Sleep to Golf Podcast

1970 Open Championship - Final Day - Doug Sanders v Jack Nicklaus

1970 Open Championship — Date: Sunday, July 12, 1970 Course: The Old Course, St Andrews Leaders entering the day: Doug Sanders (–7), Jack Nicklaus (–5) The final round of the 1970 Open began under calm grey skies at St Andrews — the kind of still Scottish morning where every sound carries: the soft click of spikes on turf, the faint hum of seagulls, the gentle applause from galleries lining the fairways. Doug Sanders started the day with a two-shot lead. Confident and stylish, he played smooth, conservative golf through the early holes, holding off Jack Nicklaus, who pressed with steady precision. By the turn, Nicklaus had drawn closer — his approach shots crisp, his putting firm. Sanders matched him stroke for stroke, the two exchanging birdies and pars in near silence, save for scattered claps and the murmur of the crowd. As they reached the closing stretch, both stood tied. Nicklaus narrowly missed birdie at the 17th, the Road Hole, while Sanders safely found the fairway on the 18th. Needing only a par to win, Sanders placed his approach just short of the green, then chipped safely to within three feet. The crowd hushed. He bent to putt — paused — then backed away, unsettled. When he tried again, the short putt slipped past the right edge. A quiet gasp rippled through the gallery. Nicklaus tapped in for his par, and Sanders did the same, leaving them tied at 283 (–5) after 72 holes. The missed putt meant an 18-hole playoff would decide the championship the following day. The final round ended not with noise, but with stillness — the gentle murmur of a crowd that had just watched golf’s calmest heartbreak unfold on the ancient turf of St Andrews.

Golf Masters Tournament Final - 1995

The 1995 Masters Tournament, played April 6–9, was won by Ben Crenshaw, who shot a final-round 68 (−4) to finish at 274 (−14), one stroke ahead of Davis Love III. It was an emotional victory — Crenshaw’s longtime teacher and friend, legendary instructor Harvey Penick, had died just days earlier, and Crenshaw attended his funeral at the start of the week. Overcome with emotion, Crenshaw said afterward, “I had a 15th club in my bag — Harvey.” This was Crenshaw’s second Masters win (his first was in 1984), and it is remembered as one of the most touching triumphs in golf history. Game Highlights: * Crenshaw’s remarkable putting: * Known as one of the greatest putters ever, Crenshaw rolled in clutch par saves on the back nine. * Key birdies at 13 (par 5) and 15 (par 5) were critical to taking the lead. * Tense final stretch: * Crenshaw narrowly missed the fairway at 17 but saved par with a deft chip and putt. * On 18, he calmly two-putted for par, sealing the victory. * Davis Love III’s close call: * Mounted a charge with birdies at 13 and 15, and had a birdie try at 18 to tie but it just missed, finishing one back. * Greg Norman’s stumble: * Was in the hunt all week, but a final-round 70 left him two shots behind Crenshaw in solo third. * Other notable moments: * 19-year-old amateur Tiger Woods made his first Masters appearance but missed the cut. * Crenshaw collapsed into tears, surrounded by his caddie Carl Jackson and friends, in an unforgettable emotional scene on the 18th green.

Golf Masters Tournament Final - 1981

Hi! Here is some info about the match. The 1981 Masters, played April 9–12, was won by Tom Watson, who shot a final-round 71 (−1) to finish at 280 (−8), two strokes ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller. This was Watson’s second Masters victory (the first was in 1977) and his fifth major overall. Watson entered the final round tied with Miller at −7, and it turned into a tense battle on Sunday. The 1981 Masters Tournament was the 45th Masters Tournament, held April 9–12 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Tom Watson won his second green jacket and fifth major title by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller.Five-time champion Nicklaus shot a bogey-free 65 on Friday and led by four strokes after 36 holes, but a 75 on Saturday put him a stroke behind Watson entering the final round. It was the fourth runner-up finish for Nicklaus at the Masters and the third for Miller.[3][4][5] Nicklaus won his sixth Masters five years later in 1986 at age 46. Defending champion Seve Ballesteros shot 154 (+10) and missed the cut by six strokes; he also missed the cut as defending champion in 1984. Lee Trevino, needing a green jacket to complete the career grand slam, also shot 154 with an ailing back. His best finishes at Augusta were tenth place ties in 1975 and 1985.Greg Norman, age 26, appeared in his first Masters and was fourth, the first of his eight top-five finishes at Augusta. He was runner-up three times, in 1986, 1987, and 1996.This was the first Masters with bentgrass greens, which were formerly Bermuda and ryegrass. Key Highlights: * Tom Watson’s steely nerves: * Made crucial birdies on the back nine, including at the par-5 13th after reaching the green in two. * Saved a huge par on the 17th after missing the green, maintaining his slim lead. * Jack Nicklaus’s charge: * Shot a final-round 65 on Saturday to vault into contention, then posted a solid 70 on Sunday, but couldn’t quite catch Watson. * His birdie attempt on 18 to apply pressure narrowly missed. * Johnny Miller’s up and down day: * Shared the 54-hole lead but struggled with a few bogeys on the back nine, finishing with a 72. * Still tied Nicklaus for second. * Seve Ballesteros & Gary Player: * Seve, the defending champion, never seriously challenged, finishing T-7. * Gary Player closed with a 67 to climb into the top ten. * Watson’s winning moment: * A steady two-putt par on 18 sealed the victory, greeted by huge roars from the patrons around the green.