LET’S take ourselves back 20 years. It’s the second week of April 2005. On Coronation Street, Ken and Deirdre Barlow have just got married again. At Buckingham Palace, so has Prince (now King) Charles, but this time to Camilla. The first-ever YouTube video is about to be uploaded. Peter Kay is at number one with ‘(Is this the way to) Amarillo?’. And Fred Funk has just won the Players Championship.
Ah, different times.
At Augusta National, the Masters patrons were about to witness something special. Chris DiMarco got off to a flier with a 67 and Tiger Woods trailed him by seven after starting with a 74. DiMarco compiled another 67, Woods responded with a 66 and then added a superb third-round 65 while DiMarco stumbled with a 74 that finished deep into Sunday morning. Suddenly Woods was ahead by three.
But DiMarco wouldn’t quit. A winner on the PGA Tour in 2000, 2001, and 2002, he would never triumph at the top level again. However, the best golf of his life was played in the majors between 2004 and 2006. In the first of those years, he ticked off three top 10 finishes in the tournaments that define a career, and he used that experience to dig deep in the final round.
Woods actually moved four clear at the first, and it stayed that way for a while. Then it returned to three. After the turn, it became two. Then one. At the par-3 16th Woods flew the green, and his ball settled awkwardly against the lush second cut. To chip towards the pin from that lie offered little hope of saving par. DiMarco, meanwhile, had a 20-foot putt for birdie that he had watched Phil Mickelson make exactly one year earlier. There was a good chance that the one-shot lead would be DiMarco’s by the time the pair reached the 17th tee…
Cue the greatest moment of Tiger’s career.
With wide eyes flicking one way and then the other as he scanned the undulations, his mouth open and imagination alert, he punched the ball forward towards the top of the hill where spin called it to a halt, and then gravity took over.
“Here it comes,” said legendary TV commentator Verne Lundquist on a broadcast that can never be forgotten. “Oh. My. Goodness!” he continued as it trickled towards the hole where it halted for effect and then dropped. “Oh! Wow!” cried Lundquist. The chip was not inch perfect. It was millimetre perfect.
Woods and his caddy, Steve Williams, punched the air as the galleries erupted. “In your life have you seen anything like that?” asked Lundquist. Perhaps almost as brilliant as what he said in those moments is what he didn’t say, specifically staying quiet as the ball hovered on the edge of the hole and then again when Woods and Williams went berserk. It was a great shot, a great moment, and a great call.
But guess what? DiMarco wasn’t done. He finished with three pars while Woods added two bogeys. The tournament went to extra holes, and only then – finally – did Woods confirm the win.
But here’s the rub: DiMarco lost a playoff in 2004’s PGA Championship when he lost to Woods at Augusta; the pair had beaten the field by a whopping seven shots, and he would finish second to Woods again in the 2006 Open (when he was three blows clear of third-placed Ernie Els).
By necessity, sport values the winners above the nearly men, but might Dimarco’s two-year run of major championship golf be the most unheralded of all time, overshadowed by the greatest player of them all and his finest moment?
Maybe so, and here’s hoping that this year’s Masters produces a tournament of drama to equal 2005. There is no lack of potential storylines, of course. Can Rory McIlroy complete the career Grand Slam? Will Scottie Scheffler make it three Masters wins in four years, or Xander Schauffele land a third major win in four starts? Might Jon Rahm rediscover his major championship mojo?
McIlroy looks set for triumph, but then hasn’t he been here before over the last 10 years?! Truly, I believe 2025 has the potential to be a career-defining year for him. Glory this week would send him to the PGA Championship at his favorite course, Quail Hollow, with a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. Win there and the Open at Royal Portrush would be absolutely electric. Pie in the sky? A good narrative rather than cogent analysis? Heart ruling the head? All of the above. But, on the other hand, there are valid form doubts about the other favorites, and he’s never journeyed up Magnolia Lane with two wins for the year in his back pocket. It could happen; it really could, but for the tips, we’ll go with working men’s prices. Have a great week, everyone!
Shane Lowry
The Irishman needs a warm putter, but if he finds it, he can mount a strong bid for a first Green Jacket. He’s made the weekend in each of his last five visits to Augusta and in 2022 he was third when ranking first Off the Tee and fourth for both Around the Greens and Putting. Last year he ranked first for Approach. It’s a solid package, he’s ticked off five top 20s in his last six starts, and his comfort level in majors is indicated by 16 top 25 finishes in his last 24 of them.
Patrick Reed
Back in November, Reed carded a brilliant 59 on his way to victory in the Hong Kong Open and he’s been excellent in recent weeks, too, finishing second in Asia and seventh last week at LIV Miami. He’s ended four of his last seven rounds top of the tournament leaderboard. He’s also a former Masters winner (in 2018) who has five top 12 finishes in his last seven visits. He looks a big price.
Russell Henley
Close followers will recall that we tipped Henley in the ante-post preview and since his victory at Bay Hill the price has contracted. He’s become an excellent major championship performer, finishing seventh in last year’s US Open and fifth in the Open at Troon. He’s also made his last seven cuts at Augusta, was fourth in 2023 and hails from Georgia. If you’re not already on him, we still like his chances.
Justin Rose First Round Leader
Justin Rose reminded us last year that he is not done at major championship level, finishing sixth in the PGA Championship and second in the Open. He’s finished top eight in two of his last four starts, and he loves a Masters Thursday. In 19 first rounds he’s registered two solo advantages, two shared leads, and was top six on another four occasions.
Please remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safer Gambling section for more information, help and advice.
