With no golf on TV, stay home and watch these 9 Masters broadcasts

In a matter of days we went from having a full sports and golf schedule running down the tracks toward the Masters … to zero PGA, LPGA, Euro and Korn Ferry Tour events in the month of March and, finally, no Masters. And rightfully so. A very serious global pandemic has reached the United States in full force.

It could be a month and even longer before pro golf is once again televised, so what now? Well, for those who need some sports content to consume, there’s a treasure box of golf history waiting for you on The Masters Youtube page.

Thanks to Augusta National Inc., the final round broadcasts from 1968 to 2017 are available in their entirety. (And for those who love Tiger Woods so much, follow this link to the 2019 broadcast.) They are tiny time capsules that together make an encyclopedia of golf history: equipment changes, defunct sponsorships, whacky swings, etc. They are, each and every one of them, beautiful in their own way. (Even Trevor Immelman’s 2008 win.)

You can also subscribe and binge listen our A Pod Unlike Any Other, which dives into the final rounds of the most memorable of Masters. We’ve broken down Nicklaus wins, Tiger routs and epic Mickelson moments. You can find that here. But for now, a ranking. The nine best Masters final rounds that you can watch while you wait for the PGA Tour to return to your TV screen.

9. 1968

Whet your appetite for golf with one of the most tragic final rounds ever, featuring an incorrect scorecard and 1960s Augusta National.

8. 1995

Ben Crenshaw triumphs, but that’s barely half the story. Crenshaw’s longtime instructor Harvey Penick died on the Sunday before Masters week. THEN, he triumphed, in one of the most emotional Masters ever.

7. 1975

If you enjoy Jack Nicklaus’ 1986 victory, 1975 is not too different. The Golden Bear races out in front of Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf with an epic back nine. That’s how you win the Masters. No one knew it better than Nicklaus.

6. 2001

The Top 3 players in the world are all heavily in the mix to win a green jacket. Oh, and one of them is trying to win the grand slam of four straight majors. You know who wins, but you probably don’t remember exactly how.

5. 2004

Watching the years of 1995-2003, you’ll find a common thread: People are pulling for Phil Mickelson to win the Masters. Any Masters. Just one Masters. Finally, in 2004, it happens and it’s glorious.

4. 1997

This is where it all began for Tiger Woods. You get Earl Woods, sinnewy, 21-year-old Tiger, Fluff Cowan on the bag, Jim Nantz on the call. It’s requisite viewing for anyone who also wants to watch 2019 over again.

3. 1986

For many people, this is the greatest Masters ever. Yes, sir! Well, there’s a lot more than just Jack Nicklaus winning this event. A number of players also lost it, and that is context every golf fan should know.

2. 2005

It’s a great debate, but Tiger Woods hits one of the greatest shots (I think it’s the greatest, all things considered) in Masters history en route to winning, and survives in a playoff. What more do you want?

1. 2011

Charl Schwartzel might not be your favorite Masters champion, but this is the rare year where so much chaos took place over the course of the entire 5 hours. It’s non-stop fun and gets everyone involved.