fbpx
When Sergio made Masters history for all the wrong reasons

When Sergio made Masters history for all the wrong reasons

It was unlucky 13 for Sergio Garcia at Augusta’s 15th in 2018 as he played himself out of contention on the opening day of his title defence

 

You can’t win it on Thursday, but you can lose it. Just ask Sergio Garcia.

A year earlier, Garcia played one of the shots of the tournament at the par-5 15th en route to making an eagle that would put one arm in the Green Jacket.

But the defending champion played himself out of winning back-to-back Masters titles after a rather different visit to Firethorn in 2018.

Garcia dunked five – yes, FIVE – balls in the water and ended up racking up a 13 on the hole.

After a 322-yard tee shot, Garcia had 205 yards left but his approach found the water.

His next shot, his fourth after a penalty drop, flew past the pin twice – once in the air, then once as it zipped back along the green and into the water.

He then did exactly the same thing again. And again. And once more.

Here’s what that looks like when written out…

  1. Tee shot
  2. Into water
  3. Drop
  4. Into water
  5. Drop
  6. Into water
  7. Drop
  8. Into water
  9. Drop
  10. Into water
  11. Drop
  12. Onto green
  13. Holed putt

Here’s what that looks like on the shot tracker…

Here’s what that looks like in a photograph…

And here’s what it looks like on the scorecard…

It brought an unwanted record for Garcia, who now holds the honour of having had more shots than anyone else to have ever played that hole in the Masters. Here’s a rundown of the highest scores on each of Augusta’s 18…

1st (par 4): 9 – Ernie Els, 2016
2nd (par 5): 10 – Sam Byrd, 1948; David Duval, 2006
3rd (par 4): 8 – Douglas Clarke, 1980
4th (par 3): 8 – Henrik Stenson, 2011
5th (par 4): 8 – William Campbell, 1957; Sam Parks, 1957; Melvin Harbert, 1960; Jerry Barber, 1964
6th (par 3): 7 – Jose Maria Olazabal, 1991; Arnold Palmer 1997; Branden Grace, 2016
7th (par 4): 8 – DeWitt Weaver, 1972; Richard Von Tacky Jr, 1981
8th (par 5): 12 – Frank Walsh, 1935
9th (par 4): 8 – Jack Selby, 1948; Richard Davis, 1963; Clay Ogden, 2006; Luke Donald, 2014
10th (par 4): 9 – Danny Lee, 2009
11th (par 4): 9 – Dow Finsterwald, 1952; Bo Wininger, 1958; William Moody, 1980; Charles Howell, 2006; Sandy Lyle, 2017
12th (par 3): 13 – Tom Weiskopf, 1980
13th (par 5): 13 – Tommy Nakajima, 1978
14th (par 4): 8 – Nick Price, 1993
15th (par 5): 13 – Sergio Garcia 2018
16th (par 3): 11 – Herman Barron, 1950
17th (par 4): 7 – 19 players including Darren Clarke, 1998; Fred Couples, 2013
18th (par 4): 8 – seven players including Arnold Palmer, 2000; Henrik Stenson, 2012

If you can’t be bothered to do the maths, that’s an eclectic score of 169. Or 97-over-par.

Back to Garcia and do you know what he did right after that monstrous setback? He made birdie at 16.

Vamos, Sergio.

Subscribe to NCG

Latest Posts

Augusta National Women's Amateur

The Masters

Augusta National Women’s Amateur: Everything you need to know

Read full article - Augusta National Women’s Amateur: Everything you need to know
angel cabrera masters

The Masters

Former champion Angel Cabrera out of the Masters after visa denial

Read full article - Former champion Angel Cabrera out of the Masters after visa denial
tiger woods masters 2024

The Masters

Has Tiger Woods confirmed his spot at the Masters?

Read full article - Has Tiger Woods confirmed his spot at the Masters?
masters champions dinner

The Masters

Masters Champions Dinner: What’s been served down the years?

Read full article - Masters Champions Dinner: What’s been served down the years?
Maurice Bembridge

DP World Tour

Golf mourns death of former Masters course record holder Maurice Bembridge

Read full article - Golf mourns death of former Masters course record holder Maurice Bembridge
Scottie Scheffler

The Masters

What are the perks of winning the Masters?

Read full article - What are the perks of winning the Masters?
the masters field

The Masters

The Masters field: Who’s headed to Augusta?

Read full article - The Masters field: Who’s headed to Augusta?

News

You’re in! LIV Golf star earns special invitation for the Masters

Read full article - You’re in! LIV Golf star earns special invitation for the Masters
From two-time major winner to two-time convict

News

The Masters will welcome Angel Cabrera if legal issues are ‘straightened out’

Read full article - The Masters will welcome Angel Cabrera if legal issues are ‘straightened out’