WATCH: Is this the greatest three-hole stretch in golf history?

Jack Nicklaus won his 18th Major in dramatic fashion

James RichardsonJune 29, 2024

Jack Nicklaus won his record 18th professional major with a historic one-stroke victory at Augusta National in 1986 – having seemed out of it after 14 holes of his final round.

But nobody was discounting the Golden Bear on the track he had so much joy on – and you’ll see why.

In one of the most memorable and thrilling final rounds in Masters history, five different players had at least a share of the lead at some point that Sunday.

Seve Ballesteros grabbed a share of the lead on the front nine, thanks to a hole-out eagle at eight.

Nicklaus shot even par over his opening eight holes before storming into contention with birdies at nine, 10 and 11.

However, Nicklaus bogeyed the 12th, falling three shots behind the leaders.

After a par at 14, Nicklaus began his legendary charge at 15.

After hitting his 204-yard approach to within 12 feet, Nicklaus buried the putt for eagle to pull within two shots of Ballesteros.

Nicklaus then hit his tee shot on 16 to within three feet and after holing his birdie putt was within one shot of Ballesteros who was playing the 15th hole at the time.

Ballesteros, who was in position to make the green in two, hooked his approach into the water.

After failing to get up and down, Ballesteros would bogey the hole, giving Nicklaus a share of the lead.

Tom Kite made birdie at 15 to enter into a three-way tie with Ballesteros and Nicklaus.

After a wayward drive, Nicklaus hit his approach on 17 to 18 feet (5.5 m).

He took his time lining everything up and holed his putt on 17 for sole possession of the lead for the first time in the tournament. He two-putted for par on 18 to post −9 and a one-shot lead.

History remembers that Ballesteros three-putted on 17 and fell out of contention, but Kite had 12-foot putt for birdie on 18 to tie Nicklaus.

In a tense moment, Kite barely missed his putt on the high side to agonizingly miss a playoff by one shot.

Norman, who was seemingly left for dead after his double-bogey on 10 then proceeded to birdie 14, 15 and 16 to pull within one shot of the lead.

After he hooked his drive way out to the left on the 17th, Norman made an incredible recovery shot from between two pines to within eight feet. Norman then buried the birdie putt, his fourth straight, to tie for the lead.

Norman hit a perfect drive on 18 while needing a birdie for his first major championship.

However, he pushed his approach shot into the gallery and missed his 15-foot par putt to finish one stroke behind.

Nicklaus had stormed back, shooting 30 on the back nine, to win his sixth Masters title and became the oldest Masters champion at the age 46, a record that stands to this day.