1986 Masters Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1986 Masters Tournament was the 50th Masters Tournament
, and was the first golfing major of 1986. Jack Nicklaus
won his record 18th professional major with a historic victory in which he shot 65 (including a back nine 30) during the final round for a final tally of 279 (-9). His win made him the oldest winner of the Masters, and the second oldest winner of any major championship behind only Julius Boros
who was 48 when he captured the 1968 PGA Championship. The win also gave him a record six Masters victories. His first was in 1963
and his first major win was the 1962 U.S. Open. The 23 years between Masters victories and 24 years between major victories are also records. The runners-up were Tom Kite
and Greg Norman
, whose near-misses at the Masters are also noteworthy. Nicklaus won $144,000 for his first place finish.
and Bernhard Langer
struggled early. Jack Nicklaus
played his first 8 holes in even par, but stormed into contention with birdies at 9, 10 and 11. However, Nicklaus bogeyed the 12th to fall three behind the leaders. Norman who was tied for the lead at -7 as he made the turn, double-bogeyed the 10th hole to give Ballesteros the outright lead by one shot over Tom Kite
. Ballesteros hit his 2nd shot at 13 to within 6 feet. After Kite lagged up his own eagle putt, Ballesteros holed his putt for his second eagle of the day and a three shot lead over Kite. Kite then holed his birdie putt to cut the lead back to two.
After a par at 14, Nicklaus began his legendary charge at 15. After hitting his 204 yard approach to 12 feet he buried the putt for eagle to pull within two shots of Ballesteros. Nicklaus then hit his tee shot on 16 to within 3 feet and after holing his birdie putt he was within 1 shot of Ballesteros who was playing the 15th hole. Ballesteros, who was in prime position to go for the green in 2, pull hooked his approach into the water. After failing to get up and down Ballesteros bogeyed the hole, giving Nicklaus a share of the lead. Kite made birdie at 15 to force a three-way tie with Ballesteros and Nicklaus. After a wayward drive Nicklaus hit his approach on 17 to 18 feet. After long deliberation Nicklaus holed his putt on 17 for sole possession of the lead for the first time in the tournament. Nicklaus two putted for par on 18 to post -9 and a one shot lead.
Ballesteros three-putted the 17th to fall out of contention, but Kite had 12 feet for birdie on 18 to tie Nicklaus in the clubhouse. Kite barely missed his putt on the high side to miss a playoff by one shot. Norman, left for dead after his double on 10, birdied 14, 15 and 16 to pull within one shot of the lead. After hooking his drive way left on 17, Norman made an incredible shot between two pines to within 8 feet. Norman buried the birdie putt, his forth straight, to tie for the lead. After a perfect drive on 18, needing birdie for his first major championship. However, Norman pushed his approach shot into the gallery and missed his 15 foot par putt. Nicklaus had stormed back shooting 30 on the back 9 to win his 6th Masters title and became the oldest Masters champion at age 46.
The Masters Tournament
The Masters Tournament, also known as The Masters , is one of the four major championships in professional golf. Scheduled for the first full week of April, it is the first of the majors to be played each year...
, and was the first golfing major of 1986. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
won his record 18th professional major with a historic victory in which he shot 65 (including a back nine 30) during the final round for a final tally of 279 (-9). His win made him the oldest winner of the Masters, and the second oldest winner of any major championship behind only Julius Boros
Julius Boros
Julius Nicholas Boros was a Hungarian-American professional golfer.-Early years:Boros was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut...
who was 48 when he captured the 1968 PGA Championship. The win also gave him a record six Masters victories. His first was in 1963
1963 Masters Tournament
The 1963 Masters Tournament was contested from April 4 to April 7 at Augusta National Golf Club. It was the 27th Masters Tournament. 84 players entered the tournament and 50 of them made the cut at eight-over-par ....
and his first major win was the 1962 U.S. Open. The 23 years between Masters victories and 24 years between major victories are also records. The runners-up were Tom Kite
Tom Kite
Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
and Greg Norman
Greg Norman
Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
, whose near-misses at the Masters are also noteworthy. Nicklaus won $144,000 for his first place finish.
