Time for the Green Jacket

It’s Masters week. The Masters is my favorite of the four majors. I love the history, the course, the drama of the back 9 on Sunday. Then there’s the par-3 tournament, the Champions Dinner and the opening tee shots from the legendary champions of the past. And it is all capped off with the green jacket being presented to the champion in Butler Cabin.

The Masters has produced incredible moments. There’s Nicklaus’ charge to his sixth green jacket in ‘86. Bubba Watson’s hooked wedge from the pine straw in ‘12. The Tiger chip in on 16 with brief pause of the ball with the Nike swoosh before falling into the hole in ‘05. Larry Mize’s hole out in ‘87 to defeat Greg Norman. And perhaps the greatest shot of all time, Gene Sarazen’s albatross on the 15th hole of the 1935 Masters dubbed, the shot heard round the world.

I could write about any of those moments. Most writers will pick one of those. The cheers from those moments still echo throughout Augusta National. But I’m going in a different direction. I want to write about a Master moment which defined a player in a different way. Like most Master stories, it took place on the back nine on Sunday. A player in contention faced a difficult, perhaps impossible, decision, and the decision the player made left golf fans scratching their heads.

It was 1993. Bernhard Langer entered the final round of the 1993 Masters with a 4-shot lead over Chip Beck. Langer was already a Master champion having won in 1985. Beck was a 4-time PGA Tour winner and had been a member of the US Ryder Cup teams in ‘89 and ‘91. He would also be a member of the ‘93 team.

On the 13th hole, Langer’s lead was down to two, but he managed to eagle the hole while Beck birdied. The lead was back to three. After pars on the 14th, they arrived at the par-5 15th. Langer teed off first and found the fairway. Beck followed suit but was ten yards closer. Langer, protecting his three-shot lead, smartly laid up. Beck, not the longest hitter in the world, had a decision to make; go for the green in two in an attempt to make eagle or lay up just like Langer. Beck had about 236 yards downhill from a downhill lie with a slight wind into him to clear the pond fronting the green.

Beck and his caddie debated back and forth. Finally, Beck made his decision. He decided to lay up.

Beck gambled on his wedge game being better than Langer’s wedge game. His gamble backfired.

Langer made birdie. Beck parred after hitting his wedge over the green. The lead was four with three to play and would end up being the margin of victory.

Beck would later say he wasn’t sure he could cover the 236-yards to clear the pond. Langer initially said, if the roles had been reversed, he would have gone for the green because it was the only chance left to win the Masters. He later changed his mind saying Beck made the right decision. Beck has continually defended his decision but has also said if he had to do it over again, he’d probably go for it.

It’s one of those moments where everything is opinion. For instance, Jack Nicklaus and, eventually Langer, defended Beck’s decision. Others including Arnold Palmer, Tom Kite and Fuzzy Zoeller felt Beck needed to go for it.

To my way of thinking, unless he was absolutely certain he couldn’t clear the pond, Beck didn’t have the option of laying up. He has repeatedly said he wasn’t sure he could clear the water. Not exactly definitive. Granted, it would have taken a superb shot. On Thursday or Friday, the lay up would have been prudent. There would have been a lot of holes left to play. But this was Sunday at the Masters. There were few chances left to make up three shots.

Chances to win any major are rare. Down one, no question it’s a lay up. Down two, still pretty justifiable. Down three in a normal PGA Tour event, perhaps justifiable. But this was The Masters. A rare chance to win a major. Down three with four to play, your chances of winning are not great. Just go for it. Take the chance. Yes, you may dump it in the water and lose right there. You might also hit a career defining shot and put pressure on Langer.

While I personally believe it was the wrong decision, I respect Chip Beck immensely. He has never refused to discuss the ‘93 Masters. He has always graciously answered the question about his decision. I have also had the privilege of meeting him. He is one of the nicest, kindest men you would ever want to meet. Chip Beck is a true gentleman in every respect, and I will always be a fan. I just disagree on the decision he made in ‘93.

As always, be thankful when you get to play this amazing game. Be grateful for every shot. Appreciate every moment on the course. Now, go golf!