Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Lifetime Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we look back at our April 1985 issue, when four former Masters champions gave recaps of their most epic shots at Augusta National.
The first major edition of the year is here – and the buzz is palpable. With one green jacket line in northeast Georgia, it’s hard not to be excited.
WILL Scottie Scheffler join the distinguished list of golfers with three Masters headlines? Can Bryson DeChambeau finally break through at Augusta National? Does Rory McIlroy have a chance to bounce back? The stories are seemingly endless.
As a primer for one of the best weeks on the golf calendar, we’re looking back at our April 1985 Masters preview edition of GOLF magazine. In those pages, four former Masters champions break down the shots that helped them get their green jackets — and give some tips on how to hit them.
Claude Harmon, 1948
Situation: The final round. On the par-5 8, Harmon faces a second shot blind, uphill from 260 yards.
Shot: Up 4-wood. “I was trying to stretch, so I picked up a 4-wood and put a smooth, controlled swing on the ball. The next thing I heard was a roar from the crowd.” It’s no wonder. Harmon’s putt ended up two feet from the hole.
Technique: Because your stance for an uphill lie forces you to carry more weight on your right side, the tendency is to be lazy with the left side on the downswing. The right side takes over and the result is an attractive shot. You have to compensate for the drag by putting a fade action on the swing.
Stay open. With the ball in your position, begin the swing normally, but through the stroke keep your left hand toward the target to ensure square face-to-face contact. Striving for a high finish – encourages you to accelerate the club lead.
Arnold Palmer, 1958
Situation: Palmer has to hit the par-5 13th in two and make birdie. A perfect drive leaves it 215 yards from the green. His lie is good, but he has to contend with a 10 mph headwind. With the pin cut into the fairway, Palmer must hold the water hazard while maintaining the front of the putting surface and place the ball onto the green with enough juice to roll it to the hole.
Shot: 1-pierced iron. “I was afraid that a wood shot would get caught in the wind or go down to the bottom layer of the green and bounce back up,” notes Palmer. “I had to hit the wind cheat, so the only iron was the club.”
Of course it was. Palmer birdied and went on to win. He won again in ’60, ’62 and ’64.
Technique: With the ball played slightly back, stand square and keep your feet shoulder-width apart. On the backswing, make a full rotation, shifting your weight from even balance to the right side. Remember to move your left shoulder under your chin. On the downward movement, make a sharp shift to the left side and direct the right shoulder under the chin. Hit down and through the ball, making no effort to get it up in the air with the club.
Billy Casper, 1970
Situation: Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game, Casper also gets nods from his teammates for his expertise on the sand. Good thing, because he needs birdies on the par-five 15th if he wants to catch the leader, Gene Littler. He goes for the green in two and misses. Even though his lie is good and the lip low, he faces a hell of a sand shot. He must shoot downhill to a cut flag 60 meters away on a fast running surface.
Shot: Floating wedge. “Going downhill, I had to get the ball up and judge the spin correctly. To help me land the ball just on the green, I pretended the flag was clipped 10 feet from the rim. Otherwise, it was all over for me.”
Casper’s strategy worked. The ball ended up close to the hole. A birdie putt helped him tie Littler at the end of 72 holes. In the playoff the next day, Casper won by five strokes.
Technique: Stay open and open the clubface. With the ball played from the left heel, lift the club quickly and swing back off the target line using your hands and arms. Pull the club down with your left hand, hit two inches behind the ball, point the clubface at the target and finish high.
Fuzzy Zoeller, 1979
Situation: Zoeller is the long shot to win a playoff with Tom Watson and Ed Sneed. The three birdied the first extra hole, the 10th. After a perfect drive to the 11th fairway, Fuzzy is 164 yards from the pin. He knows he needs to hit the second shot close because long shots are especially tricky on Augusta’s smooth surfaces.
Shot: 8-iron soft. “I usually hit a 7-iron from this distance, but with the adrenaline flowing, I opted for my favorite club, the 8-iron.” Zoeller visualized the ball flying up and landing gently – close to the needle. His dream came true. His shot ended up eight meters short of the flag. A birdie conversion gave him the win.
Technique: Zoeller believes the game is almost 100 percent mental. He doesn’t preach any standard setup or swing for playing the short irons. For him, comfort is key, so he starts his swing with a push of the clubhead away from the body. For you, experiment with different stances, ball positions and swings. If a ball position makes you uncomfortable or if your practice swing feels awkward, go for an alternative technique. As Zoeller says: “If you’re not confident at address, you’re unlikely to hit the shot you want to hit—especially under pressure.”