Made the cut
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... |
1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 | 74 | 71 | 69 | 65 | 279 | -9 | 1 | |
| Seve Ballesteros | 1980, 1983 | 71 | 68 | 72 | 70 | 285 | -7 | 4 | |
| Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
1977, 1981 | 70 | 74 | 68 | 71 | 283 | -5 | T6 | |
| Ben Crenshaw Ben Crenshaw Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973... |
1984 | 71 | 71 | 74 | 70 | 286 | -2 | T16 | |
| Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986... |
1985 | 74 | 68 | 69 | 75 | 293 | -2 | T16 | |
| Fuzzy Zoeller Fuzzy Zoeller Frank Urban "Fuzzy" Zoeller, Jr. is an American professional golfer. He is one of three golfers to have won The Masters in his first appearance in the event. He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, which earned him the 1985 Bob Jones Award.... |
1979 | 73 | 73 | 69 | 72 | 293 | -1 | T21 |
Missed the cut
| Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | Total | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Player Gary Player Gary Player DMS; OIG is a South African professional golfer. With his nine major championship victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of golf. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. Player has won 165 tournaments on six continents over six... |
 South Africa |
1961, 1974, 1978 | 77 | 73 | 150 | +6 |
| Craig Stadler Craig Stadler Craig Robert Stadler is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.... |
1982 | 74 | 76 | 150 | +6 | |
| Raymond Floyd Raymond Floyd Raymond Loran "Ray" Floyd is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.... |
1976 | 74 | 78 | 152 | +8 | |
| Gay Brewer Gay Brewer Gay Robert Brewer, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and won the 1967 Masters Tournament.... |
1967 | 77 | 76 | 153 | +9 | |
| Billy Casper Billy Casper William Earl Casper, Jr. is an American professional golfer who was one of the most prolific tournament winners on the PGA Tour from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s.-Early years:... |
1970 | 78 | 75 | 153 | +9 | |
| Charles Coody Charles Coody Billy Charles Coody is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1971 Masters Tournament.Coody was born in Stamford, Texas and raised in Abilene, Texas... |
1971 | 76 | 77 | 153 | +9 | |
| George Archer George Archer George William Archer was an American golfer who won twelve events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.Archer was born in San Francisco, California and was raised just south in the city of San Mateo... |
1969 | 75 | 80 | 155 | +11 | |
| Tommy Aaron Tommy Aaron Thomas Dean Aaron is a former American professional golfer who was a member of the PGA Tour during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Aaron is best known for winning the 1973 Masters Tournament.- Early years :... |
1973 | 79 | 77 | 156 | +12 | |
| Doug Ford Doug Ford (golfer) Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one... |
1957 | 78 | 78 | 156 | +12 | |
| Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955... |
1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 | 80 | 76 | 156 | +12 | |
| Bob Goalby Bob Goalby Robert George Goalby is a former American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, who won the 1968 Masters Tournament, his lone major championship among 11 Tour wins achieved between 1958 and 1971.... |
1968 | 79 | 81 | 160 | +16 |
First round
| # | Player | Country | Score | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Ken Green Ken Green Kenneth J. Green is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour and the Champions Tour. Green has won eleven tournaments as a pro, including five PGA Tour events.-Early years:... |
68 | -4 | |
| Billy Kratzert Billy Kratzert William August Kratzert is an American professional golfer and sportscaster, who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.... |
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| T3 | T.C. Chen Tze-Chung Chen Tze-Chung Chen is a Taiwanese professional golfer. In the U.S., he is often referred to as T.C. Chen. His older brother, Tze-Ming Chen, is also a professional golfer. In 1982, T.C. Chen became the first professional golfer from Taiwan to earn a PGA Tour card... |
69 | -3 | |
| Gary Koch Gary Koch Gary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :... |
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| T5 | David Barr Dave Barr (golfer) David Allen Barr is a Canadian professional golfer who has played on the Canadian Tour, PGA Tour and Champions Tour.Barr was born in Kelowna, British Columbia. He attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and was a member of the golf team. He finished as runner-up in the 1972 Canadian... |
70 | -2 | |
| Tommy Nakajima Tsuneyuki Nakajima Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima 20 October 1954) is a Japanese professional golfer.Nakajima was born in Gunma. He turned professional in 1975. He has won 48 events on the Japan Golf Tour, ranking third on the most Japan Golf Tour wins list. He also was the leading money winner four times in five years:... |
