the cup, it hesitated for a fraction of a second before dropping in for the most unlikely birdie of his life. Mize, in a spontaneous explosion of joy, threw his wedge and began leaping around the green. The Augusta patrons erupted. Norman, who had been preparing to putt for the win, could only stand aside, hands on his hips, in stunned disbelief. He was left with a putt to tie and extend the playoff, but psychologically, the damage was done. His effort slid by, and Larry Mize, the hometown kid, was the Masters champion.
A Legacy Forged in a Single Stroke
That single chip-in did more than just win a golf tournament. It created a legend and defined two careers. For Norman, it became the most painful chapter in a long story of major championship heartbreak. For Mize, it was immortality. He would never win another major, but he would always be a Masters champion, his name forever linked with one of the greatest shots in the sport’s history.
The 1987 Masters serves as the ultimate testament to Augusta National's myth-making power. While the course has celebrated dynasties, its soul is truly revealed in these singular moments of improbable glory.
Here is a breakdown of that fateful playoff:
- Contenders: Larry Mize, Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, all tied at 285 (-3).
- Hole 1 (No. 10): All three players make par 4.
- Hole 2 (No. 11):
- Ballesteros makes bogey 5 and is eliminated.
- Mize chips in for birdie 3 from 140 feet.
- Norman misses his birdie putt and makes par 4.
This victory wasn't just one for the underdog; it was a win for the idea that on this particular course, on a Sunday in April, anything is possible. It is a reminder that history at the Masters is not just written by the champions, but by the very shots that crown them.
Key takeaways
- Larry Mize’s 1987 Masters win is a prime example of an underdog victory defined by a single, legendary shot.
- Mize, an Augusta native, defeated two of the era's top players, Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman, in a sudden-death playoff.
- The winning shot was an improbable 140-foot chip-in for birdie on the second playoff hole (No. 11).
- The moment cemented a legacy of major championship heartbreak for Greg Norman.
- The victory illustrates the unique power of Augusta National to create career-defining moments of singular brilliance, beyond sustained dominance.
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