He is the only player to ever win The Masters having been born in Augusta
12 Apr 1987: Larry Mize of the USA celebrates chipping in on the second play-off hole number 11 to win the masters during the US Masters 1987 held at the Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon /Allsport There is arguably not a single golf course on the planet that evokes a stronger sense of nostalgia than Augusta National, with The Masters providing the stage for so many of the game’s most iconic moments. Augusta National does benefit from The Masters being the only major in the men’s game that returns to the same site every single year.
Nevertheless, fans worldwide feel a unique connection to the venue. All eyes will certainly be on Augusta, Georgia in the coming days as the greatest players make the drive down Magnolia Lane. For one past champion, the feeling of winning in the city of Augusta was particularly significant.
The only golfer born in Augusta to win The Masters There is just one player in the history of the event to be born in Augusta and go on to win The Masters during their career. It turns out that he also produced one of the greatest shots in the tournament’s history to secure the Green Jacket. Larry Mize was not exactly a favourite to win The Masters in 1987.
He had previously registered just one top 10 in a major during his career, while his only PGA Tour victory had come nearly four years earlier. Nevertheless, he remained a permanent fixture on the leaderboards throughout the week. He did not break 70 in a single round, but he ended each day within two shots of the lead.
Photo by Brian Morgan/Getty Images A 71 on Sunday ensured that he ended up in a playoff with two-time champion Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman , the world number one at the time. Unsurprisingly, Mize was the underdog. Ballesteros’ hopes of a third Masters win were dashed when he made a bogey on the 10th.