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| Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
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| Tom Kite Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... |
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| Bob Tway Bob Tway Robert Raymond Tway IV is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including eight PGA Tour victories. He spent 25 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings in 1986-87.... |
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| Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
Second round
| # | Player | Country | Score | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seve Ballesteros | 71-68=139 | -5 | |
| 2 | Billy Kratzert Billy Kratzert William August Kratzert is an American professional golfer and sportscaster, who has played on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.... |
68-72=140 | -4 | |
| 3 | Tommy Nakajima Tsuneyuki Nakajima Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima 20 October 1954) is a Japanese professional golfer.Nakajima was born in Gunma. He turned professional in 1975. He has won 48 events on the Japan Golf Tour, ranking third on the most Japan Golf Tour wins list. He also was the leading money winner four times in five years:... |
70-71=139 | -3 | |
| T4 | Ben Crenshaw Ben Crenshaw Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973... |
71-71=142 | -2 | |
| David Edwards David Edwards (golfer) David Wayne Edwards is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from 1979–2005 and now plays on the Champions Tour. He is the younger brother of former PGA Tour professional, Danny Edwards.... |
71-71=142 | |||
| Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
70-72=142 | |||
| Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986... |
74-68=142 |
Third round
| # | Player | Country | Score | To par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
70-72-68=210 | -6 | |
| T2 | Seve Ballesteros | 71-68-72=211 | -5 | |
| Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986... |
74-68-69=211 | |||
| Donnie Hammond Donnie Hammond Donald William Hammond is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, and Champions Tour.... |
73-71-67=211 | |||
| Nick Price Nick Price Nicholas Raymond Leige Price is a South African-Zimbabwean Professional golfer and an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame. In the mid-1990s, Price reached number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.-Background:... |
79-69-63=211 | |||
| T6 | Tommy Nakajima Tsuneyuki Nakajima Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima 20 October 1954) is a Japanese professional golfer.Nakajima was born in Gunma. He turned professional in 1975. He has won 48 events on the Japan Golf Tour, ranking third on the most Japan Golf Tour wins list. He also was the leading money winner four times in five years:... |
70-71-71=212 | -4 | |
| Tom Kite Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... |
70-74-68=212 | |||
| Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
70-74-68=212 |
Final round
In one of the most memorable and exciting final rounds in Masters history, five different players held at least a share of the lead in the final round. Seve Ballesteros gained a share of the lead on the front 9 helped by a hole-out eagle at 8, while Greg NormanGreg Norman
Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
and Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986...
struggled early. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
played his first 8 holes in even par, but stormed into contention with birdies at 9, 10 and 11. However, Nicklaus bogeyed the 12th to fall three behind the leaders. Norman who was tied for the lead at -7 as he made the turn, double-bogeyed the 10th hole to give Ballesteros the outright lead by one shot over Tom Kite
Tom Kite
Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
. Ballesteros hit his 2nd shot at 13 to within 6 feet. After Kite lagged up his own eagle putt, Ballesteros holed his putt for his second eagle of the day and a three shot lead over Kite. Kite then holed his birdie putt to cut the lead back to two.
After a par at 14, Nicklaus began his legendary charge at 15. After hitting his 204 yard approach to 12 feet he buried the putt for eagle to pull within two shots of Ballesteros. Nicklaus then hit his tee shot on 16 to within 3 feet and after holing his birdie putt he was within 1 shot of Ballesteros who was playing the 15th hole. Ballesteros, who was in prime position to go for the green in 2, pull hooked his approach into the water. After failing to get up and down Ballesteros bogeyed the hole, giving Nicklaus a share of the lead. Kite made birdie at 15 to force a three-way tie with Ballesteros and Nicklaus. After a wayward drive Nicklaus hit his approach on 17 to 18 feet. After long deliberation Nicklaus holed his putt on 17 for sole possession of the lead for the first time in the tournament. Nicklaus two putted for par on 18 to post -9 and a one shot lead.
