The 2020 virtual Masters: A dozen potential surprises
By Bill Felber
Ben Crenshaw, 1984, 1995 (1982-1991), -0.96
Crenshaw’s lengthy Masters peak embraces only the first of his two victories. He actually contended for more than two decades, placing second in 1976 and winning for the second time in 1995.
Between 1982 and 1991, Crenshaw landed six top 5 finishes, his 1984 win among them. He had tied for second in 1983, and for third in 1989 and again in 1991. During that stretch, he had nine finishes inside the top 25.
Four strokes behind Mark Lye through 36 holes, Crenshaw’s Saturday 70 brought him into third place two behind Tom Kite and one behind Lye. He still trailed Kite by a stroke coming to the eighth tee, when Crenshaw unleashed a string of three straight birdies to create a two-stroke cushion.
When Kite triple-bogeyed the 12th, Crenshaw’s lead expanded to four strokes over Larry Nelson. Tom Watson, five behind through 10 holes, staged a back-nine charge but came up two strokes short of Crenshaw’s final -11.
His 1995 Masters victory is perhaps better recalled because of the circumstances. The tournament began only days after Crenshaw’s long-time mentor, Harvey Penick, had died, and Crenshaw dedicated his performance that week to Penick.
Beginning the final round in a tie for the lead, he closed with a 68 to edge out Davis Love III by one stroke.
Virtual Masters projection: T-17.