The Shotgun Start Flashback Friday on the 1986 Masters
10 snips
Apr 3, 2026 Kevin Van Valkenburg, veteran golf writer and commentator, joins to relive Sunday at the 1986 Masters. They revisit Jack Nicklaus’ final-round surge, Greg Norman’s roller-coaster Sunday, Seve’s collapse and dramatic moments at 15–18. Conversation also covers 1986 TV coverage, equipment differences, and how the era’s storytelling shaped memories.
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All Time Cast Of Contenders On One Leaderboard
- The 1986 Masters stacked past champions and top-ranked players, creating an unusually deep Sunday leaderboard.
- Jack Nicklaus overcame that elite field — Langer, Seve, Watson, Norman, Kite — to win his sixth green jacket at age 46.
Nicklaus Won By Taking What The Course Gave Him
- Jack's Sunday was less about one heroic miracle and more about taking precise shots and making timely putts on Augusta's contours.
- He recorded inward 30 with steady approaches and several key putts from 11 through 17 that fueled the charge.
Great Shots Came With Brutal Mistakes
- The broadcast highlights how small margins and self-inflicted mistakes create swings in major tournaments.
- Norman produced sublime shots (17) and catastrophic errors (10, 18), illustrating high volatility of that era's play.