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I know March Madness is on most people’s minds right now, but I woke up this morning, saw dew on the grass outside of my apartment and fell effortlessly into a Masters highlights wormhole. Now is right around the time when you’ll start seeing commercials for The Masters in between TV timeouts for basketball so this is semi-timely. Enjoy some music as you read through the rest of this blog.
This aforementioned wormhole eventually led me to probably the most watched golf clip of all time, which took place on the 16th hole at the most famous golf course in the world – Augusta National. And you know which clip I’m talking about.
Even the most casual golf fan can attest to this clips brilliance. It’s not just the chip shot, either. It’s the expert camera work. That hi-resolution zoom into a ball flirting with the edge of the cup and absolutely toying with the gallery. It’s a thing of beauty. But most importantly, it’s Verne Lundquist in a booth perched high above the green, unable to contain himself when the ball finally drops into the cup.
It was April 2005, and I was in middle school without a care in the world. I was finally starting to put up consistently decent numbers on the golf course and I was a Tiger Woods fanboy through and through, basking in his dominance along with every other teenager that had even a cursory interest in golf.
Tiger Woods was in his prime, still happily married and banging waitresses purely for sport. With three holes to play in the ‘05 Masters, he held a precarious one-shot lead over Chris Dimarco. After sailing a tee shot left of the green on the 16th, a bogey was the most probable outcome for Tiger, and it looked like it would be a two-man tie with two holes to play.
There’s a good chance he doesn’t get this inside Dimarco’s ball.
You foolish, stupid man. These were the famous last words of Lundquist’s partner (whom I’m assuming left the broadcasting profession forever after daring to doubt Tiger in a moment like this) in the booth on that fateful day on the 16th hole. The rest, as they say, is history.
When I see Verne Lundquist’s name in print or I hear it out loud, I don’t think about his legendary calls during SEC football games or college basketball classics. “YES SIR!” is the only phrase that comes to mind. You can just tell that Verne was a HUGE Tiger guy back in 2005 and I know that sports announcers are supposed to be unbiased journalists but like….how can you not become a full-blooded Tiger fanboy after that chip in? “IN YOUR LIFE HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT?!?”
That clip, along with the call from Verne, has me wanting to toss all of my papers up into the air like that one meme and try and find a heated driving range somewhere near my apartment.
And you know what one of the craziest things about this final round at Augusta was? Tiger bogeyed the final two holes and Dimarco forced a playoff.
Tiger, of course, went on to win the playoff, but making that chip shot on 16 and then losing the green jacket to fucking Chris Dimarco would have been such a buzzkill for this story. Glad he was able to pull it out. If he could bring some of this magic back to his current 2018 game I wouldn’t be mad, but I’m not delusional.
I don’t think the Tiger of yore is ever coming back, and it’s why I’m fully on the Brandt Snedeker bandwagon. That’s a story for a different day, though. I’d also like to preemptively apologize to everyone reading this who is now going to spend the rest of their day watching classic highlights from The Masters. Better open up another tab with work-related shit on it just in case your boss walks by your desk. Thanks for reading. .
Image via YouTube
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jduda@grandex.co
It’s the start of dual monitor setup with single monitor productivity season and I’m here for it.
Also the time when I bring my ipad to work and set it up as well.
Is it a 12 year season? I’m confused.
Pre porn rehab Tiger will always be the GOAT.
I have literal goosebumps after watching that clip
19th Hole can get bent. When Tiger is winning, golf is better. And i know he’s 42 but if he had one more major win in him, that would make this has been (never was) pretty god damn happy.
The one time a year Duda watches golf. Such a putz.
Love this Duda. Got one that might beat it though. Tiger’s long putt on 17 at Sawgrass. Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller on the call, just fantastic.
This might be the most iconic shot in golf, but not in sports.
“But Kimber, what is the most iconic shot in sports?”
May 13, 2004. NBA Western Conference Semifinals. Spurs 73, Lakers 72. 0.4 seconds on the clock. Ball inbounded to Derek Fisher for the turnaround fadeaway.
Ballgame.
I remember watching that live and calling my best friend and we collectively lost our minds. What a shot
I think Phil’s shot through the trees on 13 in 2010 tops both the shots you’re talking about.
Don’t @ me, but I’d love to never hear about Tiger again
Cmon man you’re lying if you say you wouldn’t love to see Tiger win The Masters again (or any major for that matter)
It’s not about what I want or don’t want. It’s about the fact that he won’t ever win again and so I’d rather not see 90% of my golf coverage be about him. No other below average tour pro gets their round shown on Sunday, so I don’t care about his either, even if he is the 4th greatest player to ever play the game
No other “below average tour pro” has 14 majors. 4th greatest is the worst take to ever grace this website. You should apologize.
Dave, if you’re taking your players off majors 1. You’re wrong and 2. Tiger is already in second place. Then you look at other things like when and who they played against and he drops to #3. THEN you add in the fact that he’s a piece of shit guy off the course, and he’s #4. Plus, we all know the worst take on the site was the seafood article yesterday
This is such a preposterously white argument. I am here for it
Wow. Upvote for spitting some harsh truths
As I read this, Tiger is T1 at the Valspar.
So I assume you won’t be watching the TV this weekend? Blasphemy.
T-dub brings more eyes to it, but I’m with my boy 19th on this one. Uncle Phil’s 6 iron from the straw to 6 feet is better than any great chipping read. While it took a lot of skill to read and hit that shot, the element of luck comes in when you get around the green.