1987 Masters: Local Golfer's Miracle Finish

The 1987 Masters was the 51st one played. It was won by a native of Augusta, Ga., in a playoff over two superstars, with a famous chip-in.

Winner: Larry Mize, 285

Where it was played: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

Tournament dates: April 9-12, 1987

Leader after first round: John Cook, 69

Leader after second round: Curtis Strange, 141

Leader after third round: Ben Crenshaw and Roger Maltbie, 212

Notable Notes: Third-round co-leaders Crenshaw and Maltbie each shot 74 in the final round, opening the door for others. Augusta, Ga., native Larry Mize, plus Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros, took advantage, all tying at 285. A 3-way, sudden-death playoff ensued.

Ballesteros went out on the first hole, while Mize and Norman continued to a second playoff hole. An errant approach left Mize off the green, about 140 feet from the cup. It appeared Norman (who missed a birdie putt on the last hole of regulation that would have won it) was in position for the win. But then Mize proceeded to knock that long chip shot right into the hole, leaping exultantly as the ball dropped. After Norman missed a long birdie putt, Mize was the champion.

Final Scores

Larry Mize 70-72-72-71—285
Seve Ballesteros 73-71-70-71—285
Greg Norman 73-74-66-72—285
Ben Crenshaw 75-70-67-74—286
Roger Maltbie 76-66-70-74—286
Jodie Mudd 74-72-71-69—286
Jay Haas 72-72-72-73—289
Bernhard Langer 71-72-70-76—289
Jack Nicklaus 74-72-73-70—289
Tom Watson 71-72-74-72—289
D.A, Weibring 72-75-71-71—289
Chip Beck 75-72-70-73—290
T.C. Chen 74-69-71-76—290
Mark McCumber 75-71-69-75—290
Curtis Strange 71-70-73-76—290
Lanny Wadkins 73-72-70-75—290
Paul Azinger 77-73-69-72—291
Mark Calcavecchia 73-72-78-68—291
Sandy Lyle 77-74-68-72—291
Craig Stadler 74-74-72-71—291
Bobby Wadkins 76-69-73-74—292
Gary Koch 76-75-72-70—293
Nick Price 73-73-71-76—293
John Cook 69-73-74-78—294
Tom Kite 73-74-74-73—294
Mark O'Meara 75-74-71-74—294
David Graham 73 77 72 73—295
Donnie Hammond 73-75-74-73—295
Corey Pavin 71-71-81-72—295
Scott Simpson 72-75-72-76—295
Dennis Watson 76-74-73-72—295
Fuzzy Zoeller 76-71-76-72—295
Calvin Peete 71-77-75-73—296
Gene Sauers 75-73-74-74—296
Andy Bean 75-69-78-75—297
Howard Clark 74-71-77-75—297
Hubert Green 80-71-74-72—297
John Mahaffey 73-75-76-73—297
Gary Player 75-75-71-76—297
Joey Sindelar 74-70-81-72—297
Mark Wiebe 73-74-71-79—297
Johnny Miller 75-75-71-77—298
Payne Stewart 71-75-74-78—298
Jim Thorpe 77-74-76-71—298
David Frost 75-70-77-78—300
Kenny Knox 75-75-75-75—300
Don Pooley 76-75-76-73—300
Mike Hulbert 76-75-71-79—301
Bruce Lietzke 75-74-77-76—302
Tommy Aaron 72-76-76-81—305
Dave Barr 79-68-79-79—305
Billy Casper 77-74-75-79—305
Mac O'Grady 72-79-79-75—305
a-Bob Lewis Jr. 74-77-79-79—309

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