From Jim Furyk’s miraculous shot into his final hole at Conway Farms Golf Club to Adam Scott’s title-clinching putt at Augusta National, here are the 10 best shots of the year.
From Jim Furyk’s miraculous shot into his final hole at Conway Farms Golf Club to Adam Scott’s title-clinching putt at Augusta National, here are the 10 best shots of the year.
Stacy Lewis began the final round of the 2013 British Open at St. Andrews only one stroke behind leader Morgan Pressel. But after a lackluster start, Lewis seemed out of the running. However, Lewis turned it around on the back nine, carding back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18, including a magnificent approach at the Road Hole, No. 17. After the round, Lewis would call her 5-iron approach into No. 17 “the perfect golf shot.” (Getty)
Even though the FedEx Cup Playoffs didn’t commence until the following week, you wouldn’t have thought that watching Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth’s play at the Wyndham Championship. After 72 holes weren’t enough to decide the tournament, the two headed to a playoff, where on the second hole of sudden death Reed pulled off what he described as “the best shot of my life.” After a wayward drive into the trees, stopping only a few feet from the out-of-bounds stakes, Reed used his 7-iron to hit a miraculous shot to 7 feet. He would go on to make the putt to win, but it was his magnificent approach shot that decided the tournament. Spieth even rewarded Reed with a thumbs-up following the shot. (Getty)
It may not have been the putt to win the tournament, but it was the putt that gave him the chance to win. Adam Scott’s putt at No. 18 at Augusta last April gave him a one-shot lead over the field with only one group left to finish behind him. Even though Angel Cabrera would ultimately tie Scott’s 72-hole total, Scott’s clutch 25-foot putt at the last helped keep Australia’s hopes of a green jacket alive. (Getty)
It was the perfect ending to a magical stretch of golf by Phil Mickelson. His approach into No. 18 at Muirfield helped cap a magnificent run that saw Lefty jump up the leaderboard playing the last six holes in 4 under par. Mickelson needed only a par to have a chance to hoist the claret jug, but with the terrific approach at the last, with the perfect speed and line on the putt, Mickelson finished off a 5-under 66 in what he later called “arguably the best round of (his) career.” (Getty)
Strolling up the fairway at No. 18 Angel Cabrera could hear the roar of the crowd after Adam Scott made his birdie to go up by one shot. Knowing he needed a birdie to tie, Cabrera hit one of the most clutch shots of the tournament to set up a short putt to tie the Aussie and force a playoff. (Getty)
The shot didn’t win him the tournament, but it sure helped. After knocking his approach into the bunker at the 72nd hole, Jordan Spieth knew he would have to make his bunker shot to tie for the lead. However, the pressure didn’t faze the then-19-year-old phenom as Spieth holed out to force a playoff with David Hearn and Zach Johnson. The improbable bunker shot helped Spieth become the first teenager to win on the PGA Tour in 82 years. (Getty)
With his ball settled in the fairway just steps away from where Ben Hogan hit his famous 1-iron at No. 18 at Merion, Justin Rose addressed his ball and delivered a clutch shot that even Hogan might have admired. With the U.S. Open title in his sights, Rose set up a closing par to card an even-par 70 in the final round. His level-par round was good enough to claim the title by two shots over Phil Mickelson and Jason Day. (Getty)
It may not have been for the win on Sunday, but Jim Furyk’s approach shot into No. 9 at Conway Farms, Furyk’s final hole of the day in the second round of the BMW Championship was one of the best of his career, considering the significance.A 59 had happened only five times on the PGA Tour before Furyk stepped over his3-foot putt and drained it for a 12-under-par total. Furyk’s beautiful approach into the 405-yard par-4 hole gave him the chance to putt for 59. (Getty Images)
Considering it was one of the best shots of Phil Mickelson’s career, it’s no surprise it came amidst one of his best stretches of golf. No. 17 at Muirfield is a reachable par 5, but is largely considered to favor right-handers. However, Lefty stepped up to his ball in the fairway at the lengthy hole and hit what his caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay considered one of the purest 3-woods of his career, setting up a two-putt birdie that helped Mickelson separate himself from the field. (Getty)
The best shot of 2013 comes as no surprise. It wasn’t only our selection for the No. 1 shot of 2013, but it very well might be the No. 1 shot in Australia’s golf history. Adam Scott’s clutch 12-foot putt to defeat Angel Cabrera at the Masters not only gave Scott his first major title, it gave Australia its first green jacket. The Aussie’s nerves of steel displayed on the second playoff hole will forever be remembered by Australians everywhere, which is why it’s deserving of our No. 1 shot of 2013. (Getty)