This final round of the 1986 Masters Tournament….which was the 50th Masters Tournament….was held April 10–13 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia…..as this day started out with Bernhard Langer and Greg Norman being tied for the lead at -6…..and it remained pretty much the same through the first 6 holes…..but by the 8th hole….Jack Nicklaus had begun his charge up the leader board on a day that would prove to be historic…..as The Golden Bear won his record 18th professional major with a historic one-stroke victory….after he shot a final round 65 (−7)….with a back nine of 30 (−6)….for a total score of 279 (−9). At age 46, he became the oldest winner of the Masters and the second-oldest winner of any major championship….behind Julius Boros….who at 48 captured the PGA Championship in 1968. The win also gave Nicklaus a record six Masters victories….with the first being in 1963….less than ten months after his first major win at the 1962 U.S. Open. The 23-year span of Masters victories and 24-year span of major victories are also records. The runners-up were Tom Kite and Greg Norman….whose lifetime near-misses at the Masters are also noteworthy. The winner’s share was $144,000, more than seven times what Nicklaus earned for his first Augusta win.
This final round of the 1986 Masters is certainly one of the most highly regarded 18 holes of golf that was ever played….for there is no golf circle where the game of golf is talked about that this 18 holes of Masters won’t be in the conversation….and quite well might have been golf’s best of the best, Jack Nicklaus’ finest moment….and we at ImaSportsphile are simply joyful to have this remarkable “blue diamond”….in our treasure chest of vintage and historic memories.