Ballesteros three-putted the 17th to fall out of contention, but Kite had 12 feet for birdie on 18 to tie Nicklaus in the clubhouse. Kite barely missed his putt on the high side to miss a playoff by one shot. Norman, left for dead after his double on 10, birdied 14, 15 and 16 to pull within one shot of the lead. After hooking his drive way left on 17, Norman made an incredible shot between two pines to within 8 feet. Norman buried the birdie putt, his forth straight, to tie for the lead. After a perfect drive on 18, needing birdie for his first major championship. However, Norman pushed his approach shot into the gallery and missed his 15 foot par putt. Nicklaus had stormed back shooting 30 on the back 9 to win his 6th Masters title and became the oldest Masters champion at age 46.
| # | Player | Country | Score | To par | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a... |
74-71-69-65=279 | |||
| $144,000 | |||||
| T2 | Tom Kite Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994.... |
70-74-68-68=280 | -8 | $70,400 | |
| Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
70-72-68-70=280 | ||||
| 4 | Seve Ballesteros | 71-68-72-70=281 | |||
| $38,400 | |||||
| 5 | Nick Price Nick Price Nicholas Raymond Leige Price is a South African-Zimbabwean Professional golfer and an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame. In the mid-1990s, Price reached number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.-Background:... |
79-69-63-71=282 | |||
| $32,000 | |||||
| T6 | Jay Haas Jay Haas Jay Dean Haas is an American professional golfer.Haas was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Belleville, Illinois. He attended Wake Forest University and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the middle 1970s with Curtis Strange and Bob Byman that Golf World has called "the... |
76-69-71-67=283 | -5 | $27,800 | |
| Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
70-74-68-71=283 | ||||
| T8 | Tommy Nakajima Tsuneyuki Nakajima Tsuneyuki "Tommy" Nakajima 20 October 1954) is a Japanese professional golfer.Nakajima was born in Gunma. He turned professional in 1975. He has won 48 events on the Japan Golf Tour, ranking third on the most Japan Golf Tour wins list. He also was the leading money winner four times in five years:... |
70-71-71-72=284 | -4 | $23,200 | |
| Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
75-71-69-69=284 | ||||
| Bob Tway Bob Tway Robert Raymond Tway IV is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including eight PGA Tour victories. He spent 25 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings in 1986-87.... |
70-73-71-70=284 |
Tournament notes
- Jack NicklausJack NicklausJack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...
increased his record for most Masters wins to six, and most major championship wins to 18. - Nicklaus became the oldest winner of a Masters at .
- Nicklaus tied the course record (which still stands today) with a 30 on the second nine in the final round, while Nick Price shot a 30 on the second nine a day earlier (tied with four others).
- Gary KochGary KochGary D. Koch is an American professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer, who formerly played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.- Early years :...
won the Par 3 contest with a score of 23 (–4). - Nick PriceNick PriceNicholas Raymond Leige Price is a South African-Zimbabwean Professional golfer and an inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame. In the mid-1990s, Price reached number one in the Official World Golf Rankings.-Background:...
set a course record with his third-round 63 (tied by Greg NormanGreg NormanGregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
in 1996). - Price set a single-round record at Augusta with ten birdies in round 3.
- Sam RandolphSam RandolphSamuel William Randolph is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.Randolph was born in Santa Barbara, California. He learned the game of golf from his father, Sam Randolph Sr., who was the head professional at La Cumbre Country Club for 38 years...
was low amateur for the second consecutive year.
Quotes
- "Yes sir! The battle is joined. My goodness. There is life in the old Bear yet." -Ben Wright's (CBS Sports) call as Nicklaus sank his eagle putt on the 15th hole to pull within two shots of the lead.
- "And there's no doubt about it, the Bear has come out of hibernation." -Jim NantzJim NantzJames William Nantz, III is an American sportscaster, known primarily for his work with CBS Sports television.-Early life:...
's (CBS Sports) call as Nicklaus sank his 3 foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to pull within one shot of the lead.
- "Oh he's pulled it! Oh he has pull hooked that! That's destined for the water! And the foreign invasion is reeling under the Bear's attack!" -Ben Wright's call as Ballesteros pulled his 2nd shot into the water at 15.
- "Maybe... Yes sir!" -Verne LundquistVerne LundquistMerton Laverne "Verne" Lundquist, Jr. is an American sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television.-Early life and career:Lundquist was born in Duluth, Minnesota...
's (CBS Sports) call as Nicklaus made his 18 foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to make sole possession of the lead for the first time in the tournament.