| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 9−12, 1987 |
| Location | Augusta, Georgia 33°30′11″N 82°01′12″W / 33.503°N 82.020°W |
| Course(s) | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Organized by | Augusta National Golf Club |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,905 yards (6,314 m)[1] |
| Field | 85 players, 54 after cut |
| Cut | 151 (+7) |
| Prize fund | $867,100 |
| Winner's share | $162,000 |
| Champion | |
 Larry Mize | |
| 285 (−3), playoff | |
| Location map | |
  Augusta National Location in the United States  Augusta National Location in Georgia | |
The 1987 Masters Tournament was the 51st Masters Tournament, held April 9−12 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Augusta native Larry Mize won his only major championship in a sudden-death playoff over Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman.[2][3] Norman had barely missed a 20-foot (6 m) birdie opportunity on the 72nd hole which would have won him the tournament in regulation.[4]
The playoff began on the par-4 10th hole, where the approach shots of Ballesteros and Norman came to rest on the fringe, and Mize's was on the green, below the hole. Ballesteros failed to par and was eliminated while Norman two-putted for four. Mize's uphill birdie putt came up short and he tapped in to continue with Norman. Both of their tee shots were in the fairway on the next hole, the par-4 11th, but with the pond on the left of the green, Mize's avoidant approach shot was about pin-high but well right, about 140 feet (45 m) from the hole. Norman then played conservatively to the right fringe, with a 50-foot (15 m) putt, sensing a par could win the green jacket. But Mize chipped in for an improbable birdie 3 and a stunned Norman failed to hole his to tie, which ended the tournament.[4][5][6] Mize was the first, and only winner of the Masters to come from Augusta.[7]
It was considered one of the most miraculous shots (and endings) in major championship history, and was just one of the many "bad breaks" in Norman's career.
- ^ Green, Bob (April 13, 1987). "Oh, what a feeling! Mize masters Masters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. C1.
- ^ "Larry Mize masters hometown course". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. April 13, 1987. p. 1B.
- ^ "Oh what a feeling! Mize masters Masters". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Knight-Ridder newspapers. April 13, 1987. p. C1.
- ^ a b Ballard, Sarah (April 20, 1987). "My, Oh Mize". Sports Illustrated. pp. 36−43.
- ^ Parascenzo, Marino (April 13, 1987). "Magnificent shot by Mize wins Masters". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 23.
- ^ Van Sickle, Gary (April 13, 1987). "Mize miracle just masterful". Milwaukee Journal. p. 1C.
- ^ http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/2598236.html[permanent dead link]