Sports Then and Now

The Masters holds a special place in the heart of many golf fans. As far as the four major championships go, the Augusta showpiece is the one with the most history, tradition, and memories, making it an event to look forward to for all sport enthusiasts each year.

This year, the Masters will look somewhat different, due to the fact that the tournament is being held in the autumn for the first time. This is because the coronavirus pandemic meant the original spring dates for the Augusta major could not be fulfilled. It will be an interesting spectacle, and already golf fans are eagerly examining the US Masters golf odds to try and pick their winners.

To celebrate the return of the Masters after such a long wait, we’ve compiled a few of the competition’s most magical memories from the last ten years.

2010: Phil Mickelson’s third title

Phil Mickelson, even now at the age of 50, is one of the biggest names in golf, and his rivalry with Tiger Woods over the years kept millions of sports fans on the edge of their seats. In 2010, Mickelson made it a hat-trick of Masters titles, by holding off the challenges of Lee Westwood and Anthony Kim to shoot a bogey-free final round and secure a memorable third win at Augusta.

2013: Adam Scott becomes Australia’s first champion

Three years later, there were celebrations Down Under as Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters. He had to do it the hard way, winning a nail-biting play-off against Argentina’s Ángel Cabrera after both men finished nine-under par. But it was Scott who held his nerve in the end, birdieing the second play-off hole to claim an emotional victory.

2016: Danny Willett upsets the odds

Ahead of the 2016 edition of the Masters, few were touting Englishman Danny Willett as one of the favourites. But Willett proved his worth on a stunning Masters Sunday. He trailed by five shots as he took to the back nine, after Jordan Spieth had played exceptionally to open up a lead. But as Spieth began to crumble, Willett took advantage, and after a few birdies on holes 13, 14 and 16, Willett held for par on the final two holes to become the first Brit since Sir Nick Faldo to win the Masters.

2017: Sergio García follows in Seve’s footsteps

The 2017 Masters proved to be an emotional one, as the immensely popular Sergio García finally earned his first major championship title, by besting Englishman Justin Rose in a nerve-shredding play-off. In doing so, García became the third Spaniard to win the Green Jacket, following in the footsteps of José María Olazábal and Seve Ballesteros, who both won the Augusta major on two occasions.

2019: Tiger’s sensational return to the top

In what was arguably the most sensational Masters moment in history, Tiger Woods earned his fifth Masters title last year, taking him one behind Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of six. It was an incredible achievement given Woods’ injury struggles and the personal issues he has had to contend with. But in the end, it was a throwback to Woods’ best days, as he emerged victorious in an immensely competitive final round.