The Golf of Maine

The Masters, A Tradition Unlike Any Other:  1935 Gene Sarazen’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”

The Masters Tournament has become arguably the most prestigious tournament in the world.  Each year it produces memories and moments that leave spectators and golf fans alike in awe.  Gene Sarazen made his contribution in just the second edition of the event in 1935.  In an amazing turn of events, just when he thought he was down and out…Sarazen holed a 235-yard (215 m) 4-wood on the par-5 fifteenth hole that went in! This magical moment helped put The Masters on the map.

Henry Picard opened up the 1935 Masters with a 67 & 68 for 9 under par and a four stroke lead over the field.  Once Picard got to the weekend his game abandoned him shooting a 76 in the third round and a 75 to finish fourth.  With Picard out of the way it opened the door for Craig Wood, the runner up from the inaugural Masters Tournament won by Horton Smith.

The leaderboard before the final round was tight with many big names able to make a run:

1	Craig Wood	United States	69-72-68=209	−7
2	Olin Dutra	United States	70-70-70=210	−6
3	Henry Picard	United States	67-68-76=211	−5
4	Gene Sarazen	United States	68-71-73=212	−4
T5	Denny Shute	United States	73-71-70=214	−2
	Walter Hagen	United States	73-69-72=214

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

The shot was a 235-yard 4-wood on the par-5 , 15th hole that went in, giving him a very rare double eagle two on the hole, only one of four to ever achieve such a feat on any hole at the Masters. He trailed the leader by three shots at the time, and made them up all at once. It led to his later winning the tournament in a 36-hole playoff over Craig Wood the next day. Sarazen won the Monday playoff by five strokes, even-par 144 to 149 (+5), and parred the 15th hole in both rounds.