Yes SIR, we'd love another '86 Masters!: Editors' Blog: Golf Digest

Yes SIR, we'd love another '86 Masters!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Comments

Golf World's March 21st issue contained compelling stories about the '86 Masters and your letters are proof that they hit home. A highlight of the issue was Chris Millard's revisited the broadcast, with extensive comment by Verne Lundquist about his own emotions as Jack played 17 on Sunday:

"I'm sitting there watching Jack Nicklaus playing the 71st hole of Augusta National at 46 years of age with his son on the bag," says Lundquist, "and I did think to myself, 'Keep it simple.' I thought about [Frank] Chirkinian: 'Stay out of the way.' And then I thought to myself: 'For God's sake, don't screw this up.'"

Then Millard and Lundquist take us through the wonderful call of that unforgettable birdie putt:

Fifty-four seconds in, the ball eked right, steadied its course, acceded to the dictates of history and ducked its head from the thunderous wave. "...Yes SIR!"

You loved the story, as well as Dave Shedloski's "A Sunday Like No Other" that relived the final round, hole by hole, through the observations of everyone from Fred Couples and Lee Trevino to Phil Mickelson and Seve Ballesteros--and of course Jack and Jackie. Ballesteros' comment about his approach to No. 15 is the saddest: "I tried to hit a soft 4-iron. Then everything went wrong for me."

"Yes, SIR!" As I'm reading this funny, entertaining piece, I'm listening to the smooth Texan, a master in his own right, calling tournament basketball on CBS. Class act. Classic story.

Ed Smith, Dayton, OH

I thoroughly enjoyed your article about the '86 Masters....Verne's call on 17---"Maybe...yes SIR"--was legendary but his best call, in my opinion, came in 2005 on No. 16 when Tiger chipped in on his way to winning his fourth Masters...."Oh my goodness......WOW.....in your life!..have you seen anything like that?!" ......I saw Verne at the 2006 Masters and told him that I thought it was one of the best calls in sports history...and that he couldn't have done a better job if he knew it was going in and had time to write it. Being the consummate gentleman and professional that he is, he thanked me and told me that it meant a lot to him. That brief conversation with Verne Lundquist meant a lot to me.

Regis Luger, Beaver Falls, PA

Dave Shedloski's recap of the 1986 Masters was priceless and the capper was Chris Millard's article about the Verne Lundquist / Frank Chirkinian coverage. That afternoon my wife had just returned from shopping when Seve put his second shot in the water on 15. She asked me, "What's happening at the Masters ?" My reply: "Son of a bitch, you won' believe it!" What a wonderful memory your writers have captured.
Richard Prendergast, Fallbrook, CA

I have been a reader for many years and I can tell you one thing: When the mailman delivers my copy of Golf World, it is read cover to cover before the sun sets. But this week the 1986 Masters articles made me read it with tears in my eyes. Fantastic!

Frank McGinn, Boynton Beach, FL

Fantastic, indeed. Could the return of a prodigal son to win his fifth Green Jacket in 2011 match it?

Bob Carney